178 entries in Nut / Shell Game
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
Jack Chanin The 3 Shell Game general comments
1934 i
Jack Chanin Fundamentals on the basic steal
1934 1
Jack Chanin You Hold It! A Fooler for the Wise stealing pea while spectator holds finger on it
Also published here 1934 2
Jack Chanin Over the Top! bluff sequence
Related toAlso published here 1934 3
Jack Chanin Back Hand Kick stealing pea with the hand palm up, pushing shell forward
Also published here 1934 4
Jack Chanin Open Hand Shift all shells between fingers of one hand, pea is stolen out, grip transfer
Also published here 1934 5
Jack Chanin The Finger Slide stealing pea while shell is held by spectator, pushing it with one finger, grip transfers
Also published here 1934 6
Ellis Stanyon The Stanyon Lessons for the Cups and Balls part 12, including
- The Travelling Sugar
- Four Paper Balls and Plates
- The Walnut Shells and Pea
- Thimble Rigging
- Chinese Marbles
July 1938
The Jinx (Issue 46)
314
Tom Osborne History of the Three Shell Game
1938 5
Tom Osborne Equipment, or Props, Required
  • Selection and preparation of shells
  • The pea
  • The table or exhibition board
1938 8
Tom Osborne Sleights and Manipulations general comments on the Three Shell Game
1938 10
Tom Osborne Definitions glossary of the Three Shell Game
1938 11
Tom Osborne Stealing the Pea (Method A) basic steal
  • Loading the pea
1938 12
Tom Osborne Stealing the Pea (Method B) basic steal with first finger on the side of shell
1938 12
Tom Osborne Stealing the Pea (Method C) basic steal and back clip
1938 13
Tom Osborne The Kick Steal to back clip
1938 14
Tom Osborne Sucker Moves
  • The Finger Sucker Steal
1938 14
Tom Osborne Sucker Moves (Continued)
  • (A) The Lift-Up Sucker Steal
  • (B) The Fake Steal
  • (C) The Fake Load
  • (D) The Left Side Sucker Steal
  • (E) The Right Side Sucker Steal
1938 15
Tom Osborne Sucker Moves (Continued)
  • (A) The Flash
  • (B) Sucker Steal
  • (C) Sucker Flash
1938 16
Tom Osborne The Take-Away (Method A) showing shell empty, pea hidden underneath fingers. similar to Chanin's move
Related to 1938 17
Tom Osborne The Take Away (Method B) hitting shell with other shell and stealing pea in process
1938 17
Tom Osborne The Back Hand Position palm up V grip, stealing pea to back clip and position changes
  • The Back Hand Turnover
  • The Back Hand Roll
1938 18
Tom Osborne The Upside Down Turnover turning shell face-down
1938 18
Tom Osborne The Pass false take with pea and palm transfers
  • The Back Shift
  • The Inside Shift
1938 19
Tom Osborne Shell Held by Spectator pea is stolen while spectator has finger on shell
1938 20
Tom Osborne The Double Decker bluff sequence
Related to 1938 21
Tom Osborne A Series of Lessons lessons to learn the Three Shell Game
  • Lesson 1
  • Lesson 2
  • Lesson 3
  • Lesson 4
  • Lesson 5
  • Lesson 6
  • Lesson 7
  • Lesson 8
  • Lesson 9 - The Roll Flash
  • Lesson 10 - Holding Out
1938 22
Tom Osborne Presentation Routines general comments on performing the Three Shell Game
1938 29
Tom Osborne The Chart numbered chart to describe moves for Three Shell Game
1938 32
Tom Osborne Routine 1
1938 33
Tom Osborne Routine 2
1938 33
Tom Osborne Routine 3
1938 34
Tom Osborne Routine 4
1938 35
Tom Osborne Routine 5
1938 35
Tom Osborne Routine 6
1938 36
Tom Osborne Routine 7
1938 37
Tom Osborne Routine 8
1938 38
Tom Osborne Routine 9
1938 38
Tom Osborne Routine 10
1938 38
Tom Osborne Routune 11
1938 39
