If you and your opponent have never studied or witnessed the game as it is played at tournaments or by good players at USCA clubs, you are unlikely to quickly grasp the elements of tactics and strategy which distinguish this game from the many garden varieties of Backyard Croquet. But don't despair. Begin at the beginning, knowing that at every level, there is a winning combination of offensive and defensive strategy. Setting up and playing breaks is the foundation of winning offensive strategy, and a principle topic of books and tapes on the play of croquet, too complex to attempt here. If you don't understand it right away, don't despair.
Defensive strategy is often the best recipe for success in beginning play.
Let your opponent make the mistakes which you can capitalize on. Let the opponent go dead and punish him for it. When the opponent, dead on his partner, desperately sets up in front of his wicket to score and clear in the next turn, put him out of position on your attack and use your bonus strokes to set up at your own wicket, so you can clear your deadness first - and then repeat this malicious action again and again. And fortunately, this is a game that can be enjoyed even at the lower levels of play. This move often baffles spectators since it appears that no one is attempting to go for wicket points.