first I will assume you have read the rules & have a basic idea about the game.

the longer the route,the more points.
also destination cards,completed only! = points.

you have to hover your mouse pointer over the route to see how many you train cars you need in that colour.
Your mouse can also hover over a city to see it's name

on your turn you get to pick 2 cards per turn,only 1 if it is a locomotive(acts like a wild card).
remember that!

If you don't need/want any of the colour cards that are showing,then you click on the top "All Aboard Station" card stack.
it's the same as drawing a card from the top of a deck.It's random as to what color you will draw.if you draw a Locomotive the first time,you still get to draw a 2nd card.

or on your turn you can pick a destination.they give you the points.but score against you,dont pick too many!If your destinations are close to each other or have a common city..good!

same colour train cars are needed to complete a route.except the grey routes,any colour can be used.

you must of course have destination cards chosen.they add to your score automatically once you link up the route.

choose carefully
You can, however, undo the placement of cards on a route if you decide not to use it before you save.
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advanced strategies:
the further the distance between destinations=more points.but dont rule them out.
one long destination route can be enough if played properly.
short trips=quick points and are easier to link up.
and it's potential alternatives will be accidentally or deliberately blocked by your opponents.

dont be shy about checking out the "past moves" below the game.I'm nice too,but you are playing to win!
you can figure out a little of what your opponent is doing by seeing what he has drawn & what his moves are.
this is why I think it is better to get a lot of colour cards before making any routes.then you dont give yourself away.
this also gives you time to think about what colours to use were.so when you do make routes,you can act fast.
but dont wait too long in the game,watch the game,use your judgement.

sometimes if my opponent lets me get a long route,I dont bother with destination cards and just block my opponent.
but if he gets past this & gets points you might be screwed.

remember,in 2-player and 3-player games,once one route is claimed,the other one is no longer available.claiming both routes is only possible in games with 4+ players.

I just played with a player whose strategy was to split the usa down the middle,making it hard for me to link up destinations.watch for that.