The order of the numbers does not matter. The first move may NOT be in the center. The second and subsequent moves, however, can be anywhere on the grid. Likewise, there seems to be no advantage in going first. The games, however, tend to end with a winner rather than in ties.
Most losses result from carelessness.
It's easy to make a mistake after four or five numbers have been played. That's when the game requires close attention, higher level thinking skills, and accurate adding and subtracting. The one constant is good number facts practice in an enjoyable context.