Tip-offs from Neil Strauss, a guy who spent two years spying on pickup artists for his book The Game

He's just playing games if ...
1. He gives you guilt trips. Says Strauss, "One guy I knew told a girl who was hesitant to go home with him, 'I thought you said you were spontaneous and a free spirit!'"



2.He's got a gimmick. Pickup pros call this "peacocking" -----doing something outrageous to pull a woman, any woman, in. (One guy wore seven-inch platform shoes.)



3.He gives backhanded compliments, like "You kinda have man hands. But you're cute." (Actual line!) It's an attempt to make you feel insecure so you'll want to win a guy's approval-----in bed.



4.You're not sure how he feels. If you're always asking your friends whether they think a guy likes you or not, the answer is no. Don't ignore your intuition. As Strauss says, "It's your best defense against a player"

He's serious if...

1.He's happy to hand over his favorite book/CD/sweat shirt if you ask to borrow it. "A clear sign he's fully planning on seeing it-----and you-----again."



2.He's brought you to his favorite bar. "If a guy's intergrating you into his daily life, then he's looking to make you a permanent part of it," says Strauss.



3.He returns your calls quickly. Players thrive by messing with your mind---one guy told Strauss he let a girl leave him 12 messages before calling her back. (Yeah, she should have stopped after the second time.)



4.He goes to your nephew's fifth birthday party with you. "A man who sees you as just a avoid situations where there's zero chance of having sex with you." -----SUNNY SEA GOLD