Compliments are good for generally socializing, particularly when they are legit.
however, this forum is about game. and that's not how we do things...compliments early in a conversation will more than likely work against you unless you know how to structure these things correctly.

cheers everyone.

"Unless you know how to structure these things correctly" is basically saying what everyone else has said though - that a 'good' compliment will work well, a 'bad' compliment will work against you. But I don't think you need too many rules here. If you stay away from appearance and focus instead on clothes/jewelry/and maybe even aspects of her personality you will probably be ok.

New Years Eve - I was at a house party, girl I didn't know at all but who was a friend of the host who I knew. She had a nose piercing. Normally I don't like nose piercings at all, but this looked quite cute on her. My 'opener' was a simple introduction and then I said "you know, I don't normally like nose piercings on girls, but that one is actually quite cute".

Turns out she had only just had it done and was a bit self conscious about it herself. So in saying that, she took an instant warming to me and I ended up sleeping with her later that night.