Yes, it makes it an unknown. You see a sail on the horizon in three different dierections. Two the same distance away. One north and one south. To the East you see one further away. You have two turns to close on one. Do you try to avoid the hunter or face him? I think a pirate would avoid as he is all fight and no money, just experience. Wind is out of the NW. Do you use the wind to close on the south ship? You will be pretty close when the reveal takes place. If it's the hunter than the ship to the north is a merchant and is coming to the aid of the hunter. If the south ship is a merchant you have little time to seize it. The north ship will be closing, if it is a merchant you maybe able to seize the other and engage and seize it before the hunter tacks up from the east. If it's the hunter you can still run off the board with your prize south. Maybe you go east first, get some distance from the other two. But run the risk that your running into the arms of the hunter. At least you would have some distance still to try to turn back and engage the merchants, but would be facing both of them. If you defeat the hunter first, the merchants will beat feet to escape and you will have a chase. Or go north first. The other two ships will have to tack to get to you and give you some time. So many choices plus the unknown of what your closing on. :-)