Tips on how many dates till you feel connection

This entirely depends on how you’re dating and what you’re looking for.

Are you chasing butterflies, sparks, and physical chemistry? Then it should be there immediately.

Are you trying to get to know someone and build a connection that may not be immediately overwhelming but doesn’t burn out quickly? That takes time. You should still like the person and by the end of the first date be interested enough in continuing to talk and get to know them on a next date, by the end of the second date you’re still interested in a third date, and so on, but there’s no limit to the number of dates. That’s how you build the connection. After 3 dates you don’t need to know that it’s going anywhere for sure, that’s a lot of pressure on you both when you barely know someone. Just know you’re looking forward to another date with them.

However, 1-3 dates is enough time to know if it’s definitely *not* the person for you (there are dealbreakers or you don’t enjoy spending time or you are looking for different things like one of you is casual only or they gave you the ick, whatever). If you aren’t interested enough in the conversation to be excited to spend more time getting to know the person, then don’t bother. No reason to force anything. 10 dates working for someone else doesn’t mean it works for you.