For any newcomer to Facebook and its popular free game Mafia Wars, gaining any type of foothold in the game can sometimes feel like you are climbing a mountain in slow motion. While some newbies to Mafia Wars immediately start searching for codes and cheats for the game, these shortcuts really aren’t needed. At best, they provide only a short-term benefit – especially since the game’s designers are constantly patching these codes to prevent players from exploiting them.

What you really need is a sound Mafia Wars strategy. Here are a few simple tips to help you develop your winning strategy. To begin with, choose the maniac class when you first start the game – the energy boost is more important than money, since it will allow you to do more jobs with less down time. Use that energy to focus on either money or experience – and know what goals you have in mind: buying businesses, better weapons, etc.

Use your skill points to increase your stamina. This in turn will allow you to do more jobs and level up even faster. Finally, use your Godfather points to increase the size of your Mafia family – it’s the surest way to become more powerful.