When in doubt:

• Reverse directions (leverage!, friction)
• Go the long way across (avoid vertical)

Also important to know the "rules" and goals of your bottom.

Summary of escape principles from other exercises:

• Lock off each segment of the tie with a knot, even if you're not at the end of a rope
• Don't run lines vertically up and down the body, wrap around horizontally
• Watch where your knots and rope joins go to keep them away from hands
• Fill the hole in a bent arm when tying it in front of or behind the head
• Compressing squishy bits helps keep slack out of the rope
• Watch out for ropes that can slip off over the shoulder
• Anchor limb ties (particularly legs) to avoid their going off the end of the limb
• Retighten previous stages as you go along by reversing direction over and pulling them at a right angle
• Lock off on-the-bight cuffs by passing a rope through the bight (either right away, or as part of later retightening)
• Single column ties are tighter than double, but watch out for rotation
• Multiple column ties have more slack, but don't rotate