As someone who's won many games even the most prestigious one of them all, Stars, I think the best strategy I would give new players is to definitely find one ally that you can truly trust. It's really cool to be in a four or five person alliance but if you're in the bottom of the totem pole. You're basically not only being useless but jeopardizing your chance to win.
On that note randomize games, the way Fun Run does... It'll combat premades for sure