Tom Osborne Routine 12
1938 40
Tom Osborne Routine 13
1938 40
Tom Osborne Routine 14
1938 41
Tom Osborne Routine 15
1938 41
Tom Osborne Routine 16
1938 42
Tom Osborne Routine 17
1938 43
Tom Osborne Routine 18
1938 43
Tom Osborne Routine 19
1938 44
Tom Osborne Routine 20
1938 45
Tom Osborne Routine 21
1938 45
Tom Osborne Routine 22
1938 46
Tom Osborne Routine 23
1938 46
Tom Osborne Routine 24
1938 47
Tom Osborne Routine 25
1938 47
Tom Osborne Routine 26
1938 48
Tom Osborne Routine 27
1938 49
Tom Osborne Routine 28
1938 49
Tom Osborne Routine 29
1938 49
Tom Osborne Routine 30
1938 50
Tom Osborne Routine 31 Dr. Bennett's exposed corner idea, using pea made from paper, gimmicked shell
1938 51
Tom Osborne Routine 32 Dr. Bennett's exposed corner idea, using pea made from paper, gimmicked shell
1938 53
Tom Osborne Routine 33 three different coins end up under a shell each, nesting coin
1938 53
Tom Osborne Starting Routines to get the spectator's interest
1938 55
Tom Osborne Shills and Sharpers
1938 56
Jack Chanin Point on Shells on what shells to use, Chanin Shells
1949 12
Jack Chanin The Correct Pea on what material to use for the pea
1949 14
Jack Chanin How to Make a Pea how to cut it from foam
1949 15
Jack Chanin The Size of the Pea
1949 15
Jack Chanin Working Surface for the shell game, different possibilities
1949 17
Jack Chanin, Paul Rosini The 3 Shell Game - Basically Importan on misdirection
1949 18
Jack Chanin Fundamental - Master Move basic steal
1949 19
Jack Chanin, Paul Rosini Red, White & Blue using different colored shells
1949 24
Jack Chanin You Hold It stealing pea while spectator holds finger on it
Also published here 1949 25
Jack Chanin Over the Top! bluff sequence
Also published here 1949 28
Jack Chanin, Paul Rosini Double Pea using two peas
1949 30
Jack Chanin Back Hand Trick stealing pea with the hand palm up, pushing shell forward
Also published here 1949 31
Jack Chanin Variation - Under the Fingernail showing shell empty, when people sit in front
1949 34
Jack Chanin Which One, Bub? one handed steal, showing both sides of hand
1949 36
Jack Chanin Open Hand Shift Routine all shells between fingers of one hand, pea is stolen out, grip transfer
Also published here 1949 39
Jack Chanin Variation... Sucker Move all shells between fingers of one hand, pea is stolen out
1949 39
Jack Chanin One Here, One Here, and One Here (Triple Pea) pea is shown under every shell using repeated basic move
1949 44
Jack Chanin Look Folks, No Hands steal using handkerchief, pushing all shells forward
1949 45
Jack Chanin Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo steal using a playing card
1949 48
Jack Chanin, Paul Rosini Monte Carlo (What are the odds?) using stage money to play with audience members, numbering shells
1949 54
Jack Chanin The Finger Slide Routine stealing pea while shell is held by spectator, pushing it with one finger, grip transfers
Also published here 1949 55
Jack Chanin Lay-Out table lay-out for the shell game
1949 58
Jack Chanin He's Just Too Sloow sucker element, spectator see palmed pea
1949 60
Jack Chanin Stick-Em using a magnetic pea, magnet in matchbox
1949 61
Jack Chanin Variations using a magnetic pea and magnet
1949 63
Jack Chanin Chanin's Favorite Master Move showing shell empty, pea hidden underneath fingers
Related to 1949 64
Jack Chanin How to Dress and Present the Shell Game what to wear and how to present the 3 shell game
  • Finale
1949 68
Jack Chanin How to Take Care of the Smart Aleck, etc.
