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I'd advise against compliments as openers unless she's given you some pretty strong visual IOIs. Basically you're showing her your hand before the cards have even been dealt. It's probably something she hears a lot too.
In my (albeit limited, I've not been at this long...) experience and from what I've read compliments as openers will work on HBs when:
-They have already given several IOIs
-You have already generated enough social proof (In which case what you say wont make much difference at all). If you DHV enough before the approach then yes, a compliment will work.
Though saying that, something Gambler said stuck with me. It was something along the lines of: As soon as you give a her a compliment she's thinking "where are my friends?", "what are this guys intentions?", "do I want to keep talking to him?" etc, if you never compliment her she's pre-occupied with "Does he like me?" and even "How can I get him to like me?".
So although "You're cute" might get you talking, it won't necessarily mean you'll be talking for long. Omitting the compliment might make for an easier mid-game because she's still trying to win you over.
You're partially right in the CLUB or BAR situation, where girls are expecting to be hit on, and a compliment without the backup of her having seen you in a social situation and seeming to have value in the venue may come off as a rapport-seeking, value-taking behaviour.
However, during the day, women are NOT expecting to be hit on at all, so a nice direct compliment said with confidence and a smile will get her to stop and thank you with a giggle or smile, more often than not.
Give it a try, you may surprise yourself!
CHAT