Miscellaneous

127 entries in Puzzle / Miscellaneous
Creators Title Comments & References Year Source Page AA Categories
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
Breslaw's Last Legacy
44
A Handkerchief Puzzle tying a knot without letting go of the ends, no trick
 		1890
More Magic
203
Scherz-Fragen gag questions, riddles
 		Mar. 1895
Die Zauberwelt (Vol. 1 No. 3)
43
To Lift Four Straws with a Fifth puzzle
 		1902
The Modern Conjurer
308
Friedrich "Fritz" Hügli Gegenstände durch ein enges Loch zaubern a disentanglement puzzle
 		1930
Zauberkunststücke
41
Gerald Kosky Swindle unsolvable puzzle is solved behind back
Also published here
 1938
The Jinx (Issue Summer Extra 1938)
324
Clayton Rawson* Puzzle From a Top Hat geometry puzzle
 		1938
The Jinx (Issue Summer Extra 1938)
324
Theodore Annemann* Contest Dept. square layout, mini-sudoku-type puzzle
 		1939
The Jinx (Issue Winter Extra 1938/39)
373
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
James G. Thompson Jr. Court of Intrigue verbal puzzle
 		July 1939
The Jinx (Issue 58)
419
James G. Thompson Jr. Court of Intrigue verbal puzzlepu
 		Aug. 1939
The Jinx (Issue 59)
424
Getting Coin in Glass paper on glass, coin on top, getting coin in glass without touching paper (no snap!)
 		1940
The Jinx (Issue 93)
580
The Odd Estate puzzle with a story about a will
 		1941
The Jinx (Issue 128)
739
Herb Runge The Weird Inn with rhyme
Variations
 1941
The Jinx (Issue 128)
739
Bruce Elliott* Elliott at Play puzzle/game "My Grandmother likes Tea"
 		1941
The Jinx (Issue 137)
780
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
Wilbur T. Kattner Axis Cut three rings linked, one is allowed to be cut to free all
Related to
 July 1943
The Phoenix (Issue 39)
162
L. Vosburgh Lyons Paper Puzzle a figure on a paper, has to be reorganized to form a square in no more than four cuts
Related to
  • page 203 for solution
 Nov. 1943
The Phoenix (Issue 48)
198
L. Vosburgh Lyons Puzzle figure, what's the size of the surface, solution on page 246
 		Apr. 1944
The Phoenix (Issue 58)
239
L. Vosburgh Lyons Paper Puzzle turning a square of paper into an equilateral triangle
 		July 1944
The Phoenix (Issue 65)
267
Frederick Mosteller Fred Mosteller's Solution to No. 87 logic word puzzle, weight problem with a fake coin
 		Aug. 1945
The Phoenix (Issue 90)
366
Milbourne Christopher* Steel Ball Puzzle idea for puzzle with ball in metal vase, ball should be lifted from vase
 		Nov. 1946
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 4 No. 6)
264
E. H. Borden Horses - A Number Quickie illogic puzzle, dividing horses under three sons
Related to
 May 1947
The Phoenix (Issue 126)
506
An After Dinner Diversion cutting skin of lemon, parts are interlocked
Also published here
  • "Journal de la Prestidigitation" No. 143, July-August. 1948.
 Sep. 1948
Hugard's Magic Monthly (Vol. 6 No. 4)
462
Alan Barnert Dead Man's Chest trick with the "15 Puzzle", impossible arrangement
 		Sep. 1949
The Phoenix (Issue 186)
745
The Puzzling Loop Topological puzzle, loop of rope can escape from loop formed by a person's arm (person must be wearing vest)
 		1956
Mathematics, Magic And Mystery
86
Reversing the Vest Person wearing vest, hands are clasped together. Vest can be turned inside out without unclasping hands.
