I think there is a way to prevent alliances.
Not sure but it may work...
Just this:
1) Put a big prize for the winner of the game, and no prize + decreasing rank for all the others. Make the 2nd player have something to fight for, and not so big difference between 2nd, 3rd and 4th e.g..
2) Make it clear in game rules that alliances do not exist as part of the game, and so "betrayals" are not only permitted but encouraged.
I think that could work, but it would destroy one of the beautiful things of the game (for those that are not so worried about winning all the time): to realise that people from very different places tend to honour their compromises even if it doesn't seem to really matter or it is not a set rule, just for "fraternity". Oh, I'm going to cry now, so I have to go.
Bye.
P.S.: The problem could be "draws" shall be prohibited. So there could be endless games. Solution: need an algorithm to determine a draw situation automatically. Something like the 3 repeated movements in Chess, but in this case probably more complex. Hope it is possible, would have to think about how to implement it, and I have to go to bed...
