I know the map you're talking about.  Like all the really small maps, going for the big planets that are far away from your homeworld is a tempting but inferior approach.  Instead, go for the asteroids and attack the enemy directly.  You still want to take any neutral extractors at the asteroid belt, but you don't need to send capital ships to do this, just a few frigates to capture them and maybe a few more to chase away any enemies trying to do the same.

Remember, if your enemy tries to capture those more distant planets, his homeworld will be defenseless and you can attack it.  In other words, if you keep your fleet in position he's stuck defending his one world and you've got the game in the bag so long as you control those three asteroids.  Those more distant planets will likely never enter into the equation.  I never colonize them when I play this map.

On a map this small, never move your capital unless it is destroyed.  Yes, some of those outer worlds will have lower loyalty, but this is perfectly normal.

Suppose I quickly get HAA of the HAAAH series.  That's about 8 resources for me, 6 for them.  Both very short of build slots. 

?-Then send a small force to the loop, pick up some extractors but don't build anything else because too easy to take down?

?-Or how about this:  Choose the Vasari CV plus extra squadrons, have it spend most of its time it in the star's GW, do go for the side loop.  In my (limited) experience it is really hard to interdict a star short of LOTs of strikecraft.

Re cap ships--anywhere I can find speeds?

Perhaps there is topic on it. so try searching the forums. But the antorak is the fastest cap thanks to distort gravity but is a terrible first cap choice as it has little combat abilities except phase out hull. though in al small map it could be useful if u can get it to the enemy homeworld and subvert it before he can build any sizable fleet whilie slowly sending in one of your own. though that would mean skipping colonizing other planets all together.

i wouldnt recommend it

o and i assume CV means carrier vessal

The AI does not surrender on small maps.  You will need to completely kill it off.  That said, Sova rushing is definitely applicable on this map.

If you stalemate for a significant length of time, going for those outer planets would be a sensible option (although you'd need to set up defenses in order to avoid the enemy launching a counter-attack).  However, the AI is a relatively poor defender so this is unlikely. 

The problem with Face Off is that it places too much emphasis on the asteroid chain.  Asteroids are the "low lying fruit" of planets, the stuff you capture first before you grab anything else.  The chain of asteroids is like a trail of bread crumbs leading you and your opponent into a very sudden confrontation.  If the battle turns into a stalemate (someone will own the central asteroid, which will be a huge advantage) then those outer planets may become of interest, but against the AI this is unlikely.

The point is that Face Off doesn't balance these two approaches, because the "loop" of planets is too distant and the chain of asteroids really drives the players into quick confrontation.  I would have put a big neutral gravity well in the middle of that chain of asteroids (probably a gas giant) to act as a buffer between the two players.

As a map-maker, I've developed my own philosophies and approaches to making good balanced maps for Sins.  Now,  I've had the benefit of months of playing the game in multiplayer to get a very deep understanding of the timing of player expansion.  This is a good example of my work:

Do you claim your ice and consolidate your solar system, or go straight for the two deserts in the middle?  Or maybe you should quickly research long range jumps and attack through the sun?  I've seen all of these strategies pursued.  Very fun map.

That map is part of this map pack: https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/365777

It's called "Escalation"

Well, it worked.  Built only 2 mil labs and no civ.  Would like to try again, this time taking the whole map seriously.  Ideas, anyone?

Yes, here.  From Zyrxil's pinned stat post.

Colony Capital ships are actually a little slower than the other Cap ships (475 vs 525).   But they are still generally the best first choice, allowing quicker/better/cheaper colonization.  On this map, the Carrier Caps might be a better choice, because they offer more fire power early on.  The Marauder has an unique ability to increase speed of its fleet using 'distort gravity'.   It also has a 'Subversion' ability that might be usefull in rushing the enemy.

Darvin has given good advice.  This map is a face off, and is about a rush to destroy your opponent (via the asteroids).  Even the map description says "take what few there are and crush enemy quickly". 

I too have played thru all of the maps, and wish they would have included a campaign, which 'unlocked' the next map. I found that the map descriptions often give a good hint of what strategy to pursue.

You should always take the first asteroid; this is too good to pass up.  You don't need to send a capital ship, three light frigates and a colony frigate will do the trick (if you can, take the next one).  For defenses, multiple repair bays are your best bet.  Asteroids are actually great places to set up your defenses, since the gravity well is so small.

Desert planets, if there is one, can have nearly 20 defenders including Kodiaks.  No can do with just a mothership and a few basic frigates.   I don't have to hit that one first but even so ....

The discounted planet upgrades don't seem worth much.  The 30-second wait costs almost as much as the 1st dicount saves, plsus not likely to collect on more than 2-3 per planet unless I buy upgrades I don't want yet.  Other abilities seem better than getting level 2 of this. 

The easiest way to take down heavily defended deserts with just a capital ship is to use turrets and repair bays.  Kill the siege frigates first (there are never more than 3), then colonize the planet and build the necessary defenses.  These defenses will then easily clear the planet defenders.  You will need to act quickly, as you don't have very long to get your repair bays up before your mothership takes too much damage.

The three loop planets vary from game to game. 

The Q asked was what if you don't want to ignore 1/2 the map.