Thinking Like a Pro: Value

I was playing a game of Silver Age recently with a new player when he blocked my Bare Fangs (for 8) with a Scar for a Scar. I asked why he had done this, instead of keeping the Scar for a Scar to attack with, and he commented that he thought he shouldn’t take all 8 of the damage I was presenting as it amounted to almost half of his life total. I told him he should view each turn as a puzzle to do the most total damage threatened and prevented and we continued to play, but I contemplated to what extent the advice I gave was an accurate encapsulation of the optimal approach, and what other caveats would need to be given, in time, to help guide my friend to optimal Flesh and Blood gameplay.