What was the Persians strategy for the battle of salamis?

Answer 1

They were misled into thinking that the Greek fleet, holed up in the strait at Salamis, intended to flee through the back passage west to Megara. So they sent a third of their own fleet to seal off the exit. They intended to attack through the Saronic Gulf with two columns passing on each side of the island of Psyttalia to ensure the Greeks could not escape through one of them. Wit the exits sealed, they expected to confront the enemy fully front.

The problem was that with the fleet split in three, the two remaining columns were attacked from both flanks and the advantage of their heavier ships was negated by the lighter and more maneuverable Greek ships were able to rem and deny the Persian tactic of closing and boarding.