In Splendor Duel, success hinges on being efficient and adaptive, leveraging card abilities, and strategically disrupting your opponent's plans. There are three potential win conditions: achieving 20 prestige points, acquiring 10 crowns, or getting 10 points in a single color. Most games are won by reaching 20 points, but keeping all options open makes you harder to block. Core Strategies & Tips General Play Be Adaptive: Do not enter the game with a single fixed plan. Adapt your strategy based on the available cards and your opponent's moves. Efficiency is Key: Every action counts. Aim for the most points or the strongest engine-building cards for the fewest actions/gems possible. Master the Abilities: Card abilities (extra turns, stealing gems, copying a color) are powerful and often game-changing. Use them to chain actions and gain tempo. Control the Pace: Try to force your opponent to replenish the central board, as doing so gives them a privilege but gives you the first pick of the newly revealed tokens. Watch Your Opponent: Constantly monitor your opponent's progress and potential moves. If they are close to a key card or a win condition, you may need to pivot to a defensive move (like reserving their needed card). Resource Management Prioritize Pearls and Gold: Pearls are scarce and often required for high-value cards. Gold tokens are wild and highly flexible; top players fight hard for them. Don't Hoard Gems Excessively: While having a buffer provides flexibility, holding too many gems might slow your progress if you aren't converting them into cards efficiently. Replenish Strategically: Replenishing the board is often a last resort or a calculated move to set up a powerful multi-token grab on your next turn. Card & Win Condition Focus Engine Building (Wide Strategy): Acquiring several low-cost, zero-point Tier 1 cards early provides permanent discounts, enabling rapid, free purchases of higher-tier cards later. This works well if the game goes long and you can secure nobles. High-Value Cards (Tall Strategy): Focus on fewer, high-point Tier 2 and Tier 3 cards. This can be a faster route to victory, but requires careful planning and managing token acquisition to afford the expensive costs. Leverage Crowns and Royals: Getting crowns (3 for the first Royal card, 6 for the second) provides substantial points and powerful immediate abilities that can swing the game in your favor. Use Reserve Actions: Reserving cards serves a dual purpose: it secures a needed card for yourself and denies your opponent a card they might need.