Plan Ahead
“Every battle is won or lost before it’s ever fought.” – Sun Tzu
Picard doesn’t go charging off without a plan, to do so would be foolhardy. Sure Jim Kirk was able to fly by the seat of his pants and have everything work out, but not everyone has the luck of James Tiberius Kirk. Captain Picard preferred to make his own luck and did so by planning ahead.
Even when Picard’s opponents thought they had the better of him he was always a step ahead due to planning and preparation.
Poor Tomalak was outwitted because he failed to realize who Picard was.