I just can't win!!!

I've been playing this game for a while now and overall very happy with it. However, either due to my lack of skill or what, I keep loosing when playing as ANY race on 4v4 map with one of the AIs set to HARD.

I keep running into a scenario where the other three just bad against me, check my expansion after 3-4 systems and then just attack me relentlessly until they succseed in driving me out of 1 or 2 systems, after which the game is as good as lost.

No matter how many ships I build, I just can't seem to win. Does any have any advice? is there a strategy guide comming out to help people play???

Thanks!