Nim
Secret: This is a game called "Nim," and it's a con-man favorite. There's a million variations (we'll learn more later), but here's a super-simple starting one:
Lay down 17 pennies, matches or any other tokens. Explain to your friend that you'd like to play a game where each of you take turns removing 1, 2, or 3 pennies from the pile. The object is to NOT take the last penny.
To win, all you need to do is make sure your friend goes first and watch how many pennies he takes. If he takes 1, you take 3. If he takes 2, you take 2. If he takes 3, you take 1. In other words, for you to win, the total pennies taken each round should be 4.
As long as you follow this rule, you can't lose!
Note: If you want to get maximum enjoyment out of this trick, make sure that when you teach the rules to your friend, you lose the first few games, just to get his confidence up. Later, once he feels comfortable with the game, you can start betting lunches, drinks, or anything else!
BONUS: Sooner or later, your mark will get suspicious, and ask YOU to go first... no problem! Just keep one extra token palmed in your hand the whole time you play. Whenever you go first, reach in and grab a token while you release the one in your palm. Now you've gone first, yet the total count is still 17 tokens (and now it's their turn).
Highlights
poster boards
(
5:15, 5:15
)
gophers
(
4:00, 4:00
)
scam
(
0:18, 5:18, 0:18, 5:18
)
subtleties
(
2:54, 2:54
)
poster boards
(
5:15, 5:15
)
gophers
(
4:00, 4:00
)
scam
(
0:18, 5:18, 0:18, 5:18
)
subtleties
(
2:54, 2:54
)
Automatically Generated Transcript(may not be 100% accurate) ( more )
" The first rule of scams school. If you do not talk about scam school the only show dedicated to social engineering at the bar and on the street."
" I'm -- confidence they are gonna make money we're gonna -- free drinks were going to get what. Some of the future game that you can't lose it is weird game that's simultaneously totally fair. And absolutely unbeatable. It's called them. I think you're gonna -- it."
" I don't play games."
" Right I got a bunch of in this case music match and -- anything I don't Barbour earlier reason now I don't actually had a serial."
" And it isn't you can take either wallet. -- And the object of the game it's whoever takes the last one. Seeding 13 -- is the last one's going to go first let me."
" Com and -- I don't work. Yeah."
" Okay -- easy once you 300."
" Yeah yeah it will Italian immigrant yeah. Yeah highly one of personality of you really gone yeah."
" Yeah one qualifiers."
" Like -- thought it. Thank you yeah. You're yeah. -- does he got all night. Okay."
" I'm it will work this game that looks like our home. Now it was a -- game this subtleties of totally fair completely reading is a billion -- the what -- that we've done here the very very simple version we'll actually -- home will be taking more advanced versions later on what I like about it is that the rules it is stated it pretty much one thing. Take one Stewart -- encounters wherever it's -- what you do you start off. With seventeen. Count. Seventeen countless. Hands. What ever however as long as the other with the start first. You're going to win so in this case is sixty dollars it's one I would very -- completely. And now don't it. And we'll get that we'll get that doesn't matter is that what I think three if you take him I take you if you take three I take one so in other words. The total per child should have a before that waste artists haven't seen everywhere you go down the block of war. So it's it's 1713. During 95. And that one right. And so now the trick is I can't imagine I was in the choice I think you wanna go first what you want me to gophers. -- it doesn't matter. Because. There's ways to -- in this case I had him again and if it's right here. Well that in your pocket and -- I just put it there and in which it was what your point. Just about anything that your name -- so that you and all this allows me to keep an extra one of these and yet you decide to go first if your only choice we play the game is usually you take 193. They elected to all the wind up. Definitely went US yeah. -- Then there what I do that report that our office and his shirt. Drop it and there and -- pull out one so now -- sixty Everett seventy. They're going."
" Thank you very much and I admit it I don't is that well a lot of the a lot of regrets. --"
" And don't forget when you're doing. We've got an -- they that they have any chance of winning the game so I recommend that if you practice round before you get started. They have the confidence -- that he'll like it could take it down. That's when you sort through them over -- read greens get free money I don't care I just want to hear about it on the poster boards and it -- dot com slash scam school. Getting questions about this or did the others like it directly at Bryant has -- dot com. Until next time by the -- next week and actually learning how to make home room. Is it mystery and once they can get that out. So that's kind. --"
" The first rule of scams school. If you do not talk about scam school the only show dedicated to social engineering at the bar and on the street."
" I'm -- confidence they are gonna make money we're gonna -- free drinks were going to get what. Some of the future game that you can't lose it is weird game that's simultaneously totally fair. And absolutely unbeatable. It's called them. I think you're gonna -- it."
" I don't play games."
" Right I got a bunch of in this case music match and -- anything I don't Barbour earlier reason now I don't actually had a serial."
" And it isn't you can take either wallet. -- And the object of the game it's whoever takes the last one. Seeding 13 -- is the last one's going to go first let me."
" Com and -- I don't work. Yeah."
" Okay -- easy once you 300."
" Yeah yeah it will Italian immigrant yeah. Yeah highly one of personality of you really gone yeah."
" Yeah one qualifiers."
" Like -- thought it. Thank you yeah. You're yeah. -- does he got all night. Okay."
" I'm it will work this game that looks like our home. Now it was a -- game this subtleties of totally fair completely reading is a billion -- the what -- that we've done here the very very simple version we'll actually -- home will be taking more advanced versions later on what I like about it is that the rules it is stated it pretty much one thing. Take one Stewart -- encounters wherever it's -- what you do you start off. With seventeen. Count. Seventeen countless. Hands. What ever however as long as the other with the start first. You're going to win so in this case is sixty dollars it's one I would very -- completely. And now don't it. And we'll get that we'll get that doesn't matter is that what I think three if you take him I take you if you take three I take one so in other words. The total per child should have a before that waste artists haven't seen everywhere you go down the block of war. So it's it's 1713. During 95. And that one right. And so now the trick is I can't imagine I was in the choice I think you wanna go first what you want me to gophers. -- it doesn't matter. Because. There's ways to -- in this case I had him again and if it's right here. Well that in your pocket and -- I just put it there and in which it was what your point. Just about anything that your name -- so that you and all this allows me to keep an extra one of these and yet you decide to go first if your only choice we play the game is usually you take 193. They elected to all the wind up. Definitely went US yeah. -- Then there what I do that report that our office and his shirt. Drop it and there and -- pull out one so now -- sixty Everett seventy. They're going."
" Thank you very much and I admit it I don't is that well a lot of the a lot of regrets. --"
" And don't forget when you're doing. We've got an -- they that they have any chance of winning the game so I recommend that if you practice round before you get started. They have the confidence -- that he'll like it could take it down. That's when you sort through them over -- read greens get free money I don't care I just want to hear about it on the poster boards and it -- dot com slash scam school. Getting questions about this or did the others like it directly at Bryant has -- dot com. Until next time by the -- next week and actually learning how to make home room. Is it mystery and once they can get that out. So that's kind. --"
Started discussion: May 8, 2008 @ 9:25am GMT
Episode 8 - Nim [Discussion]
Effect: Play a game with your friend that you can always win
Watch or Download the Episode Here.
So, am I the only one who didn't hear what to do when they want to play again AFTER you have already added the extra match? Point behind them and steal one match out of the pile?
So, am I the only one who didn't hear what to do when they want to play again AFTER you have already added the extra match? Point behind them and steal one match out of the pile?
No. You just put the extra match in the pile and then take that one out. Then you are back to 17 when they begin.
I have tried it several times with family members. Haven't been caught once. :D
So, am I the only one who didn't hear what to do when they want to play again AFTER you have already added the extra match? Point behind them and steal one match out of the pile?
Just re-steal the match while you gather all the matches in a pile for the next round. Or leave it in there and take out one more than you need to the first round.
Can't Wait
I've been watching this since ep.1(yea, 8 episodes no big deal) and I turn 21 on monday and can't wait to start using these tricks for drinks. I already used the human chimney on some friends and am gonna go practice Nim on them the next couple of days. Hope everyone else is having luck using these tricks awesome.
this is one of the scams that can be international too. ive found it works in countries like china and norway. free beer for all!
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It looks like you would have most success using something not metalic for the palm as it may make some noise when doing the drop...love the match head idea or the cereal.