561 entries in Games / Bar Bets & Puzzles
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
To conveie one shilling being in one hand into another, holding your armes abroad like a rood sucker bet in which a coin is in each hand, it is proposed to bring them into one hand without the hands coming near each other
1584 187
Another conceipt to procure laughter two items held far apart, challenge to bring them into one hand without moving the hands together
1634 37
How to rub out Twenty Chalks at five Times, rubbing out every Time an odd one puzzle or wager, chalk strokes on a board
1784 44
To make a Person tired, or sweat, at carrying a small Stick of a Room bet / wager
1784 52
A droll Trick played with a Fowl roasted fowl comes back to life when pierced with a fork, as a prank / wager
1784 55
To make an Egg stand an end on a Table or on a Looking-Glass impromptu version
1784 58
Der Salon-Herkules gag in which a spoon has to be moved with the mouth, it is secretly filled with mustard
Oct. 1895
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 1 No. 10)
157
Das Balancieren mehrerer Münzen balancing two coins on their edges on top of each other between thumb and first finger
May 1896
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 2 No. 5)
77
Kopf oder Wappen performer can tell whether coin lands heads or tails without looking, different sound
Nov. 1896
Der Zauberspiegel (Vol. 2 No. 3)
41
Der gebannte Korken bar bet with cork on a bottle
Mar. 1898
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 4 No. 3)
45
Was verstehen Sie unter "kompakt"? gag question that results into predictably funny hand movements
May 1898
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 4 No. 5)
78
Antonio Molini Das Glas als Lungenprüfer two glasses into each other, one has to remove the inner glass without touching either, solution is blowing
Oct. 1898
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 4 No. 10)
158
Das Glas als Geldschrank small coin in shot glass, sealed with bigger coin that gets stuck halfway in glass, challenge to remove small coin without touching anything, blowing
Nov. 1898
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 4 No. 11)
174
Antonio Molini Der widerspenstige Korken blowing a cork in the bottle
Jan. 1899
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 5 No. 1)
14
Talmi Bellachini Ein Streichholzscherz burning a match with its head down without burning oneself
Apr. 1899
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 5 No. 4)
62
Die gut sitzende Weste gag question that results into predictably funny movement to display vest
June 1899
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 5 No. 6)
95
Scherz-Aufgabe cutting a paper circe into eight equal pieces with three cuts
July 1899
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 5 No. 7)
111
Ein Vexierbild optical illusion with dice pattern
Sep. 1899
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 5 No. 9)
142
Die mysterieuse Schlinge leather band rolled up, endless chain type game
Nov. 1899
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 5 No. 11)
174
Der eigensinnige Billardball No. 5, finger spins ball on table, it rolls forward or backwards on command
1900 159
Die behexten Würfel No. 8, holding three dice between thumb and first finger and letting center one drop, puzzle
Related to 1900 160
Die durchdringende Münze cardboard with a hole smaller than a coin, challenge to pass coin through hole
Related to Nov. 1900
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 6 No. 11)
175
Zur "Durchdringenden Münze" clarifying illustration
Related to Dec. 1900
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 6 No. 12)
189
Der Mann mit den vier Köpfen four paper strips with design on them have to be combined to make a certain image
Jan. 1901
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 7 No. 1)
14
Die Höhe eines Cylinderhutes zu bestimmen estimating height of top hat
Oct. 1901
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 7 No. 10)
160
A Simple Coin Trick coin in broken match into bottle, non-magical science experiment
1902 295
Phantome Wie schwamm der Tote über die Donau? water poured on table, gag in which water is hit and everyone gets wet
Feb. 1902
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 8 No. 2)
30
Carl Willmann Der Vexirschlüssel borrowed finger ring put onto ring even though it does not fit
Dec. 1903
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 9 No. 12)
190
Die Cigarre, welche von drei Herren zu gleicher Zeit geraucht werden kann "by A. H.", cigar can be smoked by three people simultaneously
Apr. 1904
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 10 No. 4)
61
Friedrich "Fritz" Hügli Wer nimmt das letzte Streichholz? puzzle, 15 matches on table 1, 2 or three can be removed at each turn, last one loses
1930 13
Friedrich "Fritz" Hügli Das Geldstück unter dem Streichholz bar bet, two matches balanced on matchbox and on coin, coin has to be removed
1930 14
Friedrich "Fritz" Hügli Ein Geldstück aus der Hand bürsten bar bet, spectator tries to remove coin from performer's hand with a brush and fails
1930 25
Al Baker Come Seven! placing three dice onto table in special configuration so different sides add up to seven, spectator cannot duplicate it
Also published here 1935 24
Knife and Egg Shell knife through egg shell stunt that cannot be duplicated by spectator
1937 95
Tom Darlington Tip Tap Top puzzle/bar bet with coin and cigarette pack
1939
The Jinx (Issue Summer Extra 1939)
408
Arthur Dowler Beer Cap bar bet with beer cap, turning it over on table
Related to 1939
The Jinx (Issue Summer Extra 1939)
413
Quong Yen Cig in Bottle bar stunt, paper circle on bottle, cigarette balancing on top
Oct. 1939
Chap's Scrapbook (Vol. 2 No. 4)
4
Professeur Boscar Denkaufgabe verbal puzzle
Related toAlso published here
  • in "Journal de la Prestidigitation"
1939
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 1 No. 2)
3
Laurie Ireland The Coca Cola Bottle and Nipple Effect liquid from bottle is filled in tiny baby bottle nipple
1940
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1940)
5
A Penny - A Bet - A Drink guessing in which hand the coin is, bar bet, see also page 728
1941
The Jinx (Issue 123)
716
Art Lyle One Drop More bar bet
Aug. 1941
The Jinx (Issue 146)
816
Match Folder Wager bet that spectator cannot light twenty matches in a row with one strike
1941 10
Robert "Robelly" Rouet Un Pari Gagne a Coup Sur bar bet, first person who hits 80, using a die
Oct. 1941
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 3 No. 10)
8
Foscola Ein Streichholzscherz how to hold a burning match upside down for thirty seconds
Mar. 1941 7
Loop the Loop puzzle, removing loop of rope on arm while hand is in west pocket
1941 ca. 55
Walter B. Gibson, Danny Morris Gaglet Department
  • card coding with name badges (Gibson)
  • card in balloon gag (Morris)
  • cut and restored tie performance at army shows without a stooge (Morris)
  • bar bet, naming three numbers of a serial number on a bill
May 1942
The Phoenix (Issue 10)
38
Danny Morris, Doc Hurwitz Betcha bar bet, drinking from a glass while arm is held by spectator, coin gag
Sep. 1942
The Phoenix (Issue 17)
70
Danny Morris, Doc Hurwitz Betcha
  • coin jumps from mouth of empty bottle, without touching
  • pepper in glass is attracted or repelled by finger
Oct. 1942
The Phoenix (Issue 19)
81
Danny Morris, Doc Hurwitz Betcha
  • drinking from a sealed bottled without opening it
  • moving a coin without touching it
Oct. 1942
The Phoenix (Issue 20)
85
Danny Morris, Doc Hurwitz Betch
  • bar bet, predicting which side lands up, when tossing a match box
  • betting burning a handkerchief without injuring it
Oct. 1942
The Phoenix (Issue 21)
89
Danny Morris, Doc Hurwitz Betcha word play bet with a coin and three matches
Nov. 1942
The Phoenix (Issue 22)
93
Danny Morris, Doc Hurwitz, Walter B. Gibson Betcha
  • boiling water in a paper bag
  • beer bet
  • coin bet / puzzle ("One is not a nickel")
