You can think of Kings and Assassins like a slightly weird game of chess. If you're only countering immediate threats, then you're missing the overall plan that your opponent is trying to put into place. Take your time over each move, and think about the position you're going to end up in after the current turn, and the next one, and the one after that. Consider the permutations of your foe's moves as well. While the game is mechanically simple, it's in the psychology where things really spark to life. Thinking ahead, and outwitting your opponent's potential future strategies, is a skill you definitely need to learn.