A marvelously Machiavellian application of social scientific methods to practical politics, this study tests the hypothesis that coalition partners serve their own interests best by mixing a strategy of cooperation with one of conflict, and by terminating the coalition at the best psychological moment. Data from Indian state politics confirm the analysis; incidentally, the best players of the coalition game (high in need for achievement, willing to take risks) appear to be the Jana Sangh and Communist Parties.