Variations Dec. 1942
The Phoenix (Issue 24)
101
Eddie Joseph A Dose for the Smart Guy glass of water under newspaper, paper whipped away, as sucker trick, coins balanced on glass
1942 40
Eddie Joseph Perfect Timing two coins on table edge, pushed off table towards floor, one straight down one sharply forward, they hit floor together
1942 85
Eddie Joseph Right First Time quick way of counting high stack of coins, using coin as ruler
1942 103
Foscola Die Höhe einer Cylinderhutes zu bestimmen as F., bet on guessing the hight of a top hat
July 1942
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 4 No. 7)
2
Marcel Rousseau Un pari gagné und coup sûr bar bet, filling empty glasses with little rest of own glass
Nov. 1942
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 4 No. 11)
8
As-Thy Un changement de solide en liquide joke, changing coins of spectators to liquid
Dec. 1942
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 4 No. 12)
12
Bert Allerton A Close Fit optical illusion in which envelope seems to small to fit a playing card
Variations 1942 5
Naming the Card Cut performer announces that he can immediately name any card cut to, deck secretly reversed under cover card
Variations 1942 10
Richard Himber Paper Match Throwing match landing on the side, bar bet
Feb. 1943
The Phoenix (Issue 28)
118
James G. Thompson Jr. Coin Betcha
Feb. 1943
The Phoenix (Issue 28)
118
Albert Cohn Betcha holding a burning paper match upside down for 50 seconds
Apr. 1943
The Phoenix (Issue 32)
132
Hen Fetsch Betcha removing two coins balancing on rim of mouth of a galss, with one hand, bar bet
Apr. 1943
The Phoenix (Issue 33)
137
Hen Fetsch Betcha turning over a coin under a beer mug without touching the mug
Apr. 1943
The Phoenix (Issue 34)
140
Bar Bet letting bill fall and spectator has to catch it
May 1943
The Phoenix (Issue 35)
146
John R. Boyko, John McCormick Blitz-Match winning game
Related to
  • correction on page 154
May 1943
The Phoenix (Issue 36)
149
Hen Fetsch Betcha joke, bet that the bottom card is spectator's card, miniature card
June 1943
The Phoenix (Issue 38)
157
Bill Salisbury Bottle of Smoke whisky bottle filled with smoke, smoke has to be removed without touching the bottle
1944
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1944)
25
Tom Fitzgerald A Cute Betcha match balancing on edge of a match, everything is covered under a glass, removing match without touching anything
Feb. 1944
The Phoenix (Issue 53)
217
Tom Fitzgerald A Cute Betcha penknife sticked in top of door arch falls directly in a bottle
Apr. 1944
The Phoenix (Issue 59)
241
L. Vosburgh Lyons Paper Puzzle turning a square of paper into an equilateral triangle
July 1944
The Phoenix (Issue 65)
267
Bruce Elliott The Back Room Richard Himber, a strange bar bet by Mystic Craig, idea by Paul Morris for Thompson's Double or Nothing, Puzzle
Inspired by Sep. 1944
The Phoenix (Issue 68)
279
Bob Hummer Latest Miser's Dream Gag verbal ambiguity, getting spectator's money
Also published here 1944 8
Laurie Ireland Betchas collection of bar bets, several reprints of the Phoenix
1945
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1945)
6
M. T. Coogan A Drop in the Bottle with a bottle, a cigarette and a paper loop
Also published here May 1945
The Phoenix (Issue 84)
343
Bernard the Magician A Bar Bet names of states on 20$ bill
1946
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1946)
29
Joseph P. Schmidt An Ancient Swindle Revivified pricking the garter, belt rolled up and spectator pushed stick in it
Jan. 1946 189
R. J. Cooper A Table Interlude balancing a Dime on a folded bill, on the table
June 1947 329
Milbourne Christopher Head Through Card putting head through business card, puzzle
Related to July 1947 332
Milbourne Christopher Head Through Card putting head through business card, different cutting system, see p. 370 for idea by Joe Schmidt
Related to Sep. 1947 354
Harry Solomon Betcha coin appears in match box, then a losing bet is made
Also published here Jan. 1948
The Phoenix (Issue 142)
571
Al Baker Sugar Cube quickly unwrapping a sugar cube, bar bet
June 1948
The Phoenix (Issue 152)
618
Bruce Elliott The Back Room on Roy Benson, the Jarrow dinner, Dr. Jaks and a bar bet by Ron Edwards
June 1948
The Phoenix (Issue 153)
614
Francis J. Rigney Another Cutting Up weird method to cut an apple
Oct. 1948 473
Dr. William Weyeneth Gagnez vos paris coin in bottle filled with water is removed under handkerchief without spilling, followed by german translation "Um Ihre Wette zu gewinnen"
Jan. 1948 5
Jack Yeager A Bar Gag finding the camel on a dollar bill
1949
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1949)
16
Hen Fetsch Magical Business
  • Buzz Watch (gag by Ed Heyel)
  • Dad Betcha (tearing a paper in half 9 times)
  • Plate Break (biting a plate)
  • Candle Out (blowing a candle out through sleeve, gimmicked)
  • Three Links (producing bottle from three linked rings)
1949
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1949)
34
One Card Under The Other How to hold a card under a King on the table, without moving the King
1949 12
Making a Card Invisible Challenge: make a card invisible to one person, but visible to everyone else
1949 14
Standing A Card On Edge
1949 15
Coin On Card Stunt Balance card and coin on finger, flick card out under the coin
1949 16
Robert Stull The Problem of the Stacked Dice puzzle, five dice stacked with coins on top, naming top numbers of each die
  • Counter-clockwise Dice
  • Clockwise Dice
Variations Jan. 1949 502
Table Tricks - A Delicate Balance bar bet, using three dice
Apr. 1949
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 6 No. 11)
530
Robert Stull, Ned Rutledge, Wallace, Royal Vale Heath The Problem of the Stacked Dice puzzle, more solutions to Stull's problem posed on p. 502
Inspired by Apr. 1949
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 6 No. 11)
532
A Cigarette Enigma puzzle, six cigarettes placed on table so every cigarette touches the others
Related to May 1949
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 6 No. 12)
543
Table Tricks spinning egg on plate, puzzle
Aug. 1949 569
Milbourne Christopher Drinking a Glass Full glass fills up while drinking, gag
Oct. 1949 596
Francis J. O'Rourke A Cigarette Enigma puzzle, six cigarettes placed on table so every cigarette touches the others
Related to Dec. 1949 616
Steady Hands puzzle / bar bet with sugar cubes
1949 1
Five Cube Pick-Up bar bet with sugar cubes, lifting five cubes with one finger
1949 1
Cubes, Papers, and Coin bar bet, three cubes are stacked on a coin and with piece of paper in between, slips and coins must be removed without touching the sugar
1949 3
Mushroom, Key, and States folding Dollar bill to make picture of a mushroom
1949 6
Cross of Knives special way to hold two knives, bar bet
1949 7
Sixteen Coin Puzzle
1949 21
Three Stunts with a Dime bets and gags with coins
1949 21
Johnny Paul Spinning the Half Dollar spinning a coin on its edge without touching it
Also published here 1949 22
Sucker Bet gag with coins
1949 22
Penny Puzzle how many letters on coin, puzzle
1949 22
Brim to Brim two filled glassed placed mouth to mouth, puzzles
1949 23
Problem of the Six Glasses puzzle with three empty and three filled glasses
Also published here 1949 23
The Pyramid removing napkins between glasses
1949 24
Johnny Jones Cross of Pepper pepper on water, making a cross with match
1949 24
Match, Nickel, and Glass match balanced on edge of coin is moved, under glass
1949 25
Glass and Check removing check under glass, with coin balancing on rim
1949 25
Vanishing Smoke removing smoke from empty whisky bottle
1949 27
Catching the Check catching check / bill between fingers
1949 29
Charles "Chic" Schoke Schoke's Wise Cracker gag, bar bet with cracker
1949 33
Sailor and the Doughnut gag puzzle
1949 33
Don Tanner Brain Tickler of the Month: Fill the Bath Tub
Mar. 1949 7
L. Vosburgh Lyons Lyons Den paper puzzle, solution on p. 833
July 1950
The Phoenix (Issue 207)
825
Hen Fetsch Betcha!