1949 73
Lewis Ganson "The Walnut Shells and Pea"
  • 1. The Shells
  • 2. The Pea
  • 3. The Working Surface
  • 4. The "Basic" Move
    • (a) How to hold the shell (right hand)
    • (b) How to move a shell
    • (c) How to steal and replace the pea
  • 5. The "Kick" Steal
    • (a) The "Steal"
    • (b) The Replacement
  • 6. The Finger on the Shell
  • The Routine
  • Additional Sleights for the "Walnut Shells and Pea"
    • To steal the pea
    • The tea cup
    • Pic-a-back
    • The "Spread" (all three shells held between fingers of one hand)
1950 65
Theodore Annemann Three Card Monte Outdone with three aspirin boxes and one penny
Related to 1952 7
Eddie Joseph Where is that Coin? three matchbox drawers and a coin, monte / shell game
1954 26
Hans E. Trixer Routine with the Miniature Cups and Balls
1954 175
James G. Thompson Jr. Peas and Cues routine, several phases
Also published here 1956 32
Eddie Joseph Preface intro to the Shell Game
1959 5
Eddie Joseph The Twin Principle basic working of the Three Shell Game
1959 6
Eddie Joseph Preparing the Outfit how to make the shells and the pea
1959 6
Eddie Joseph Defining the Principle on what surface to use, friction
1959 7
Eddie Joseph The Rudiments general comments on the Three Shell Game
1959 8
Eddie Joseph The Moves comments on the moves and the basic grip for the Three Shell Gane
1959 8
Eddie Joseph The Regular Slide basic steal and load
1959 9
Eddie Joseph The Back Finger-Clip Slide back clip and open hand display
1959 10
Eddie Joseph The Two-Way Slide working with two peas, back clip steal
1959 10
Eddie Joseph The Prong Slide different grip, steal under one finger
1959 10
Eddie Joseph The Prong Steal and Load stealing pea from one shell and loading it under second shel using the prong concept
1959 11
Eddie Joseph The Prong Transfer transferring pea from one shell under another using the pong concept
1959 11
Eddie Joseph The Wimco Slide different handling for steal and load, only two fingers are holding the shell
1959 12
Eddie Joseph The "V" Slide steal and load, shell held between first and second finger
1959 12
Eddie Joseph The One Finger Slide steal while pushing shell with first finger
1959 13
Eddie Joseph The Cima Slide hiding second pea, while showing pea under shell
1959 13
Eddie Joseph The Card Slide using a playing card to load a steal pea, card to indicate correct shell
1959 13
Eddie Joseph The Front Slide palm up steal and load
1959 14
Eddie Joseph The "Arc" loading pea from V grip
1959 14
Eddie Joseph The "Magic Circle" steal and load while holding shell in V grip, circular movement
1959 15
Eddie Joseph The Side Slide V grip slide to steal and load pea
1959 15
Eddie Joseph The Turnover pea is stolen and loaded while showing shell empty, one handed
1959 16
Eddie Joseph The Roll pea is stolen and loaded while showing shell empty, one handed, to back clip
1959 16
Eddie Joseph The Pick-Up pea is stolen and loaded while showing shell empty, finger inside shell
1959 17
Eddie Joseph The Rattler loading pea while holding to shells in V-grip, one in each hand
1959 17
Eddie Joseph The Match Clip steal using matchbox, pea ends up inside
1959 17
Eddie Joseph Hold Out Your Hand pea appears under shell held by spectator, load
1959 18
Eddie Joseph The Double Two shell covered with matchbox, glass steal
1959 19
Eddie Joseph The Currency Slide steal using a bill
1959 19
Eddie Joseph The Exchange exchanging contrasting peas under a shell, steal and load
1959 20
Eddie Joseph Frustrating the Challenger on gags and how to handle spectator when they chose right or wring shell
1959 20
Eddie Joseph The Regular Routine ten phases using matchbox cover as finale
1959 22
Eddie Joseph The Riler routine using hidden second pea, seven phases
1959 25
Eddie Joseph The Boomerang story presentation with three different colored peas
1959 27
Dr. William Weyeneth Versuchskaninchen shell game using a small foam rabbit, idea
1963
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 24 No. 1)
3
Harry Stanley, Lewis Ganson The Modern Shell Game
  • the shells
  • the pea
  • working surface
  • the basic move
  • the routine (with under glass finale)
1967 100
Dr. William Weyeneth Schlussapotheose zum Nusschalentrick production of mini plastic babies as climax
1968
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 29 No. 3)
54
