[Marco]

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I mentioned earlier that forward retreats have to be limited somehow. I thought SE3 did pretty well by simply basing retreat direction on map edge used. Thus, it was possible (in tactical combat, anyway) to break through enemy forces, but only if you actually did so in tactical combat.
PvK
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Sadly I never played SE III, nevertheless I agree this is a possible valid solution, but my question was about the strategic implications of this tactic, specially for AI players. In the situation of a warp point defended by a blocking fleet, how the defender can counter the tactic of waves of fasts ships slipping trough the blockade by forward retreat ? If the forward retreating ships are not pursued, they are free to attack the supposed defended quadrant, if they are pursued, the defending fleet must abandon his blockade position, may be allowing other enemy ships, with movement left, to enter the quadrant. This situation is difficult to handle even for a human player and I doubt a effective counter tactic can be developed for AI. This would eventually result in an advantage for the attacking player, specially against AI defending players, which can unbalance the game.
But this is just my opinion, may be in SE III forward retreat works fine.
Marco.