  • reading the date of a coin through a paper
  • predicting the right card, gag (two versions)
  • showing five kings in a deck
Also published here Aug. 1951
The Phoenix (Issue 236)
944
Lu Brent Making a Production out of the Pyramid Puzzle using the Magic Pyramid Puzzle for Do As I Do, then Two in the Hand
Related to 1952
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1952)
7
Martin Gardner, Charles "Chic" Schoke Easy Aces Aces in the deck stay in the same order after spectator riffle shuffled the deck three times
Related to Feb. 1952
The Phoenix (Issue 249)
997
John Scarne Scarne Puzzle logic puzzle, solution to puzzle from p. 1073
Nov. 1952
The Phoenix (Issue 269)
1076
Bar Bet verbal trap
Oct. 1953
The Phoenix (Issue 291)
1165
Tom Fitzgerald Cute Coins eight-pointed star, coins have to be moved, puzzle, see also p. 48 and p. 52
Also published here May 1954
The New Phoenix (Issue 306)
22
Paris in the the Spring bar stunt, reading sentence, two times "the"
May 1954
The New Phoenix (Issue 308)
32
John A. M. Howie Match Box Bet lifting the tray of a matchbox on its cover with only the first and fourth finger
Variations Aug. 1954
The New Phoenix (Issue 314)
58
Karrell Fox A Sure Bet joke, coin transforms into match
1954 13
Eddie Joseph The Flame in the Bottle match is placed inside empty spirit bottle and flame and sound is produced, performer can repeat it but spectator will fail
1954 4
Jules D'Hotel Eine kitzlige, zuckersüsse Sache lifting pile of sugar cubes, bar bet
1955
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 16 No. 2)
272
Dr. William Weyeneth Ein amüsanter Tisch-Scherz bar bet, turning over a card without touching it, apparently by "Musti"
1955
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 16 No. 3)
305
Tom Bowyer Maybe Make Three shuffled deck cut in half, performer takes three values out of one half, three cards chosen freely from other half, most of the time some values match, proposition bet
Aug. 1955
Ibidem (Issue 2)
5
Audley Walsh Box Office Math math question
Feb. 1956
The New Phoenix (Issue 341-2)
177
Garter Tricks Pricking the Garter, basic version, can use belt too
1956 81
The Giant's Garter More complex version of Pricking the Garter using a closed loop of string
1956 82
Tom Ransom Puzzle: Shear Madness puzzle about cutting out a Greek cross of a folded paper with one cut
Related to Apr. 1956
Ibidem (Issue 5)
9
Tom Ransom Puzzle Solution: Shear Madness
Related to July 1956
Ibidem (Issue 6)
14
Mel Stover, Tom Ransom, Norman Houghton Puzzle: Cubes arranging five objects to make a cube
Related to July 1956
Ibidem (Issue 6)
14
Martin Gardner Flexa Tube Puzzle flexagon-related puzzle about folding a tube inside out in a certain way
Related to Sep. 1956
Ibidem (Issue 7)
13
Mel Stover, Tom Ransom, Norman Houghton Puzzle Solutions: Cubes
Related to Sep. 1956
Ibidem (Issue 7)
15
Norman Houghton Puzzle Solution: Cubes
Related to Dec. 1956
Ibidem (Issue 8)
13
Tom Ransom Flexa-Tube Solution
Related to Mar. 1957
Ibidem (Issue 9)
12
L. Vosburgh Lyons Cubeb puzzle with cubes that have six different colors in different arrangements
Related toVariations Dec. 1957
Ibidem (Issue 12)
8
C. "Cajano" Baumgartner Eine lustige Wette bet, currency has to be divided in several envelopes
1958
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 19 No. 1)
594
C. "Cajano" Baumgartner, Werner "Walt Nelson" Nussbaumer Die verhexte schrift writing on camel cigarette pack changes when read with mirror
1958
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 19 No. 1)
594
Tom Ransom Puzzle: Fist Through Cigarette Paper walking through a playing card variation
Mar. 1958
Ibidem (Issue 13)
4
Martin Gardner Two Puzzles
  • arranging seven cigarettes so they all touch
  • arranging four matches into a square that becomes smaller and smaller
Related to Mar. 1958
Ibidem (Issue 13)
5
Yarborough Problem probability of getting no card higher than Nine in a quarter of the deck, quote from "Mathematics and Logic" by Sir Edmund Taylor Whittaker
Sep. 1958
Ibidem (Issue 14)
5
Martin Gardner Puzzle Solution: Seven Cigarettes arranging seven cigarettes so they all touch
Related to Dec. 1958
Ibidem (Issue 15)
11
Martin Gardner Odd! Monty Hall discussion, bet with three cards
Variations Oct. 1959
Ibidem (Issue 18)
3
Martin Gardner Glass House both hands hold a glass and set it down reversed, really only one glass is turned over, two applications:
  • 1. old three-glass trick parity puzzle
  • 2. parity puzzle with six glasses
Oct. 1959
Ibidem (Issue 18)
4
Martin Gardner Stick Up bar bet with bent paper clip and paper match, creator unknown
Oct. 1959
Ibidem (Issue 18)
7
L. Vosburgh Lyons, P. Howard Lyons Cubeb solution to puzzle with cubes that have six different colors in different arrangements
Inspired by Oct. 1959
Ibidem (Issue 18)
9
P. Howard Lyons Stuff Page
  • proposition bet in which spectator writes nine different numbers on nine cards and turns them up one at a time, performer calls stop before the highest number is turned up
  • 5x5 magic squares
Related to Oct. 1959
Ibidem (Issue 18)
18
Bill Elliott The O. H. Puzzle layout puzzle with geometrical shapes
Oct. 1959
Ibidem (Issue 18)
23
Mel Stover Puzzle: Black Chinese Checkers
Dec. 1959
Ibidem (Issue 19)
31
Ernest W. Brady The Missing Dollar missing dollar puzzle, verbal
1960
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1960)
53
John Murray 20-16=7 match puzzle
Dec. 1960
The New Phoenix (Issue 352)
237
Mel Stover, Leo Moser, P. Howard Lyons, Martin Gardner A Short Shot proposition bet in which spectator writes nine different numbers on nine cards and turns them up one at a time, performer calls stop before the highest number is turned up
Related to May 1960
Ibidem (Issue 20)
19
E. J. Partington Table Trick scam with two coins
1961
Ireland's Yearbooks (Issue Yearbook 1961)
29
Martin Gardner Brain Popper spectator writes "yes" or "no" on a card to predict whether an event will take place, logic paradox
Mar. 1961
Ibidem (Issue 23)
23
Max Malini The Vanishing Whisky at a bar, secretly drinking Whisky of friend
Also published here 1962 53
Hans Herrmann Kleinzauberei zum Hausgebrauch
  • Ein Ei auf die Spitze stellen (make an egg stand upright)
  • Ein Ring aus einem Teller mit Wasser nehmen, ohne sich die finger nass zu machen (removing ring from water, without the fingers getting wet)
  • Einen Apfel in vier Teile schneiden, ohne die Schachtel zu beschädigen (cutting apple, sewing method)
  • Ein Geldstück unter einem Hut hervorbringen, ohne den Hut zu berühren (removing a coin from under a hat, without touching the hat)
Related to 1963
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 24 No. 1)
4
Dr. William Weyeneth Denksportaufgabe für Fortgeschrittene puzzle with matches
1965
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 26 No. 5)
81
Card Flip Bar Stunt
Sep. 1966 57
Peter Alexis A Friendly Game betting game with dice, proposition bet
Related to
  • p. 155 for George Henbeck comment
Variations
Winter 1967
The Pallbearers Review Vol. 1-4 (Vol. 3 No. 1st Folio)
136
Jack Ketch Jack Ketch's Nonsense Knot bar bet or gag, knot shall appear on rope without letting go of ends, writing knot on rope
1968 27
Karl Fulves The Compleat Gamester proposition bets
  • Birthday Bet (see p. 292 for Mel Stover comment)
  • Red And Black (Martin Gardner)
  • License Plate Poker
  • Ace-Deuce-Jack Variations
  • Black And White
  • Coin Swindles
  • 3-Card Poker
  • Odds On Favorite (Omega Bet, card pushed in reversed and pairs dealt off)
Related toVariationsAlso published here July 1969 272
Martin Gardner The Compleat Gamester Addition red-black betting game with eight cards
Inspired by Mar. 1970 324
Stewart James, Gene Gray A Match for Gravity watch and match tied to thread, over stick, see p. 337 for reference
Apr. 1970 330
W. Mason Bet-A-Bill betting game, the last digit of which bill is highest
Dec. 1970 387
Bradley Efron Las Vegas Dice non-transitive dice, also as packets of cards, see also p. 410 for idea by Stewart Olney
Jan. 1971 393
Dai Vernon Vernon's Poker Challenge Demonstration No. 83, performer wins despite changing one of his cards for any freely chosen card from the remainder, will end up with flush or/and straight
1972 25
Cigarette Puzzle bar bet
