New to Block Blast — any strategy to avoid running out of space so fast?

I just started playing Block Blast yesterday, and I’m already kind of addicted. At first it felt easy, but after a few rounds the board fills up really quickly and I suddenly have no place to put the next pieces.

My current best score is around 3,500, but most of the time my game ends because I place blocks randomly and then a big piece shows up that doesn’t fit anywhere. I’ve been trying to clear rows and columns, but sometimes it feels impossible to plan ahead.

Do experienced players usually save space in the middle of the board, or is it better to build around the edges first? Also, is it normal to hold off placing pieces until you see all three options?

Would love to hear how other beginners improved when they first started playing!