Survivor: Thailand – Advice to the Remaining 9

It's not merge time yet, even with the two tribes living together. Still, it's really now come down to the point where the key method to survival in the game is alliances. So once again, the Survivor Advisor returns to hand out the keys each player needs to stay in the game and perhaps grab a treasure chest containing $1,000,000.

All Players

Here's the real scoop on the merge that wasn't. It's a Burnett design to try and fracture alliances in the mid-game instead of the end-game. He's been looking for ways to spice up the game. Last time out he used the coconut challenge to reveal the fate of the players in the game; this time he's allowing the tribes to socialize and exist on the same beach but not allowing them to vote out the other tribe.

So consider the other tribe members as your potential jury for now, and start playing the game as if it were end-game within your tribe. Win challenges, get tribal immunity, be friendly with the other tribe... but play your own tribe members as cutthroat as needed to in order to win the game.

Chauy Gahn

Jan. Watch your step, because you are in trouble if Chauy Gahn goes back to tribal council. Your weakness is no longer a strength, and Helen has already tossed her lot in with the male tribe members. Work to win immunity and see if you can't approach the males to work on getting Helen tossed instead.

Helen. Your key to the game rests with dealing with the males of Chauy Gahn in the short term and in making deals with the remains of Sook Jai in the long term. For now play the fourth member of the alliance, and watch for the time and place to jump ship.

Ted. No worries right now. As long as the challenges are tribal rather than individual, you have Clay and Brian to watch your back, assuming your tribe goes to tribal council at all. Keep your allies close, and vote as a unit.

Clay. As with Ted, you're in a spot most of the rest of the survivors want to be in; a tribe watching your back. If you go back to tribal council it's Jan you should boot; she's only going to hurt your tribe's chances at winning future challenges.

Brian. Like Clay and Ted, your position is secure. Simply work hard to win challenges and vote out Jan if you go to tribal council.

Sook Jai

Jake. You are needed as the leader of the remains of your tribe. The problem between the men and the women needs to be fixed now, and present a united alliance to face off against Chauy Gahn. Do your best to avoid tribal council.

Ken. Like Jake, you need to pull together with the women of Sook Jai to present a united vote against Chauy Gahn once the merge finally takes place. Tighten those bonds immediately, or all of your tribesmen will be in exile.

Penny. Well, the problems with Shii Ann were all aired out, and she's gone while you remain. However, it might be your name that will be written down next if you return to tribal council.

Erin. You need to solidify yourself with Jake and Ken as the basis of your alliance. There is friction with Penny, and the men are tight together, so it's time to cozy up there, rather than with a potential liability in Penny.

Shii Ann. What went wrong? Well, you jumped alliances with a safety net that turned out to be a mirage. Once it was revealed the merge hadn't happened, you got caught in the middle and ended up not being trusted by anybody. You even recognized it when it was too late.

Jeffrey Clinard lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, with his kittens, Lam and Princess. He can be reached at jclinard@earthlink.net.

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