Dec. 1974
Pabular (Vol. 1 No. 4)
49
Ken Brooke Coin Riddle bar bet
Related to Dec. 1974
Pabular (Vol. 1 No. 4)
50
Wong How Was A Chinaman bar bet, one has to repeat exactly the actions of the performer
Dec. 1974
Pabular (Vol. 1 No. 4)
50
Drinking Bar Bet performer bets, that he he drink three beers quicker than the other guy drinks three whiskies
Dec. 1974
Pabular (Vol. 1 No. 4)
50
Drinking Bar Bet performer bets he can drink a measure of brandy from an unopened bottle
Dec. 1974
Pabular (Vol. 1 No. 4)
51
Amedeo Vacca Balancing Dice Puzzle moisture
1974 43
The Lira Swindle bar bet, short-change type swindle
1974 93
Karl Fulves Step Right Up collection of proposition bets, see following entries
Jan. 1974 700
Martin Gardner Parity Bet eleven cards on table with one free section, sliding task for spectator as bet
Jan. 1974 700
Mel Stover Chess Bet see also p. 782 for additional information
Jan. 1974 701
Ken Beale Odd/Even Bet play on words
Jan. 1974 701
Checkerboard Bet tracing path in checkerboard
Jan. 1974 701
The Nile River Bet does nile flow south or north, exploiting misprint
Jan. 1974 701
Robert Connelly "Say Red" betting game whether next card is red
Jan. 1974 702
Five Quick Bets see also p. 782 for credit information
Jan. 1974 702
Karl Fulves A Dice Proposition
Also published here Jan. 1974 702
Robert E. Neale A Trick with Sandpaper two pieces of sandpaper are folded together, performer can pull them apart but spectator cannot
  • Thumb Variation
  • Lock Position
  • Warnings
Oct. 1974 811
A Puzzle drawing a circle and a dot on a paper without lifting the pen
1974 34
A Balancing Trick balancing a glass on a bill
1974 48
Pure Skill small piece of paper strip is cut off, while it falls on the floor, no skill method
1974 50
There She Blows coin spins on glass, stunt
1974 23
To Spin a Coin without Touching it
1974 24
Sneak it Out coin under glass is moved without touching glass, bar bet
1974 48
Snap a Coin bar bet with coin, coin turns over on wrist
1974 49
Betcha Can't coin pressed on spectator's forehead gag
1974 54
The Balanced Coin on finger, with card
1974 61
Harry Solomon "Wollen wir Wetten" coin appears in match box, then a losing bet is made
Also published here Oct. 1974
Intermagic (Vol. 2 No. 2)
31
Fred Robinson Edge Spinners bar bets and flourishes with coins
  • Finger Flicker, coin spinning
  • Thumb It, coin spinning with two hands
  • Tri-Van, sleeving technique while coin spins
  • Bottoms Up, coin spins on reversed tumbler
  • Nicked, how to hear on which side a coin lands on
  • Off Balance, coin lands always on the same side
  • Smash and Grab, spun coin vanishes by hitting a match box on it
  • For Two Pins, coin spins held by two pins
  • Skittled, coin is knocked over with an other coin
May 1975
Pabular (Vol. 1 No. 9)
106
El Terrón de Azúcar que Arde performer is able to set a sugar cube on fire
1975 18
Las Ultimas Gotas bar bet, how many drops of liquid will drop from an empty bottle
1975 41
Palillos-Muelle long distance shot of a toothpick
1975 67
Cerilla-X match is marked on one side and thrown on the table, mark side is up, gag or bar bet
1975 75
Cigarrillo Anudado bending a cigarette, without breaking it
1975 90
Apuesta Imposible bar bet with cigarette
1975 91
Moneda en la Frente (I) gag, spectator can not remove coin from forehead
1975 101
Moneda que Gira Sin Tocarla bar bet with a coin, spinning it without touching
Also published here 1975 106
Red and Black Wager five red and two black cards, performer fails to turn up three red cards in several tries
1975 16
Two Reds and Two Blacks bet about order of two red and black cards
1975 18
Suit Bet proposition bet about suit distribution in three selected cards
1975 18
Pair Bet proposition bet about matches in turned-up pairs
1975 18
Ace, Deuce or Jack Bet bet about values of bottom cards of three cut packets
  • Variations
1975 19
Queen Bet proposition bet with six cards, two of them being Queens
  • Variation
1975 19
Deck Cutting Bet proposition bet about spectator not cutting to a named card in twenty-six tries
1975 19
Two-Together Bet proposition bet about a named value and suit being next to each other
  • Variation
1975 20
Four Ace Proposition proposition bet about not turning all four Aces up in thirty-nine cards
1975 20
Combination Bet two values named, they are either among top three cards or next to each other in the deck, proposition bet
1975 20
Four-Heap Combination Bet proposition bet about suit distribution in some randomly dealt packets
1975 20
Two Deck Bet proposition bet about a match occurring when dealing through two shuffled deck simultaneously
1975 21
Karl Fulves Psychik Dice rolling an eight and six with two dice before two sevens, odds apparently beaten, see also p. 926
1976
The Pallbearers Review Vol. 9-10 (Vol. 10 No. Close-Up Folio #5)
930
Peter Wilker Rätselhafte Logik two logic puzzles, one by Raymond Smullyan
1976
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 37 No. 3)
72
Ken De Courcy Even Stephen intro to multi-phase proposition bet routine with cards, see following entries
1976 2
Ken De Courcy Bet 1 proposition bet about finding a value next to a suit so they match a named card
1976 3
Ken De Courcy Bet 2 proposition bet about having two cards of same suit amongst four random cards
1976 4
Ken De Courcy Bet 3 proposition bet about having one of three values on top of three cut packets
1976 4
Ken De Courcy Bet 4 proposition bet about dealing two cards of same value amongst any random six cards
1976 5
Ken De Courcy Bet 5 proposition bet about finding a black card when turning over any three cards of a seven card group with two blacks
1976 5
Ken De Courcy Bet 6 proposition bet about having a black card in a random row or column of a 3x3 matrix with only two blacks
1976 6
Ken De Courcy Bet 7 proposition bet about not being able to cut to a named card in twenty-six tries
1976 8
Ken De Courcy Bet 8 proposition bet about not finding all Aces in the top thirty-nine cards
1976 8
Ken De Courcy Bet 9 proposition bet about the spectator cutting an odd number of piles containing an odd number of cards
1976 9
Ken De Courcy Bet 10 proposition bet about cutting an even number of piles containing an odd number of cards
1976 10
All in a Row six glasses, three filled, they have to be alternated by switching adjacent glasses, puzzle
Also published here 1977 51
Three Tumblers do as I do with three glasses that have to be turned up and down
1977 52
Drop Out three dice held between two fingers, dropping only the center one
Also published here 1977 54
Balancing Act three dice balanced in apparently impossible way
1977 56
Karl Fulves Mental Dice bet about rolling a six and an eight before two sevens with two dice, probability bet
1977 56
Karl Fulves Ace-Deuce-Jack proposition bet, Ace, Two or Jack has to appear at the bottom of any of three piles
Related to 1977 163
Karl Fulves A Dice Proposition
Also published here 1977 166
Martin Gardner The Red-Black Swindle two red and two black cards under table, one brought out, proposition bet about the next card matching
1977 168
Karl Fulves More Proposition Bets
  • five random cards, two have the same suit
  • three random cards, one is a picture card
  • "Three-Card Poker"
Related to 1977 171
Tan Hock Chuan A Very Tight Knot How to untie a knot in a human hair, bar bet
1977 18
Fred Robinson, Bob Hamilton Where There's Smoke
  • bar bet with a match box
  • matchbox and coin, divine if heads or tails, stooge
  • match in hand, matchbox balanced on back of the hand, box is tossed and match ignited
  • remove flame from lighter to light cigarette, gag
June 1978
Pabular (Vol. 4 No. 10)
588
Karl Fulves Pluto Bet bet regarding what's the planet furthest from the sun
1979
The Chronicles (Issue 15)
1210
Kurt A. Christoff Petals around the Rose roll of five dice is assigned a value, the puzzle is to find the rule, originally from "Mathematics Teacher"
Related toVariations 1979
Interlocutor (Issue 39)
154
Gambling Scam betting game with cards, odds in performer's favor
Related to
  • John Scarne's "Complete Guide to Gambling"
1979
Magick (Issue 246)
1229
Karrell Fox Poka-Cola bet: getting cigarette into bottle while spectator hold coin on its mouth, penetration
1979 55
