Let's choose Respect of the Old Gods. Reading the numbers from left to right, your plot has 2 gold, 2 initiative, and 2 claim. We'll explore these statistics (as well as the special text) when needed, but for now, hold it ready until your opponent chooses his plot. Once he does, reveal them both at the same time. . .

Plots are simultaneously revealed

Jaime has chosen Hear Me Roar. It has 5 gold, 3 initiative, and 1 claim. It also has a special ability - all characters without the Intrigue icon get -1 STR. This means that Eddard is at 2 STR for the entire round, while the House Umber Recruiter is at 0. The Lannisport Steward has an Intrigue icon and remains at 2 STR.

Once both plots are revealed, the player with the higher initiative chooses the first player: the player who will act first in the remaining phases of the round. So the first player will marshall his cards first, followed by the second player; then the first player will initiate all of his challenges first, followed by the second player.

In this case, Jaime has an initiative of 3, while you have an initiative of 2. Your opponent wins initiative. If you both had the same initiative, then the player with the least amount of power wins initiative. If both players have the same initiative and the same amount of power, then a coin flip determines who wins initiative.

Jaime chooses to be the first player. There are several reasons to want to be the first player - and several reasons to want to be the second.

We're ready to go into the Draw phase. Before we do, here's a reminder of what's in your hand: