Bamboozlers: Five of Spades

The great toothpick giraffe.

Brain Teaser:

Make a giraffe out of five toothpicks (Fig. 1). The challenge is to move one toothpick from one place to another to create a similar-looking giraffe.

The Secret:

Simply move the toothpick as shown in Figure 1. You’ll notice that it is the same giraffe only facing a different direction.

As simple as this is you’ll find that it really stumps people. I’d like to thank my friend Martin Gardner for showing me this. Martin is a fountain of knowledge and the author of more than 100 books on various interesting subjects. If you like things like this, then hunt for a copy of Mr. Gardner’s Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic.

I can’t tell you how old Martin is, but he did show me his social security card. His was number 3.

For more commercial magic and puzzles from Diamond Jim Tyler visit his online Magic Shop!