Betcha-Can't putting rubber band around spectator's hand that he cannot remove one-handed
Related to 1979 11
Challenge Interlace Interlude doing a one-handed interlace design faster than spectator
1979 25
Try Your Hand at This putting rubber band around spectator's hand that he cannot remove one-handed
Related to 1979 28
Bracelet and Band removing bracelet that is around one finger while tips of fingers are banded with rubber band
1979 31
Ein Reaktionstest bar bet about catching a dropped bill
Dec. 1979
Intermagic (Vol. 6 No. 3 & 4)
106
Ein Balance Problem balancing a coin on a bill
Dec. 1979
Intermagic (Vol. 6 No. 3 & 4)
108
Al Smith, Arthur Day, Fred Snooks Fumdubulators
  • producing false teeth and a skull
  • floating crisp
  • producing a potato from a crisp bag (Arthur day)
  • Irish Key Ring, key ring on false end of a key, gag (Arthur Day)
  • bar bet with matchbox (Fred Snooks)
Apr. 1980
Pabular (Vol. 6 No. 4)
836
Bob Hummer Latest Miser's Dream Gag verbal ambiguity, getting spectator's money
Also published here 1980 24
Karl Fulves Digital Dollars over the phone game, to win highest value bill
Related toVariations 1980 68
Rudolf Braunmüller Bierwetten und Rätsel article on bar bets and puzzles, intro
Mar. 1980
Intermagic (Vol. 7 No. 1)
16
Karten collection of three bar bets and puzzles with cards
Mar. 1980
Intermagic (Vol. 7 No. 1)
17
Münzen collection of eight bar bets and puzzles with coins
Mar. 1980
Intermagic (Vol. 7 No. 1)
18
Streichhölzer collection of thirteen bar bets and puzzles with matches
Mar. 1980
Intermagic (Vol. 7 No. 1)
21
Verschiedenes collection of eleven bar bets and puzzles with various things and numbers
Mar. 1980
Intermagic (Vol. 7 No. 1)
24
Edmund Rowland Zifferntricks twelve puzzles and tricks with numbers
Also published here
  • Abracadabra #576-579, Feb. 1957
Nov. 1980
Intermagic (Vol. 7 No. 3)
106
Ken Brooke A Betcha gag bet about emptying a glass of beer without being in the room
Also published here 1980 44
Coasters betting game with Ace through Seven or seven numbered coaster
Variations 1981 47
Father Cyprian Knockout Poker spectator shuffles and gives half the cards to performer, both construct strong poker hand, performer wins
1981 54
Karl Fulves Notes on Knockout spectator shuffles and gives half the cards to performer, both construct strong poker hand, performer wins
Inspired by 1981 55
Karl Fulves ESP and Dice con bet with dice rolls
1981 16
World's Strongest? No. 17, lifting a matchbox with two fingers on a cigarette box, first and little finger
1981 19
Who Pays the Bills? No. 18, bar bet, matches broken in half, one who takes the last one has to pay, favorite of Nate Leipzig
1981 20
Dice Catch No. 22, two dice held outside of a cup, puzzle throwing both dice inside with one hand
1981 26
Controlled Dice Shot No. 23, betting that with two dice most of the times a one or a six is thrown
Related to 1981 27
The New Dropout No. 26, three dice held between two fingers, dropping only the center one
Also published here 1981 30
The Great Bottle Mystery No. 36, cigarette balanced on a paper ring which stand on a bottle, ring has to be taken away so cigarette falls into bottle
1981 47
Strong Man Stunt No. 38, rolled up napkin can only be torn apart by performer
1981 48
Alex Elmsley Twister No. 54, performer twist rubber band and spectator holds it, he cannot untwist it
Also published here 1981 67
Bet a Band No. 57, rubber band on finger which is held by spectator is freed, as a bar bet
1981 70
Neal Thomas Strange Interlude No. 62, rubber band configuration between fingers
Also published here 1981 75
The Knot Paradox No. 66, knot in handkerchief without letting go of the ends
1981 80
The Second Paradox No. 67, knot in handkerchief without letting go of the ends, without table
1981 81
Karl Fulves Quick Release No. 86, quickly unlink safety ins as a bar bet
1981 108
Sam Lloyd Buttonholed No. 89, pen with looped string through button hole, puzzle
1981 112
Ken Allen Loophole Logic No. 90, pen with looped string through handle of mug, puzzle
Also published here 1981 114
G. W. Hunter The Snapper No. 91, snapper with cap and pen
1981 114
The Hands Only No. 92, pen clipped between thumbs is twisted in other position which is impossible to duplicate
1981 115
M. T. Coogan Der Sturz in die Flasche with a bottle, a cigarette and a paper loop
Also published here June 1981
Intermagic (Vol. 8 No. 2)
76
, Peter Kane An Ancient Coin Con Game stack of coins sits on table, betting on orientation of bottom coin
  • With Cards (deck shuffled face-up/face-down, betting on orientation of bottom card)
1982 15
Rudolf Braunmüller Bierwetten bar bets
July 1982
Intermagic (Vol. 9 No. 2)
49
Hen Fetsch Zwei Hen-Fetsch-Bierwetten
  • 1. bet that thought-of card is divined, fifty-two miniature cards
  • 2. showing five Kings in a deck
Also published here Oct. 1982
Intermagic (Vol. 9 No. 3)
111
The Unreachable Matchbox No. 79 chalk line, matchbox cannot be reached
1983 22
Catch Questions No. 59
1983 79
Scrambled States No. 60, puzzle about states name
1983 80
The Fortune 100 No. 77, bet about the numbers from one to hundred which do not contain eight specific letters
1983 100
Bamboozled No. 78, percentage bet concerning the letters in spelled-out numbers
1983 100
Telefooled No. 82, percentage bet about last two digits in phone numbers
1983 104
License-Plate Showdown No. 83, percentage bet about license plate numbers
1983 104
Karl Fulves The Omega Bet No. 73, card pushed face-up in center and deck dealt in pairs, pair with face-up card matches or not, multiple phases
Related toVariations 1984 107
Karl Fulves Face-up Poker No. 75, poker hands drawn from face-up spread, yet performer wins, with variation
  • Revenge Poker
Related to 1984 112
Karl Fulves How Many "Penny Papers", number One appears ten times on dollar bills
1985 53
Karl Fulves How Many Eyes? "Penny Papers", on a dollar bill
1985 54
Karl Fulves How Many People? "Penny Papers", on a Ten Dollar Bill
1985 54
Karl Fulves The Marrakech Game betting game with coins, guessing value of hidden coins
1985 60
Karl Fulves Lincoln Up "Penny Papers", sucker bet of which side a bill with land
1985 71
Karl Fulves Two Headed "Penny Papers", bet about head on both sides of a penny
1985 86
Karl Fulves Catchbets No. 6, on bets in which the sneak solution does not work as expected
  • coin on strip of paper on edge of glass has to be put into glass
  • three coins in a row, some can be touched, some moved
  • tearing a strip of paper, one hand on each end, into three pieces, posed as a problem
Related to 1985 93
Karl Fulves Dates "Penny Papers", puzzle question about date on a bill
1985 104
Karl Fulves Snow "Penny Papers", puzzle question about phrase on a bill, anagram
1985 104
Karl Fulves Key & Scale "Penny Papers", bet questions on design of dollar bill
1985 123
Bruce Bernstein Clinical PSI all possible combinations of three coin tosses are written on various billets, performer and spectator each select one and performer wins with at about three to one odds
Also published here 1985 31
Die Strafe folgt auf dem Fuß challenge that the spectator should grab a coin under a hat as soon as the hat is lifted by the performer, coin transformed into a lemon or raw egg
May 1986
Intermagic (Vol. 12 No. 2)
97
Pat Conway Baby Bottle bar bet about emptying a small bottle with rubber teet without removing it
1987 141
Pino Pan Das Seemannsmesser knife puzzle routine, opening and closing knife, "Taschenfeitel"
1987
Magische Blätter (Vol. 1 No. 10)
12
Karl Fulves Catch Q's two catch questions
Related to 1988
Interlocutor (Issue 47)
193
Karl Fulves Betcha adding digits on coin
1988
Interlocutor (Issue 48)
211
Karl Fulves Catch Questions twenty-six questions
Related to 1988
Interlocutor (Issue 52)
265
Peter Wilker, Dr. Jacob Daley, Wolfgang Rohde, Robert E. Neale ... und das verfluchte Würfelspiel on the game of 31 / NIM, adding numbers from die, person who surpasses 31 loses the game
  • Das Einunddreissiger-Spiel
  • Was hat der Zauberer davon?
  • Eine Fundamental neue Idee
  • Das Rohde-System
  • Vom Würfel zur Karten
  • Von Karten zu Würfeln
  • Anhang: Die Schlüsselzahlen beim Würfelspiel
Related to
  • Ken de Courcy's "The Australian Gambling Game of 31"
  • Robert Neale's "Six Card Swindle" 1985.
