When you're out at night and meet a hot woman, chances are good someone will try to cock block you -- to make sure she doesn't go home with you. But it may not be another guy getting in your way. Other women (read: Her friends), can be potential grenades, ready to blow up your game any chance they get. Here are 5 of the most common... and how to deal with them when they start running interference.

The Mother Hen
Description: She's the friend who feels it's her job to protect your girl from guys like you.

Behavior: She'll tend to hover nearby, and constantly ask her friend questions like: "Are you ok?", "Are you sure you're ok? and "Are you really ok, because we can leave..."

Remedy: You have two ways to deal with a Mother Hen: 1. You can make her feel as comfortable with you as possible, by including her in the conversation and showing her you have no intention of leaving her friend's lifeless body in a dumpster behind a motel. This does take some effort, because they tend to be seriously skeptical and demand a lot of attention. That's why option 2 is easier: Have your buddy/wingman step in and keep her busy. After all, that's why you'll be buying him beers all night, so he can keep regaling her with witty stories while you spend time getting to know her friend.

The Mother Bear
Description: Think Mother Hen on 'roid rage. After finding out she lost her job, her car, and her boyfriend slept with her sister. She's like an angry mother bear protecting her cubs, and for whatever reason she really doesn't want you talking to her friend.

Behavior: Openly aggressive, she'll usually step in between the two of you and say something like "Go. The fuck. Away."

Remedy: Go the fuck away. For now. She is a grenade with the pin pulled you don't want to mess with. And you never look good in a bar (or any public place, for that matter), when a woman is screaming in your face. It's a no win situation. And unless you have a wingman who is an expert at dismantling this kind of bomb, your best bet is to retreat for now, and watch for an opening when she's not around.

The Debbie Downer
Description: She's miserable and wants everyone around her to be miserable too.

Behavior: Since it would kill her to see her friend meet a great guy instead of her, she'll be hanging around telling stories of how men have done her wrong in the past, bringing up negatives about her friend, her exboyfriends, the latest flu pandemic... anything to kill the mood you're trying to establish with your girl.

Remedy: This is a job for your wingman. Introduce him as the Best Listener North of the Rio Grande. All she wants is attention. Have him come into the conversation and gradually work her over to another area of the bar to let her pour her heart out. And get the attention she craves. No wingman? Then you've got to be Mr. Sunshine. Buy into her misery and you're done. Instead, turn everything around, look for the silver lining in her stories. If anything, it'll show the girl you're talking to that you're a positive guy. Just don't let the Downer think you're coming on to her... otherwise you're giving her more fuel for her pity party.

The Party Planner
Description: She's been planning this "Girl's Night" for weeks, and no guy is going to come in and mess it all up.

Behavior: She'll walk over with her big, fake smile to constantly remind you that they "are all together" and that this is "our girl's night" they are "all leaving together."

Remedy: Hit and run. Unless the girl you're talking to is willing to piss off her friend and hang out with you for the rest of the night, you're going to need to work fast. Tell her you're having a great time, but don't want to ruin the girl's night, so you'll have to continue the conversation another time. Soon. Get her number and make plans to meet.

The Jealous Maniac
Description: She's tired of seeing all her friends get hit on while she sips her cosmotini alone.

Behavior: A rogue missile, she'll do whatever she can to torpedo your, and her friend's, good time. Some will be subtle, some will be painfully obvious. And effective.

Remedy: Since she can come in at any angle, with any attack -- and go from mildly annoyed, to full-on Bitch Queen in a heartbeat -- she's tricky to deal with. Again, a willing and able wingman is your best bet, keeping her busy while you work your magic. (Starting to see why having a reliable wingman is so invaluable?) And if he is unavailable, start showing her some attention, get her involved in the conversation and fun, because like the Mother Hen and Debbie Downer, all she craves is some attention too. And not to feel like she's going to be the last woman standing. Alone.

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