Wilf. Huggins Why Not? shell game with three thimbles
1970
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1969-70)
64
Dr. William Weyeneth Wo ist der Fünfer? shell game using three bottle caps and a coin, with magnet
1970
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 31 No. 4)
63
David Lederman Thimbles & Pea cups and balls routine with thimbles and pea, sponge ball final loads
1972 187
Tom Osborne Osborne's Three Shell Game Routine No. 426, more than two pages
  • Starting Routine
  • Routine Regular
Related to 1972 116
Dr. Jacob Daley Daley's Push Back Steal within No. 426, spelled "Rush Back Steal"
1972 118
Three Shell Game No. 429, three pages
  • Starting Routine
  • Regular Routine
Related to 1972 120
Dr. Jacob Daley Three Shell Game No. 445, suggestion to use glass to cover a shell
1972 127
George Schindler Introduction credit information
1974 9
Frank Garcia The Shells
1974 11
Frank Garcia The Pea and "The Working Surface"
1974 11
Frank Garcia The Moves
  • Basic Move
  • Bluff Move
  • The Escobar Move
  • Swivel Move
  • Bust-Out Bluff
1974 12
Frank Garcia Frank Garcia's Routine
Variations 1974 20
Frank Garcia Extra Ideas
  • Ginsburg Push
  • Handkerchief Steal
1974 74
"Joro" Bruno Hennig Tip zum Nussschalentrick stealing extra ball for phase where spectator can chose where it shall appear
1975 14
Patrick Page The Three Shell Game
  • general comments
  • The Steal
  • The Load
  • The Kick Steal
1976 177
Three Shell Game
  • Required
  • The Basic Move
  • To Load Pea into Shell
  • A Typical Series of Moves
1976 210
Three Shell Game
  • Move Number One - To Steal the Pea
  • Move Number Two - To Load the Pea
  • Move Number Three - To Show a Shell Empty
  • The Routine
1977 131
Juan Tamariz 4. Bolita Bajo Cascaras de Nuez -I- three shell game, ball changes color
1977 104
Juan Tamariz 5. Bolita Bajo Cascara de Nuez -II- three shell game, ball changes color
1977 105
Gary Ouellet Supershells four phases
1979 4
The Steal classic steal
1979 8
The Load
1979 13
Gary Ouellet The Pinky Pinch
1979 33
Gary Ouellet The Pinky Acquitment hand turned over to show empty shell while pea is hidden
1979 36
Gary Ouellet The Sidesteal Sequence way to steal the pea
1979 37
Harry Lorayne A Lorayne Storm idea for color changing peas
Mar. 1980
Apocalypse (Vol. 3 No. 3)
318
Karl Fulves Three-Shell Monte three different colored peas
1980 61
James G. Thompson Jr. Das Nusschalenspiel
Also published here Jan. 1981
Intermagic (Vol. 7 No. 4)
142
Karrell Fox "Shell-Shock" sponge balls appear under shells as finale
1988 40
Giovanni Livera Shell Shocked! routine with shot glass, white dice, small letter P
1992 19
Sid Fleischman Adventures With the Three Shell Game
  • A Tip on the Pea
  • Mind Reading with Shell
  • Bottom Up
1993 207
Karl Norman The Three Shell Game - Karl Normal Routine
1994 183
Jerry Mentzer Easy Shell Game plastic cubes instead of shells
1994 191
Karl Norman Three Shell Game four phases, climax with shotglass
1995 75
Jörg Alexander Weber Eine harte Nuss multi-phase routine with glass finale
Inspired by 1995 10
Die Technik basic steal
1995 12
Bob King Introduction and Set-up
1998 1
Bob King The Shell Game - The Real Work routine with eight phases, with shot glass and second pea
1998 2
Kurti Freitag Mein Nuss-Schalen Spiel mit Verschlusskappen Three Shell Game Routine
  • Stehlen (classic steal)
  • Laden (classic load)
  • Zusatzgriff 1 (additional steal)
  • Zusatzgriff 2 (additional load)
  • Ausweichgriffe
  • Königsgriff (Kurt Freitag)
  • Tipps
2000 1
Marc DeSouza Shell-Act routine, with vanishing shot glass
2001 135
Jack Avis Three Shell Game "Siva's Master Move"
with sticky tape
2006 212
Alexander de Cova Das Hütchenspiel
  • Die Schalen
  • Die weiche Erbse
  • Die harte Erbse
  • Die Unterlage
  • Palmagepositionen
  • Der Pinch
  • Deep Pinch
  • Front Pinch
  • Der Transfer
  • Das Leerzeigen der Schalen
  • Backpinch
  • Der Escobar-Griff
  • Escobar Exquisit
  • Das Stehlen unter dem Glas
  • Das direkte Stehlen- Das "Zwei-Erbsen-Konzept"
  • Zur Routine
  • Scheinbares Stehlen
  • Die Finte mit dem Glas
  • Abschlusseffekte
  • Skarabäus
  • Literatur zum Hütchenspiel
2015 68
Juan Villarejo El Trilero multi-phase routine, with a glass
2017 67
Alexander de Cova Finte beim Nussschalenspiel for phase with small glass over shell
2018 60