1988
Magische Blätter (Vol. 2 No. 5)
4
Peter Kane The Great Purse Swindle spectator can apparently win money but never does, using five flat purses and ten cards
1988 ca. 5
Stay Put No. 23, balancing-on-finger stunt
1989 35
Reflexes No. 26, bill dropped through fingers, cannot be caught
1989 38
Dates No. 32, finding the year 1776 on a dollar bill
1989 43
Snow No. 33, looking for anagram of "night snow" on dollar bill
1989 43
How Many Eyes? No. 39, "how many eyes on a dollar bill?", catch question
1989 45
Betting Lincoln No. 40, trick question about tossing a bill up
1989 46
R. J. Cooper Balancing Act No. 46, balancing coin on bill
1989 47
Six Glasses No. 69, six glasses, three filled, they have to be alternated by switching adjacent glasses, puzzle
Also published here 1990 146
Ken Brooke Eine Bierwette gag bet about emptying a glass of beer without being in the room
Also published here Oct. 1990
Intermagic (Vol. 15 No. 4 & 5)
176
Martin Gardner, Karl Fulves Martin Gardner's Elusive Ace Monty Hall problem with three Aces, monte type routine by Fulves
Inspired byRelated to 1990
Swindle Sheet (Issue 1)
6
Karl Fulves Cap Flip bar bet with beer cap, turning it over on table
Related to 1990
Swindle Sheet (Issue 1)
7
Robert E. Neale Borromean Bet topological bar bet with three interlocked rings of different colors
  • Introduction
  • The Sucker Move
  • Spectator Holds a Ring
  • Marked Rings
  • The Fooler
  • The Finish
Related to 1990
Swindle Sheet (Issue 2)
15
Karl Fulves, Martin Gardner Well Stacked on top of bottle is a bill, followed by a stack of coins, problem of removing the bill, multiple methods
Related to 1990
Swindle Sheet (Issue 2)
23
N. B. Winkless The 5-6 Search probability bet about rolling a five, a six, or the total of six with two dice
1990
Swindle Sheet (Issue 2)
24
Karl Fulves Under Over 7 double digit dice
1990
Swindle Sheet (Issue 3)
32
Mel Stover Zebras three pieces of paper, zebra and clown design, layout puzzle (similar to riders on horses)
Related to 1990
Swindle Sheet (Issue 3)
35
Karl Fulves Spoon Lift lifting a spoon off the table in a certain way
1990
Cheat Sheet (Issue 3)
29
Karl Fulves Daylight Poker poker hands drawn from face-up spread, yet performer wins
Related toAlso published here 1990
Cheat Sheet (Issue 5)
48
Robert E. Neale Borromean Baffler topological bar bet with three interlocked rings of different colors, further ideas
  • Props
  • Move
  • Presentations
  • The Impossible Task
    • 1. Introduction
    • 2. Sucker Move
    • 3. Spectator Holds
    • 4. Marked Rings
    • 5. Fooler
    • 6. Climax
Related to 1990 1
Karl Fulves, Robert E. Neale More Borromean Notes topological bar bet with three interlocked rings of different colors, more notes and credit information
  • Further Reading
Related to 1990 ca. 1
Rudolf Braunmüller Aufsitzer & Bierwetten collection of bar bets
  • Verschiedene Wetten
    • Die dreifache Gemeinheit (drinking shot glass under hat without touching)
    • Für Trinkfeste (drinking three beers faster than someone else three shot glasses)
    • Beantwortungs-Wetten
    • Münzenwetten
    • Eine Pokerwette (cards taken openly from face-up deck, yet spectator loses)
    • Die nächste Karte, die ich umdrehe, ist Ihre! (Circus Card trick)
  • Zauberer-Wetten (for magicians)
    • Der Center Tear
    • Der Münzenschnipper
    • Mental-Farbwürfel
    • Der Faro-Mischkünstler
June 1991
Intermagic (Vol. 16 No. 2)
79
Karl Fulves Three Glasses turning glasses mouth down in three moves, routine, credit information with references
1991
Swindle Sheet (Issue 4)
43
Karl Fulves Fixed Bets eleven bar bets involving numbers, nail
1991
Swindle Sheet (Issue 5)
54
Checkers Bet
1991
Swindle Sheet (Issue 6)
71
Glasses and Shot Glasses three glasses and shot glasses
1991
Swindle Sheet (Issue 6)
71
Dice Bet No. 1
1991
Swindle Sheet (Issue 6)
71
Dice Bet No. 2
1991
Swindle Sheet (Issue 6)
71
Dice Bet No. 3
1991
Swindle Sheet (Issue 6)
72
Titanic Thompson Checkers Bet
1991
Swindle Sheet (Issue 6)
72
Die & Cup Bet
1991
Swindle Sheet (Issue 6)
72
Pennies Bet incomplete
1991
Swindle Sheet (Issue 6)
72
Paul Douglas Heads You Win sucker game with throwing three coins
1991
Swindle Sheet (Issue 9)
103
Karl Fulves Theory Only bet with polarizing light filters
Also published here
  • "The Dancing Wu Li Masters" (G. Zukav, 1979)
1991
Cheat Sheet (Issue 7)
71
Martin Gardner Red-Black Paradox three cards dealt, a matching pair turned up, color of third card is bet on
1991
Cheat Sheet (Issue 9)
84
Roy Miller Mindplay little experiments on business card, optical illusion and puzzle
1991 49
Mel Stover Stover's Glass Bet bet about circumference being more than glass is tall
  • Reference Note
  • Karl Fulves Notes
Related to 1992
Swindle Sheet (Issue 10)
116
Philip T. Goldstein 2/3 Dice dice tossing game of "higher number wins" with mis-spotted die
1992
Cheat Sheet (Issue 10)
101
Martin Gardner Cornered King proposition bet with 3x4 chess grid
1992
Cheat Sheet (Issue 10)
103
Karl Fulves Stover Glass Bet another hight-vs-circumference bet
Related to 1992 2
Karl Fulves Crapless Craps betting game with three coins and a cup
1992 4
Bob Farmer Flim-Flam on scams, cons, proposition bets
Sep. 1992
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 1)
42
Bob Farmer Jiggery Pokery poker hands drawn from face-up spread, yet performer wins, credit information
Related toVariationsAlso published here Sep. 1992
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 1)
43
Bob Farmer Beer Money length of bill compared to height and circumference of a glass
Sep. 1992
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 1)
43
Bob Farmer Scam to the Future word play bar bet with two predictions, spectator has to proclaim whether he thinks the performer is a fraud or a psychic
Inspired by
  • "Brain Popper" (Martin Gardner, Ibidem)
Sep. 1992
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 1)
43
Bob Farmer Lay Your Money Down
  • Flim-Flam
spectator and performer alternately lay down bills on space without them touching, last one wins
Oct. 1992
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 2)
44
Bob Farmer Cheat The Store Where You Bought This Magazine
  • Flim-Flam
bet that one can call out a hundred different words without an a
Dec. 1992
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 4)
59
Roy Miller Thirteen on a One Dollar Bill the number 13 on a one dollar bill, puzzle
Dec. 1992
Vibrations (Vol. 15 No. 6)
15
Bob Farmer Excuse Me, But Did You Drop This Fifty Dollar Bill?
  • Flim-Flam
three bets using money
  • 2-5-7
  • Same But Different
  • The $100 Swindle
Jan. 1993
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 5)
58
Bob Farmer I've Got Fifty Bucks That Says This Is A Shotgun And I Am Elvis bet that one of the top cards of three random piles matches one of three randomly named digits from a bill's serial number
Also published here
  • Bill Simon's Mathematical Magic
Jan. 1993
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 5)
59
Bob Farmer How To Fake A Veneer Of Normalcy coin flip bet
Jan. 1993
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 5)
59
Bob Farmer Count Diceula
  • Flim-Flam
addition game with dice
Also published here
  • "Foul Play, Fair Dice" (I'll Bet You Can't, Lewis Kohrs, 1946))
Mar. 1993
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 7)
53
Bob Farmer, William Goldman The Little Man Who Was There
  • Flim-Flam
"The Chicago Bar Scam" via Bill Goldman, bet to make signed bill appear in cash register
Related to Apr. 1993
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 8)
69
Bob Farmer Three Card Monty Hall
  • Flim-Flam
on the monte hall problem
Related to
  • "The Elusive Ace" (Martin Gardner Presents, p. 228)
May 1993
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 9)
61
Bob Farmer Chess for Chumps
  • Flim-Flam
cheating at chess
  • Playing Four Or More Games At Once
  • Cheating at Checkers
June 1993
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 10)
57
Bob Farmer Satanic Mechanic betting on which Ace will show up first, proposition bet
July 1993
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 11)
59
Bob Farmer Three Rights Make a Wrong asking the spectator three questions about a dollar bill that makes him lose money
Aug. 1993
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 12)
59
Bob Farmer Roll With The Punches bet about removing a bill from under a glass without touching the glass
Aug. 1993
Magic (Vol. 2 No. 12)
59
Bob Farmer Not So Easy Money bet that spectator cannot pick up a dollar bill from the floor
Sep. 1993
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 1)
58
Bob Farmer Heads I Win, Tails You Lose bet in which three coins in a row must be turned all heads-up
Sep. 1993
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 1)
58
Bob Farmer Squeeze Play challenge of removing two coins that are balancing on the rim of a glass
Sep. 1993
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 1)
59
Bob Farmer Monte Bones
  • Flim-Flam
spectator cannot find spotted die amongst blank dice, paddle move
Nov. 1993
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 3)
58
Bob Farmer Pocket Change bet about matching the flip of a coin
Related to Dec. 1993
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 4)
62
