Basically you want to use the first round to use spies and get card draw while trying to force your opponent to spend his special cards and big combo cards so they don't get used later. Try not to go over 10 - 12 damage on the first round unless you can win with more cards in hand then your opponent.

This is important! For a lot of the Gwent games you will play having more cards then your opponent is essential. Some people disregard spies since they give your opponent more attack power but in reality the two cards you get in return will probably be worth more.

Wait to use your big cards until you see what cards your opponent plays. If they have a bunch of close combat enemies then instead of using your 10 attack close combat card, freeze them and use something else. Also if you plan on using a big card then try and make your opponent spend his special cards first.

Having more then the minimum amount will just mean you have to filter through more lesser cards to get to your better cards.

I'm pretty sure that the starter deck you get has a majority of siege weapons. Because of this, instead of having two or three torrential rains, consider having only one or two. This can apply for whatever cards you have.

If you focus on one type of unit then you will have a hard time since your whole deck will crumble to a single weather card. Don't be silly.

This may seem obvious but I personally have forgotten a few times and tried to double Yennefers attack or tried to debuff an enemy hero to one attack and failed. Don't be an idiot like I am.

They use the same deck over and over and over until you beat them. Then they use it some more. Find their weaknessess and exploit them. For example, as far as I can tell the monster decks mainly pile up close combat, so put more Biting Frost in your deck then normal could benefit you.

For me, the White Orchard Inn is closed now since I dismembered a bunch of dudes. Thanks to this there are some cards that I can't purchase anymore, I'm sure there will be more examples later on the game.

Try to prioritize healing cards that can have a combo, for example healing another heal card and then healing one more card from the card that was just healed. Healing spies can be extremely beneficial as well. Same applies for decoys. Decoys can also be helpful as a draw back if you think you're going to lose or as a taunt to try and make your enemies play their bigger cards.

When you click on the leader during the game you will get an ability depending on the leader whether it be dispensing a special card or a free Commander's Horn. I didn't use this for a while since I completely forgot. Once again, don't be an idiot like I am.

Just as a little extra strategy, there have been a couple of occasions where I've won the first game and made a pretty good play that some of you may not have heard of. If you are losing the second game but think you can win don't always spend all your cards, check how many cards your opponent has. If they use all their offensive cards you win by default come round 3 given that you have at least one offensive card.

This is what I've gathered during my time playing, feel free to post more in the comments and I will edit them in. If you think I'm wrong somewhere, feel free to say :)

@ /u/yay4physics On the topic of decoy/heal. Decoy together with heal is a great combo. Play your heal card, get a card from the graveyard, decoy your heal card and then play it again to get another card from the graveyard.

@ /u/flizer Useful tactic I found, if your enemy uses a spy card on you, you can use the decoy card to bring the spy into your hand even though technically its the enemies. Then you can play it on their side and get the extra 2 cards.

@ /u/Speciou5 I get the idea of "not winning the first round", but blitz strategies are definitely possible. Especially with the third Foltest power (double Siege strength) and his natural ability of getting a card draw for winning.

I've taken the first round with very minimal cards via an overwhelming show of force (e.g. two catapaults, Foltest's siege warhorn, clear weather in my hand), then came out ahead when the opponent passes and I drop spies down.

@ /u/Spyder638 Scorch is an insanely good card after you're done baiting out good cards on your opponent, ESPECIALLY when you start playing against opponents likely to pull out horns on you, because every card will be extremely strong. (Scorch only kills strong cards, 7+ I think) Another one to add is: Keep your clear weather card if the opponent has a lot of cards left, as they could have a duplicate or another weather card that will hurt you. Just keep playing as if the bad weather wasn't there, and use clear weather as late as you can.

@ /u/El-Grunto One thing I've found to work well is to lure the opponent into passing early in the first round by playing weak cards. Then you use weather and special cards to win just by one or two points. This usually leaves you plenty of force to win the second round.