Dating can be a scary business, a minefield of potential embarrassment, rejection and humiliation, but you only have to look at the people who have succeeded to see that it's not impossible. Luckily there are rules to make the game easier to follow and play. Like with the laws of anything from rugby to Scrabble, these were invented to ensure that everyone got a fair chance and, assuming they played the game fairly, could end up with something more than just a wooden spoon and a patronising pat on the head. So whether you're a boy or a girl, an asker or an askee, a blind-dater, speed-dater orjust a no-hope-dater, here's an easy-to-follow guide to the perils of dating.