[2022] I really don't understand the strategy in this game

I don't get the tactics in a 1 v 1. If I parry, they seem to be able to queue up attacks and I never get a swing back. If I attack, they parry and somehow hit me first on the return.

Seems like you're not activating the riposte window - when you parry, you get a sped-up attack as long as you input the attack quickly enough. Once their weapon hits your parry, input and they won't be able to hit you first.

Also, chambering is kinda cool and it has some uses, but the people that tell you that chambering is the best thing ever are straight up wrong; the "optimal" defense is to have giga brain reaction times and hard read every attack to see if it's a feint or not. That's virtually impossible, so if you panic a bit you can use chambers to kind of get around reading an attack a little, but the stam drain and timing does make it a little difficult to learn.

Overall, just keep playing - don't expect to be god tier yet, but if you keep putting the effort in you'll get there. Mordhau is relatively unique, if you haven't played a game like this before it's like trying to get into CSGO without ever playing a shooter before. It'll take time, but it's worth it.