Bob Farmer Two Heads Are Better Than One coin flipping with three people, odd man out wins
Related to Dec. 1993
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 4)
62
Bob Farmer Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad three coins shaken and tossed by spectator, head/tail proposition bet
Related to Dec. 1993
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 4)
62
Bob Farmer None Out Of Three head/tail sucker game with three tossed coins
Related to Dec. 1993
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 4)
62
Bob Farmer Two Out Of Three Ain't Badder three coins shaken and tossed by spectator, head/tail proposition bet
Related to Dec. 1993
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 4)
63
Bob Farmer Double-Headed Coins bar bets with double-headed coins
  • Con of the Realm
  • Pocket Change
  • Two Heads are Better than One
  • Two Out of Three Ain't Bad
  • None out of Three
  • Two out of Three Ain't Badder
  • Heads I Win, Tails You Lose
1994 6
Bob Farmer The Game of 31 Ace through Six on table, numbers added until in turn until 31 is reached, performer always wins
Related to 1994 18
Bob Farmer Loaded Dice bets with loaded and mis-spotted dice
  • 7-11 Dice - Load and Fire
  • Another Game of 31
  • Bone Try
  • Pair of Dice by the Dashboard Light
1994 30
John Scarne Brazil Bet betting that the large brazil nuts are on top in can
Related to 1994
Rigmarole (Issue 10)
115
Mel Bennett, Karl Fulves Petals & Roots more on the dice puzzle
Related to 1994
Verbatim (Issue 10)
122
Steve Dusheck Last Straw two straws in hand, spectator always picks short one
1994 151
Bob Farmer The Unbreakable Bank word-play bet about the amount of money one has in the fist
Related to July 1994
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 11)
60
Bob Farmer Born in the U.S.A. word-play bet about Denmark, Mexico, Norway and Poland
Related to July 1994
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 11)
60
Bob Farmer Mental Arithmetic puzzle about the telephone number of a character in a story
July 1994
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 11)
60
Bob Farmer Stand Up and Be Counted bet about standing a quarter on its edge
July 1994
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 11)
60
Bob Farmer, Alan Ericksen Word Morphing changing words by changing one letter at a time
Related to July 1994
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 11)
60
Bob Farmer Turn of the Screw bet about turning five glasses mouth down
Aug. 1994
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 12)
65
Bob Farmer Splash bet about distributing liquid in five glasses
Aug. 1994
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 12)
65
Bob Farmer All YOu Can Bet And Half Of All You Can Bet bet about determining whether a glass is exactly half full
Aug. 1994
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 12)
65
Bob Farmer Through a Glass Markly bet about distributing ten coins on three glasses so all have an odd number of coins
Aug. 1994
Magic (Vol. 3 No. 12)
65
Bob Farmer Pair Of Dice By The Dashboard Light
  • Flim-Flam
proposition bet with four dice, one pair for spectator and one for performer, using 7-11 dice, four versions
Oct. 1994
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 2)
66
Bob Farmer Deck Indirect wording puzzle about which cards are in the box
Dec. 1994
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 4)
64
Bob Farmer Deck Circumspect Monty Hall type proposition bet with three cards
Dec. 1994
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 4)
64
Bob Farmer Deck Collect proposition bet with four Twos and two Aces
Dec. 1994
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 4)
64
Roy Miller Borderline Genius mathematical puzzle, conversion rate, buying cake
May 1994
Vibrations (Vol. 16 No. 11)
12
Karrell Fox Fantom Fire performer can make paper napkin flash when touched with cigarette, spectators cannot
1995 26
Martin Gardner Cornered bar bet with checkerboard pattern and coins
1995
Underworld (Issue 2)
23
Simon Lovell The Bar Fly bar bet, Darts
Sep./Oct. 1995
The Magic Menu (Vol. 6 No. 31)
352
Bob Farmer Not The Tsunami I Expected word-play scam to "divine" freely chosen card
Mar. 1995
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 7)
65
Bob Farmer Too Bad About That Guy, But Doesn't His Suit Fit Great proposition bet about the suits of three random cards
Related to Mar. 1995
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 7)
65
Bob Farmer The Family That Preys Together proposition bet about two values being next to each other
Mar. 1995
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 7)
65
Martin Gardner Two Corking Good Challenges
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
two challenges with a cork swimming in glass of water
Mar. 1995
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 7)
66
Mel Stover EquivoCoin odd/even word-play with three coins in hand
Apr. 1995
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 8)
86
Mel Stover Home Run baseball bet
Apr. 1995
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 8)
86
Mel Stover Hooked On Phonies word play cons
  • High Pressure Hose
  • Calendar Cons
  • Stranger That You Should Say That
Apr. 1995
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 8)
87
Bob Farmer Flush With Cash proposition bet about the suits of three random cards
Related to June 1995
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 10)
68
Bob Farmer Reversal Of Fortune bet about reversing the order of a stack of coins
July 1995
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 11)
70
Bob Farmer Spin to Win head and tail distribution bet when removing a bunch of coins from under a tray, parity
Related to July 1995
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 11)
70
Bob Farmer Coin Roulette sucker game with coins in a circle that are counted out
Variations July 1995
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 11)
71
Norman Beck Pay Your Money And Take Your Choice verbal ploy
Aug. 1995
Magic (Vol. 4 No. 12)
71
Max Maven Coin Roulette Variation sucker game with coins in a circle that are counted out
Inspired by Sep. 1995
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 1)
71
Bob Farmer A Penny For Your Thoughts proposition bet with head/tails triplets
Related to Oct. 1995
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 2)
80
Bob Farmer Catch 23 wordplay where spectator has to answer three questions and loses money
Oct. 1995
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 2)
81
Bob Farmer The Ten Scammandments
  • Flim-Flam
article on ten humorous rules for bet and scams
Nov. 1995
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 3)
76
Bob Farmer Catch 24 scam bet on guessing the date on a coin from its other side
Nov. 1995
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 3)
78
Martin Gardner Stabbing an Eggshell
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
piercing a piece of egg shell with a knife
Nov. 1995
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 3)
78
Bob Farmer Snow Job game about each hiding an odd or even number of coins
Dec. 1995
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 4)
82
Bob Farmer Scrooge's Penny Pincher game about each hiding coins in the hand and asking yes/no questions
Dec. 1995
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 4)
82
Karl Fulves The Dome con game in which Aces are dealt and if first two are of different color, player wins
Related to 1996 114
Bob Driebeek Das Erbe des alten Arabers illogical puzzle, dividing money under three sons, done with real coins
Related to 1996 37
Bob Farmer The Third Scam... A Column To Honor Martin Gardner
  • Flim-Flam
more on the referenced proposition bet with head/tails triplets
  • Irwin Stern Calls Flim-Flam's Bluff
  • Debruijn Doublets
  • Hustler TH, Mark HH
  • Hustler XX, Mark YY
  • It's Triplets, Mr. Farmer
  • The Secret Formula
Related to Jan. 1996
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 5)
80
Bob Farmer Thugs & Tugs bet about tearing a piece of paper into three pieces in one go
Related to Mar. 1996
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 7)
72
Bob Farmer A Ship in a Bottle bet about putting a half dollar in a bottle, word play
Mar. 1996
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 7)
72
Bob Farmer A Cut of the Cash bet about removing strip of paper from between mouth of bottle and stack of coins
Mar. 1996
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 7)
72
Martin Gardner Pool Hustler Scam
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
bet about knocking over a nail that's standing on its head between three pool balls
Mar. 1996
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 7)
73
Martin Gardner Zombie Glass
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
bet about hight of glass and circumference
Apr. 1996
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 8)
87
Bob Farmer Jiggery Pokery poker hands drawn from face-up spread, yet performer wins
Also published here May 1996
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 9)
72
Bob Farmer Reverse Jiggery Pokery poker hands drawn from face-up spread, then hands are exchanged and performer wins
Inspired by May 1996
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 9)
72
