Does playing hard to get work? How to keep a girl interested in you

If you have been on a couple of dates with a woman whose interest you want to keep, what's the best plan of action? Tell her how much you like her or play hard to get? Here are some tips to keep the attraction alive and her coming back for more.

Be spontaneous

If you apply old relationship routines to your new love interest, you will bore her quickly. She's looking for a new man to offer her new experiences. Mix things up a little and be spontaneous. Surprise her with tickets to a concert she might enjoy, a picnic in the park or go round to her house unannounced with flowers some time. The excitement of not knowing what's going to happen next will keep her interested.

Keep her guessing

Keep some things close to your chest. A little bit of mystery will hold her interest. Don't be around whenever she calls. It's important to keep her guessing about what your next move will be. If the relationship develops, sharing intimate information and being there for each other will come with time. At this stage, you need to be on her mind. By not being there at her every beck and call, she'll be thinking about you more often.

Put in some effort

Whatever your financial situation, your dates together should show some effort on your part. Booking a table at an expensive restaurant every time you meet is nice, but it doesn't demonstrate much originality or thinking. Try and make every date different. It's also important to apply the same principle to your appearance. Don't turn up to your date in an old t-shirt and jeans. She's probably spent hours choosing her outfit and it pays to return the favor.

Compliment her

There's a fine line between compliment overload and being indifferent. If you shower her with too many flattering remarks, you could end up putting her off seeing you again. She'll either think that you're trying to get her into bed as quickly as possible, or that you're a sap and are moving things too quickly. Alternatively, don't totally refrain from praising her. If you keep your mouth shut, she might think that you're not interested in taking things further. A simple, 'You look great' is enough for her to know that you have assessed her appearance and you like what you see. It's also important to remember that she doesn't just want to be viewed in terms of her looks. If she talks about work, celebrate her achievements by saying such things as, 'You're really smart.' She'll love that you are flattering another aspect of herself that other men might have missed.

Listen to her

There's nothing worse than a date that just waits around until it's his or her time to talk. You need to be attentive and respond to her appropriately. Make sure that you ask her questions about herself and her opinions. The conversation should be as close to 50/50 as possible. If you feel it swaying in one direction, correct it. She'll feel valued and respected if you show that you are interested in what she's got to say.

Have your own life

It's no good spending all of your time thinking about the woman you've been dating. You need to continue your life as usual. Hang out with your friends and take part in sports or activities you enjoy. If you stay at home waiting for her to call, you'll have nothing to talk about when you meet up and become a dull date. People with great social lives are interesting and fun. This is the kind of guy she wants to date, so spend time with the guys and enjoy yourself.

Is playing hard to get the best game plan to keep her interested? Not exactly. If you remain too aloof, she will look elsewhere for a man who will give her the attention she deserves. However, even if you're besotted with her, don't be needy and don't be predictable. Spending time apart and avoiding contact by phone or email will make her all the more eager to spend time with you again.