Ben,
Good idea/bad idea to invite her along?
I wouldn't recommend it. The first problem is that inviting her to a poker night doesn't let her know that you're interested in her. It's a friendly invitation and doesn't make your intentions clear. It's always important that you are direct with your intentions by inviting a girl into a situation that lets her know that you want to get romantic with her. Inviting her to a poker game with your friends doesn't do that.
The second problem is that you're introducing her to your friends before you've closed the deal. It's best to keep women as far away as possible from your social circle until you've had sex. The second you introduce her to friends, there's pressure to not only not make you feel like she's not a slut but also to make your
friends feel like she's not a slut. For all she knows, you'll sleep with her and then tell all of your poker friends that you "banged that hot blonde chick that was here last weekend." And if she were to attend the poker game again, she would be worried how many of them know about it. It's not something she should need to be worried about.
Invite girls out for a drink, yogurt, ice cream, or whatever. Just make it
simple and make sure it's a
one-on-one scenario. It takes the pressure off of both of you.
- Franco