Bob Farmer Jiggery Poker in Two Hands poker hands drawn from face-up spread, yet performer wins, repeat phase
Inspired by May 1996
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 9)
72
Bob Farmer The Contest poker hands drawn from face-up spread, yet performer wins
Related to May 1996
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 9)
73
Martin Gardner Somersault Shell
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
half an egg shell is put in water, it turns over as it sink, spectator cannot duplicate this
June 1996
Magic (Vol. 5 No. 10)
71
Bob Farmer Squeeze Play bet about drinking liquid from a glass with two coins balancing on its rim
Sep. 1996
Magic (Vol. 6 No. 1)
78
Bob Farmer Three to One bet about drinking three beers faster than a shot glass
Sep. 1996
Magic (Vol. 6 No. 1)
78
Bob Farmer Soaking the Mark bet that spectator cannot pick up tabled glass without spilling its content
Sep. 1996
Magic (Vol. 6 No. 1)
78
Martin Gardner The Biased Penny
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
bias in spinning a new penny on glass surface
Sep. 1996
Magic (Vol. 6 No. 1)
79
Martin Gardner The Puzzling Quarters
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
puzzle about moving coins around on a surface without touching
Oct. 1996
Magic (Vol. 6 No. 2)
89
Pat Hennessy, Dai Vernon Dai's Wager dice bet with odds in performer's favor
Related to 1997 14
Simon Lovell, Ken Brooke Any Dog Called For! any dog apparently appears under a glass, "puddle" gag
1997 226
Victor Torsberg Ein Aufsitzer-Kartentrick performer names cards he cut to, spectator knows how it works (quick peek), but cannot duplicate it because he sees a back when he tries
1997
Intermagic (Vol. 21 No. 3)
104
Martin Gardner Eine Mutprobe spectator is told to hold paper strip while it is burning, it rolls up towards his fingers
1997
Intermagic (Vol. 21 No. 3)
104
Bob Farmer Polterdiced
  • Flim-Flam
betting game with dice, proposition bet
Inspired by Feb. 1997
Magic (Vol. 6 No. 6)
75
Martin Gardner Two Ten-Cent Betchas
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
picking up a coin with a straw, and dropping a coin so it lands on its edge
June 1997
Magic (Vol. 6 No. 10)
76
Martin Gardner A Water Transfer
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
construction with glasses, liquid and knives
Aug. 1997
Magic (Vol. 6 No. 12)
81
Giovanni Livera Count Down Con Do As I Do counting from ten to one with three tabled coins or object, spectator cannot repeat procedure
Also published here
  • The Amazing Cigar, written by Jon Racherbaumer
Oct. 1997
Magic (Vol. 7 No. 2)
78
Eddie Adams Hooked Up small scissors hooked on both pinkies, spectator cannot replicate movement
Also published here
  • The Amazing Cigar, written by Jon Racherbaumer
Dec. 1997
Magic (Vol. 7 No. 4)
73
Eddie Fields One is a Lonely Number trivia, how many Ones are on a one-dollar bill
1997 83
Eddie Fields This Made Bud Wiser removing a bill from under an upside down bottle
1997 85
Eddie Fields All Thumbs? lifting the tray of a matchbox on its cover with only the first and fourth finger
Inspired by 1997 86
Steve Beam Nectar of the Cups humorous bar bet routine, with cups and balls
1998 1478
Karl Fulves 4 In A Row
  • "Dot Com - Tricks and stunts with numbers"
betting game with Ace through Ten and sequences within the row that are decreasing or increasing
Related to 1998 207
Karl Fulves Harness Hitch Bet
Related to 1998 274
Gerald Lynton Kaufman Rätsel gefällig? - 2. truth/liar puzzle with three cards on table
1998
Intermagic (Vol. 22 No. 1)
16
Ted Bohmann Gesellschaftsscherze getting smoke out of bottle, two phases
1998
Intermagic (Vol. 22 No. 1)
27
Jefferson Boylston Balancing Soda Can soda can balanced on its edge
Variations July 1998
Onyx (Issue 4)
24
Mark Aspiazu On Edge (Presentation For The Balancing Soda Can) soda can balanced on its edge
Inspired by July 1998
Onyx (Issue 4)
26
Karl Fulves Short Cons with calculator
  • Digits From Digits
  • Ciphers Deciphered
  • 625 Bets
  • PIE In Sky
  • A Memorable Date
1998 77
Karl Fulves Bet A Hundred making a number from 101 to 115 appear on display without touching the number keys, with variations:
  • A Hundred Numbers
  • Rapid Numbers
  • Decimal Dilemma (posed as a problem)
  • Masked Memory (posed as a problem)
  • What's Next?
  • Nuthin
Variations 1998 87
Ellis Stanyon "Thirty-one" (Simple Version) No. 12, "A Cardsharp's Trick", game in which cards are drawn alternately and the sum of the values cannot exceed thirty-one
Related toVariations 1999 63
Karl Fulves Supplementary Note version of the game with paper-clipped pairs, another version without a system given posed as problem
Inspired by 1999 64
Ellis Stanyon "Thirty-one" No. 45, "A Cardsharp's Trick", more elaborate version
Related to 1999 80
Bob Friedhoffer Cup Con two nested plastic cups, problem is to separate them without touching, different presentations
1999
Charlatan (Issue 1)
1
Karl Fulves Passing The Buck
  • handshake combinatorics puzzle in which a bill is transferred
  • on the bill-catching bet, thread
1999
Charlatan (Issue 1)
12
Martin Gardner Dice Catch
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
bet of getting two dice held at side of glass into glass
Jan. 1999
Magic (Vol. 8 No. 5)
84
Bob Farmer, Robin W. Dawes Con Quistador, Part I
  • Flim-Flam
proposition game with Ace, Two, Three and seven picture cards
Variations Feb. 1999
Magic (Vol. 8 No. 6)
92
Bob Farmer, Robin W. Dawes Con Quistador, Part II
  • Flim-Flam
proposition game with Ace, Two, Three and seven picture cards
Inspired by Mar. 1999
Magic (Vol. 8 No. 7)
83
Martin Gardner Three Balls High
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
height of cylinder that contains three tennis balls is less than the circumference of one ball
Apr. 1999
Magic (Vol. 8 No. 8)
76
Bob Farmer Con Fiscation
  • Flim-Flam
royal flush put on table in a row, four cards from shuffled deck placed on each to make a poker hand, proposition bet which hand will be the winning hand
Apr. 1999
Magic (Vol. 8 No. 8)
81
Bob Farmer, Robin W. Dawes Y2 Kon
  • Flim-Flam
moving bills on calendar, whoever lands on Dec. 31, 1999, wins
Variations May 1999
Magic (Vol. 8 No. 9)
76
Bob Farmer, Robin W. Dawes Y2 Con Backards
  • Flim-Flam
moving bills on calendar
Inspired by June 1999
Magic (Vol. 8 No. 10)
76
Bob Farmer Savoir Pair proposition game with Ace through Six in Clubs and Diamonds that must match or not
June 1999
Magic (Vol. 8 No. 10)
76
Bob Farmer, Robin W. Dawes Six-Eight-Seven
  • Flim-Flam
proposition bet with pair of dice
Aug. 1999
Magic (Vol. 8 No. 12)
84
William P. Miesel, Ed Eckl, Harry Hirschvogel Oil & Water Dice
  • Flim-Flam (by Bob Farmer)
bet with three white and three green dice that must be arranged in certain way with a minimum of moves
Also published here
  • Precurso issue LXIX
Sep. 1999
Magic (Vol. 9 No. 1)
79
Bob Farmer Bone Dry mis-spotted 7-11 dice for scam
Oct. 1999
Magic (Vol. 9 No. 2)
90
Bob Farmer, Franz Braun Die Cannibal Die
  • Flim-Flam
number prediction about added numbers on turn of die according to some procedure
Related to Nov. 1999
Magic (Vol. 9 No. 3)
91
Martin Gardner Three Drop Task
  • Martin Gardner's Corner
challenge of dropping match or cork so they stand in impossible conditions
Dec. 1999
Magic (Vol. 9 No. 4)
92
Bob Farmer, Franz Braun Die Cannibal Die, Part Two
  • Flim-Flam
number prediction about added numbers on turn of die according to some procedure
  • Braun Variations
Related to Dec. 1999
Magic (Vol. 9 No. 4)
95
Simon Lovell Matchbox Betcha number of matches in matchbox divined, mathematical
2000 121
Eric Mason Matchbox Betcha Number Two! matchbox drawer balanced on cover under glass, bet to get drawer into cover without touching
2000 123
Simon Lovell Two Pieces of Silliness - Cancan "Silly Stunt Number Two"
can is crushed flat in two seconds
2000 132
Simon Lovell Coins, Dice and Grandfather's Beer! some bar bets, then full glass of beer produced
  • Stage One - Selling the Roll Out
  • Stage Two - Selling the Six Dice Stack
  • Stage Three - Grandfather's Beer
2000 143
Mel Bennett Coasters winning strategy for betting game with Ace through Seven or seven numbered coaster
Inspired by 2000
Charlatan (Issue 2)
13
Joseph K. Schmidt Rail Shot proposition pool bet, trick shot
2000
Charlatan (Issue 2)
17
Karl Fulves Roundabout on a bar bet in which a coin leaning against a glass must be hit away with another coin
Related to 2000
Charlatan (Issue 3)
30
Karl Fulves St. Patrick's Bubbles bet about bubbles in stout beer floating downwards
2000
Charlatan (Issue 3)
36
Titanic Thompson Titanic's Stone Skip bet about skipping flat stones on sand
2000
Charlatan (Issue 3)
37
Glass Trap paper napkin rolled up and put in glass bottle, bottle put upside down on table, bet about removing paper napkin
2000
Charlatan (Issue 4)
39
The Giraffe Puzzle match layout puzzle, see page 62 of next issue for solution
Also published here
  • Martin Gardner article in Games magazine, Oct. 1997
2000
Charlatan (Issue 4)
48
Bob Farmer Bar Racuda
  • Flim-Flam
high "card" wins with four poker dice, proposition bet
Related toVariations Apr. 2000
Magic (Vol. 9 No. 8)
80
Bob Farmer, Robin W. Dawes Uncle Scam Wants You
  • Flim-Flam
proposition bet with four nontransitive dice
Inspired byRelated to July 2000
Magic (Vol. 9 No. 11)
80