 		1956
Mathematics, Magic And Mystery
86
Removing the Vest Vest can be removed from body without removing coat
 		1956
Mathematics, Magic And Mystery
87
Martin Gardner* Fibonacci Series About the mathematics behind geometrical vanishes where the area of a shape changes. Based on work by V. Schlegel, E.B. Escott and Lewis Carroll
Related to
  • V. Schlegel, Zeitschrift fur Mathematik und Physik, Vol. 24, p. 123 (1879)
  • E. B. Escott, Open Court, Vol. 21, p. 502 (1907)
Variations
 1956
Mathematics, Magic And Mystery
134
Max Katz Strange Change
1957
26 Originals
22
Max Katz Wrong Number!
1957
26 Originals
23
Max Katz A teaser calculation puzzle
 		1957
26 Originals
23
Bert Allerton Magic Letter Square a cross-word puzzle
 		1958
The Close-Up Magician
54
Bill Elliott The O. H. Puzzle layout puzzle with geometrical shapes
Also published here
 Oct. 1959
Ibidem (Issue 18)
23
Paul Curry The Case of the Missing Hat cards with magicians and with hats, story trick
Related to
Variations
 1965
Magician's Magic
248
Age Puzzle
Related to
  • solution on p. 38
 May 1966
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 1 No. 7)
34
Frederick Pohl Heads I Win wager/puzzle in which performer knows something about the number of circles the spectator secretly draws
 		Nov. 1968
Epilogue (Issue 4)
25
Bob Bergheim Coin Displacement Puzzle
Related to
 Mar. 1968
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 3 No. 5)
166
Bob Bergheim Coin Puzzle solution
Related to
 Apr. 1968
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 3 No. 6)
170
Past Time how to time 15 minutes with a 7 and 11 minute hour glass
 		Oct. 1968
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 3 No. 12)
212
L. Vosburgh Lyons Betcha! geometric puzzle in which an area must be divided into four or five equal pieces
Related to
 May 1969
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 4 No. 7)
260
Paul Curry In the Balance weighing puzzle, see also p. 312 for variation by Ben Braude
Related to
 July 1969
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 4 No. 9)
269
Paul Curry In the Balance solution to weighing puzzle
Related to
 Aug. 1969
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 4 No. 10)
274
Karl Fulves* A Remarkable Bet heads and tails bet with three coins, presentation for Walter Penney's coin flipping paradox
 		Nov. 1970
Epilogue (Issue 10)
77
Number Equation Puzzle
Feb. 1970
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 5 No. 4)
318
Ed Morrisey Word Completion Puzzle see p. 348 for Sid Lorraine puzzles and p. 352
 		Apr. 1970
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 5 No. 6)
332
Sid Lorraine, John Holt Etcetera word puzzles
 		July 1970
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 5 No. 9)
348
Geometric Puzzle die and card in corner, wanted is the height of a triangle, see p. 424 for clue to solution
 		Nov. 1970
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 6 No. 1)
372
L. Vosburgh Lyons Hexed layout puzzle with seven paper hexagons, see also p. 602
 		Winter 1970
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 6 No. 4th Folio)
378
Emil Jarrow, Theodore Annemann* All In A Row coin layout puzzle
Related to
 Dec. 1970
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 6 No. 2)
386
Martin Gardner* Turnabout Coins coin layout puzzle
Also published here
Related to
Variations
 Mar. 1971
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 6 No. 5)
412
Karl Fulves* Babel death of George McAthy, credit statement on linking rubber bands, John Scarne, geometric puzzle (for solution, see p. 470), Paul Cinquevalli's juggling closer
Related to
 Aug. 1971
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 6 No. 10)
436
