Hitherto Pompeius had, to all appearance, played the game of war without special plan, and only adjusted his defence according to the exigencies of each attack; and this was not to be censured, for the protraction of the war gave him opportunity of making his recruits capable of fighting, of bringing up his reserves, and of bringing more fully into play the superiority of his fleet in the Adriatic.

Caesar was beaten not merely in tactics but also in strategy.

This defeat had not, it is true, that effect which Pompeius not without reason expected; the eminent soldierly energy of Caesar's veterans did not allow matters to come to an immediate and total breaking up of the army by hunger and mutiny.

But yet it seemed as if it depended solely on his opponent by judiciously following up his victory to reap its full fruits.
War Prospects of Pompeius Scipio and Calvinus It was for Pompeius to assume the aggressive; and he was resolved to do so.

Three different ways of rendering his victory fruitful presented themselves to him.