When Nice Guys Finish First.

Dating is a lot like poker. You've got the hot shot in the Armani suit putting down thousand dollar bets, sweeping all the girls off their feet. Then there's the average Joe--he's just a nice guy playing it safe. But he always seems to lose when it comes to winning the girl.

Despite how it seems, the deck is not stacked against the nice guy. He just needs to learn to play his hand better. Here's a cheat sheet for upping the odds of winning the dating game.

Your Poker Face
When we first meet a guy, we like the fact that we don't know anything about him. Most of the time, nice guys are too eager to lay their cards on the table. Then we don't have anything to look forward to--you've lost your mystery, and we've lost interest.

Advanced Intelligence: If you feel the need to divulge right away, make sure to save a few "ace up your sleeve" stories for later. Like how you saved your younger brother from drowning or how you spend every Sunday on a Harley. Something that will really show us a new side of you.

The Art of Bluffing
High rollers walk in like they own the joint, and women are attracted to that kind of magnetism. Confidence is extremely important. If you don't have it, fake it. Take slower strides than usual, maintain eye contact, and don't forget to smile.

Advanced Intelligence: It never hurts to look like a high roller. If you're taking her to dinner, call the restaurant in advance to get the name of the hostess working that evening. When you walk in and say "Hi Amanda, good to see you again," she'll be too polite to call your bluff.

Be a Five-Card Stud
There are five characteristics women would love every man to have: honesty, loyalty, charisma, intelligence, and assertiveness (not aggressiveness). This is a winning hand if there ever was one. Assertiveness is the one most "nice guys" have trouble with. Don't be a pushover or a doormat--women will walk all over you if given the chance. You can be nice without being a sucker.

People don't play poker because it's easy--they play because it's tough, so winning means more. Women like the challenge of figuring out a man. So if you play your cards right, odds are you'll go from being the "nice guy" to being "THE guy" in no time.