Karl Fulves* Babel Bruce Elliott's card accident, 26th All-Day Magic Convention, puzzle from Playboy about perspective (solution on p. 582)
 		Oct. 1972
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 7 No. 12)
564
Steve Spillman Another Dimension using puzzle cube with card indices on each part
Also published here
 1972
Magick (Issue 49)
243
Steve Spillman Another Dimension using puzzle cube with card indices on each part
Also published here
 1973
"My Hands Can Be Yours"
34
A Puzzle drawing a circle and a dot on a paper without lifting the pen
 		1974
Tricks with Paper
34
Gerald Kosky Swindle trick with ring on block puzzle, impossible object
Also published here
 1975
The Magic of Gerald Kosky
229
Arthur Day Holidaze logic puzzle
 		Dec. 1976
Pabular (Vol. 3 No. 4)
339
Karl Fulves* Chink-a-Chink Ideas puzzle pieces gather and assemble themselves, different versions, no methods given
 		1976
The Pallbearers Review (Vol. 10 No. Close-Up Folio #5)
929
Bill Elliott The "Oh" Puzzle layout puzzle, pieces have to be arranged in square
Also published here
 1977
The Magic Book
156
Snap Back puzzle apparatus in which stick must apparently inserted in tube and attached to rubber band
 		1979
Elastrix
17
Puzzle puzzle joke, two pieces
Also published here
  • Patrick Page's "150 Comedy Props"
 Sep. 1979
Circular de la Escuela Mágica de Madrid (Vol. 5 No. 57)
293
Dick Zimmerman Puzzle Wit spectator removes piece from a solved puzzle, performer finds the same piece in a pile of pieces from the same unsolved puzzle, performed on TV by Romark
 		1980
Magick (Issue 254)
1267
Martin Gardner* Quant Quirk 4x4 square of 16 cards, some face-up some face-down randomly, with certain allowed turnover moves one has to get all cards in one direction, sucker game
 		1981
Octet
18
Karl Fulves* Quant Notes notes on preceding "Quant Quirk"
 		1981
Octet
21
Jean de Merry, Don Tanner Puzzle puzzle solves by itself, with missing piece proof
 		1981
Hokus Pokus (Vol. 42 No. 2)
47
Stephen Tucker Magic Square spectator mixes numbers in a plastic sliding numbers sorting puzzle, magic square
 		Dec. 1982
Spell-Binder (Vol. 2 No. 20)
391
Karl Fulves* Saturn's Snake pieces of paper must be arranged in a certain way, layout puzzle
 		1982
Punch-Out Puzzle Kit
7
Karl Fulves* Space Station tower of Hanoi variation
 		1982
Punch-Out Puzzle Kit
8
Karl Fulves* The Jupiter War tokens have to be placed on a grid to satisfy certain conditions
 		1982
Punch-Out Puzzle Kit
9
Karl Fulves* Mars City moving five objects around in a grid to reach requested final layout
 		1982
Punch-Out Puzzle Kit
10
Karl Fulves* Sailing Ships layout puzzle, forming square out of several pieces
 		1982
Punch-Out Puzzle Kit
11
Karl Fulves* The Monorail problem of moving cars around on tracks
 		1982
Punch-Out Puzzle Kit
13
Karl Fulves* Found on Pluto forming three squares from some straight bars, layout puzzle
 		1982
Punch-Out Puzzle Kit
14
Karl Fulves* Reversing the Computer moving eight objects around in a 3x3 grid to reach requested final layout
 		1982
Punch-Out Puzzle Kit
15
Karl Fulves* Lunar Traffic Jam moving objects around in grid according to rules
 		1982
Punch-Out Puzzle Kit
17
Karl Fulves* Splitting the Atom layout puzzle in which alternating chips must be made to be separated
 		1982
Punch-Out Puzzle Kit
18
What's Next No. 51, continuing a series of letters
 		1983
Self-Working Number Magic
76
Dr. Dan J. Alessini Puzzle prediction using a dexterity puzzle, spectator tries solve it (small puzzle where balls have to be placed inside holes), prediction of missed holes, erasable marker
 		Oct. 1985
Magick (Issue 358)
1788
J. C. Coy Visualization Test No. 26, puzzle in which the number of holes has to be guessed when corners are cut off folded paper, there are none
Related to
 1985
Self-Working Paper Magic
51
Square Dance No. 31, cutting a design up in a certain way, puzzle
