Making the right move

Biko Kennedy and Whitney Blackwood, Youthlink Writers

In many ways life constantly imitates a perfect game of chess. We're always contemplating the next best move in varying situations. Be it using a cheesy pick-up line just to get someone's attention or bravely reciting William Shakespeare's Sonnet 138, our individual approaches may give us the edge or explode in our faces like a failed scientific experiment. This week, Kerry Newton and Ravian Robinson will help us to decipher the best ways to flirt on a casual date.

Using a slick line in a packed party

"A guy once said to me, 'The sun must be your father because your smile just warms my heart' and I was just taken aback for a while. Even though it was a fairly simple line, the way he said it confidently had me talking to him for the entire night."

Flirt-o-metre: 3 Kisses

Using a bad pick-up line at a party

"I was once at a party chilling when this girl came and whispered in my ear, 'My friend Abigail thinks she likes you - you should talk to her'. Maybe they thought that was cute but it just came across as immature. Let me know from you, personally!"

Flirt-o-metre: 1 Kiss

Wearing what makes you happy on a date

"Being trendy, confident in you and not trying to go all out to impress your date always works. Showing a sense of being happy in your own skin normally attracts a lot of guys to you."

Flirt-o-metre: 4 Kisses

Changing your fashion ethics to make her happy

"When the 'jerk movement' was the look to have, I dressed the part to impress a girl. I had the look but couldn't do the moves, so I made a fool of myself just to spark an interest in her (laughs)."

Flirt-o-metre: 2 Kisses

Cracking a flirty joke

"Laughter is always a great motivator during a date. Guys like when a girl has a sense of humour, especially when she can make certain tense moments become very flirty. Picture this: you're watching a movie at the theatre and that awkward moment between you two starts to linger. You could be like, 'Hey, you might as well put your arm around me 'cause I'm going to say you did anyway'. This will make him more confident in himself and make the moment one to laugh about after the date."

Flirt-o-metre: 4 Kisses 

Laughing at every joke she tells

"I know that girls like the fact that guys listen when they're talking and they do tend to sprinkle a few jokes here and there, but there's a thin line between laughing at a few of her jokes to build her confidence a bit, and straight up being a giggle-puss, which happened to me once (laughs); constantly giggling and making myself look super fake. She probably thought I was on drugs or something because her jokes weren't that funny. We did go out a few times after that, though (smiles)."

Flirt-o-metre: 2 Kisses

Taking a walk in the park

"Going for that walk in the park is always a safe haven for a date. Once I was on a date and I could tell that the guy was a bit nervous so I mentioned going for a walk. It was a great way to get him more relaxed and a very casual way to initiate some one-on-one time, which gave him the chance to express himself freely."

Flirt-o-metre: 5 Kisses

Taking a smoke break while on a date

"I think the biggest turn-off while on a date is when someone wants to take that 'smoke break', knowing that you're not a smoker, especially if it's someone you really like. All you can think about is how much her breathe will smell like whatever she just smoked."

Flirt-o-metre: 0 Kiss