Hey guys,

I have used the help on here to get my last gf and unfortunately it is time again for me to start over.

Let's cut to the chase:

Last night was a beer evening which many interns at my company attend, including me. Since I have been team leader for the "fun team" for a while, know a good many people and even more know me. I usually just enjoy the evening have a couple beers and try to talk with everyone I know but tonight there were two new girls (HB7 and HB8) I had never seen before: possibly new interns?

Logistics were pretty bad at the beginning as they were sitting in a corner with four guys around them and no good way to strike up a conversation. The night progresses and they eventually got up and moving around. I noticed that without being a creep and as they passed me I greet the guy who brought them briefly and pay them no attention since I am still in a conversation with a new intern, hot guy. They stand right behind where we're sitting and it takes only a couple seconds until, again, they are surrounded by guys.

I used to be the guy that sees that scenario and thinks: "Damn I'm too late again". However, times have changed. I finish my beer, excuse myself, get a new one, go straight to my colleague who brought them here and ask him to introduce myself, while they are standing right next me listening in on everything. Names and hand shakes are exchanged and I strike up a conversation with HB8 since HB7 is too far away to be properly understood. We go through the usual small talk stuff, where who is from, what they are doing etc. Apparently they live here and I joke around that it’s a dead city, initiate light kino on the shoulder during the joke, and tease them that their youth must have been pretty boring. We continue talking through various topics, traveling comes up, which is always my time to shine (since nobody I know comes close to the number of countries I have visited). Now most of the other guys have left by now and at some point it is just the four of us. I continue to lead the conversation, joke around a bit, keep eye contact (but mostly with HB8, which I am trying to #-close). At some point I excuse myself to the restroom and when I came back took the chance to push HB8 aside slightly with my hip to gain some space to stand (love that move, what do you guys think?). Overall everything is working well, she seems interested and talks mostly to me while maintaining constant eye contact with me while the other two are talking with each other. Now it’s been a while and I didn't plan on doing this so I didn't read up on the basic flow mentioned in Magic Bullets. I know I have to isolate her somehow but before that happens, hot guy joins us. This is perfectly normal, after all the event was created so we interns can get to know each other. And then "poof" I disappear. Her eyes turn and she immediately strikes up a conversation with him. Thank god for all the lessons on outcome independence, it doesn't bother me that much so we start talking as a group of three. The guy is slightly smaller than me but build like an ox and very good looking, like very very. So I remember something called "amoging" (?) which is basically a method to show dominance over somebody who, at least physically is more alpha than you. We continue to talk and joke around I shoot one or two jokes his way and use the opportunity to clap him on the shoulder, not too soft, not too hard, he is a nice guy after all. However, at some point we talk about rowing, which is his sport, and he asks where it would be possible to get started here. HB8 immediately takes out her phone and starts asking a friend who rows as well. This goes on for a while me trying to lead the conversation having good eye contact (with both) joking around, gaining her attention and him asking simple question and her losing focus for me immediately. When she went to the restroom he left and she asked immediately where he went.

Cutting short, the girls are about to leave, I think "Fuck it", tell her it was a great time and whether she would like to meet up next week. She is meeting with all of her friends (since she leaves her hometown in 2 weeks forever) so she has unfortunately no time.

Time to reflect:

What I think I did right:

  • I didn’t linger around eyeing the girls but went straight in and introduced myself

  • I think my kino was ok considering the situation and that a lot of people were around us

  • I’ve gotten pretty good at joking around within various topics and make everyone laugh

  • I’ve welcomed hot guy when he joined and didn’t ignore him but made him part in the conversation and most importantly I didn’t become jealous

What I think I did wrong:

  • Focusing entirely on HB8, showing rather clear interest, I pretty much gave the cat the string from the very beginning

  • Didn’t isolate her early enough so it would socially be rather unacceptable for other to simply join like hot guy did

What I need to improve (this is where I need input):

  • Actively focus on not showing immediate interest

  • Not focusing mainly on the target but strike up a conversation with HB7 and other guys in the group ignoring HB8 for the most part

  • Learn to isolate and simply do it

Overall I would say it was pretty successful, though. It was the first night being single, I had an open mindset, no goals but still managed to open a set and converse with them for most of the time they were there. I managed to get some IOI’s (strong eye contact, asking me a lot of question about myself) and think everyone had a pretty good time. I feel good about asking for the #, knowing I did everything I could that night and have nothing to regret.

Aside from what I need to improve one question lingers in my head: Would I have been able to still game her, despite her being clearly more attracted to hot guy? If there had been other girls in the bar, should I have simply ejected and look for a new target?

Tough question without having been there, I know, but what would you guys say from your own experience?

Motivation for others:

It simply feels good to know I have progressed to a man that is capable of approaching strange girls, holding a good conversation, get them to laugh and all of that without being the slightest bit nervous. Especially considering that I come from absolutely nothing: a creepy, shy computer nerd that had never even kissed a girl until 17. All it takes is work guys. Work on yourself.

EDIT: One more move I pulled: When talking about backpacks for traveling I made her hold my beer to properly gesticulate with my hands. She gave it back immediately after I was done explaining, though.

What do you guys think of this switcheroo?