Also published here
  • Henry Dudeney's scrapbook
 1985
Self-Working Paper Magic
56
Kobon Fumimure Eight Squares No. 32, squares are arranged in a design and observer has to label them from up to down
 		1985
Self-Working Paper Magic
58
The Genius Test No. 33, puzzle in which a paper, string and finger ring arrangement has to be taken apart
 		1985
Self-Working Paper Magic
59
Rick Johnsson Nailed twisted nail puzzle, two bent nails linked, one-handed linking, apparently linked and unlinked when shaken in jar
Also published here
  • "Nailed" (Rick Johnsson, MUM, Feb. 1981)
 1988
The Chronicles (Issue 35)
1408
Karl Fulves* Marketable idea for jigsaw puzzle with cards
 		1988
Interlocutor (Issue 50)
232
Karl Fulves* State of Mind spectator choses a state from map puzzle which is predicted
 		1988
Interlocutor (Issue 50)
240
Michael DeMarco Give Piece a Chance five envelopes with cut up paper puzzle, four are complete, spectator finds envelope where one piece is missing
Inspired by
  • Stewart James' "Shape of Things to Come"
 Dec. 1992
The Minotaur (Vol. 4 No. 4)
9
Steve Dusheck Six Easy Pieces one of six puzzle pieces chosen, it's the one missing
 		1993
Dusheck's Mental Magic
64
Jim Steinmeyer Understanding The Bermuda Triangle counting trick with triangle formation of objects
Also published here
Variations
 Aug. 1993
MAGIC (Vol. 2 No. 12)
53
Karl Fulves* Twisted Logic effect with twisted nail puzzle, tossed from hand to hand, then one of the two nails travels to other hand
 		1994
Rigmarole (Issue 10)
111
Steve Dusheck Beady puzzle in which small beads have to be rolled into holes, performer does it behind his bag
 		1994
Dusheck's Close-Up Magic
124
Utz Napierala Preis-Puzzle-Party "Ein mental-magisches Scherzo"
puzzle pieces in envelopes, performer finds missing one that completes puzzle
 		1995
Intermagic (Vol. 19 No. 4 & 5)
164
Bob Driebeek Das Erbe des alten Arabers illogical puzzle, dividing money under three sons, done with real coins
Related to
 1996
Aenigmas Rätsel
37
Bob Driebeek Wie man seine Freunde zum Narren hält - oder besser: Wie man sich Feinde macht cards with magicians and with hats, story trick
Inspired by
 1996
Aenigmas Rätsel
45
Lee Earle Puzzling Perception solved jigsaw puzzle is displayed, one piece is removed and placed among pieces of an identical jigsaw, spectator removes handful of pieces and spectator locates missing piece
 		1997
Syzygy (Vol. 4 No. 2)
269
Martin Gardner* The 3 Switch Problem
  • "Dot Com - Tricks and stunts with numbers"
puzzle about three switches on the wall
Related to
 1998
The Fine Print (Issue 7)
203
Karl Fulves* Balloons and Strings
  • "Dot Com - Tricks and stunts with numbers"
puzzle, connecting balloons with strings without crossing the strings
 		1998
The Fine Print (Issue 7)
203
Martin Gardner* The 3 Switch Problem
  • "Dot Com - Tricks and stunts with numbers"
solution
Related to
 1998
The Fine Print (Issue 8)
249
Terri Rogers Twisted - The Afghan Border Race Puzzle - magician can predict who can complete a maze on paper the fastest
 		1998
Top Secrets
59
Max Maven* Just for the Mel of It on Mel Stover, with gag for pyramid puzzle (adding third piece)
Related to
Variations
 Sep. 1999
Genii (Vol. 62 No. 9)
28
Mel Stover* Welcome to Melsville bonus insert after page 60, version of Sam Loyd's "Horse and Rider Puzzle"
 		Sep. 1999
Genii (Vol. 62 No. 9)
60
David Regal Piece of My Mind piece of puzzle is divined
 		2002
Constant Fooling 2
104
Jim Steinmeyer Understanding the Bermuda Triangle counting trick with triangle formation of objects
Also published here
Variations
 2002
Impuzzibilities
15
Steve Beam Imaginary Vanish mathematical problem, dividing money
Inspired by
  • Stewart James' "One-Cent Tale" in "The James File" p. 1931.
 2002
Semi-Automatic Card Tricks — Volume 4
111
Nicolai Friedrich, Sagiv Levy Independent Invention
  • Mail
credit claims, on the Mona Lisa puzzle
 		Oct. 2002
MAGIC (Vol. 12 No. 2)
19
Karl Fulves* Off The Wall puzzle how to attach a candle to the wall from "Reader's Digest"
 		2006
Prolix (Issue 2)
82
Family Plan twist on the river-crossing puzzle
 		2007
Prolix (Issue 3)
162
David Regal The Secret presentation for mathematical paradox with bills
Inspired by
  • "Borderline Case" (Maurice Fogel - In Search of the Sensational, 2007)
Variations
 June 2008
Genii (Vol. 71 No. 6)
54
Tony Fatseas Sam Loyd: The Puzzle King about several classic puzzles
 		Oct. 2008
Genii (Vol. 71 No. 10)
40
Josh Mandel Cryptic Crossword No. 1: A Basic Guide to Solving Cryptic Crosswords
Jan. 2009
Genii (Vol. 72 No. 1)
16
Roberto Giobbi Presentation and Handling for Six Guests in Five Rooms mathematical puzzle performed with finger
 		2010
Secret Agenda (Issue Jan 2)
4
Out of Proportion puzzle
 		2010
Secret Agenda (Issue Apr 5)
106
Pekka Gunst Reindeer Puzzle match puzzle
 		2010
Secret Agenda (Issue May 28)
159
Roberto Giobbi Trick Questions
2010
Secret Agenda (Issue Aug 11)
240
Roberto Giobbi Four Number Problems
2010
Secret Agenda (Issue Aug 15)
244
Number Puzzles
2010
Secret Agenda (Issue Sep 29)
291
Puzzle of the Nine Letters
2010
Secret Agenda (Issue Oct 13)
305
Brad Henderson The Puzzling Boxes of Karakuri on puzzle boxes
 		May 2011
MAGIC (Vol. 20 No. 9)
50
Steve Cohen Too Puzzling pieces of puzzle assemble magically and form image of chosen animal
 		2012
The F.F.F.F. Book
45
Michael Weber, Tim Trono Overbooked Test six business cards and six room key cards, story presentation
Inspired by
 Nov. 2013
Real Secrets (Vol. 2 No. 20)
1
Stephen Hobbs A Puzzle routine for pyramid puzzle
Inspired by
 Dec. 2013
MAGIC (Vol. 23 No. 4)
70
John Lovick* President Handsome riddle/illogicality with bills in which money is spent but apparently everyone, including the spender, walks away with profit
Inspired by
  • "Borderline Case" (Maurice Fogel, In Search of the Sensational, 2007)
  • The Secret (David Regal, Genii, 2008)
 2016
The Performance Pieces & Divertissements of the Famous Handsome Jack, etc.
77
Roberto Giobbi Credit Crunch Solved puzzle story
 		2016
Hidden Agenda (Issue Oct 23)
304
Christoph Borer Die wahre Liebe glass puzzle, fits in box even when piece added, storytelling presentation, fairy tale
Related to
 2016
21
198
David Britland The Case of the Missing Hats
  • Cardopolis
adding an extra card for cleaner initial display
cards with magicians and with hats, story trick
Inspired by
 Mar. 2016
Genii (Vol. 79 No. 3)
22
David Regal Brown Paper Change Bag
  • Material Concessions
switching device made from paper bag, application to change loose wooden pieces into assembled 3D puzzle
 		Feb. 2023
Genii (Vol. 86 No. 2)
50