This is always a favourite of mine as it seems so simple yet the victim can never win!
three rows of say peanuts are set out 3 then 5 then 7 and the players alternate taking peanuts away. as many as they want but ONLY FROM ONE ROW. the loser is the one who takes the last one. What makes the trick so good though is that you can say to them that every time they choose whether to start or go second so they can't possible keep losing.
I have won many many drinks with this one.

How does it work then?

You need to learn 3 intermediate positions that guarantee a win and then if you go first there is one move you can do to ensure you can get to one of them. If you go second normally they will make one of the many wrong moves so that you can make the move that takes you to the winning position again. If by pure fluke they choose the right move you take one peanut and wait for them to make another move of which again there will only be one potential winning move. Even if the other player is very observant it is virtually impossible to pick up the moves by mere observation before an hour or so has passed and normallyu much longer than that. It is addictive however so they don't want to stop.
PM me and I'll show you the steps

Can you elaborate on those 3 intermediate positions?

Bigwheel if you PM me then I can

That is great. I have to learn this one.

I love this little betcha, I normally use toothpicks, but you can use anything at all. The version I do is different in as much as there is only one row of toothpicks and the spectator can remove 1 , 2 or 3 toothpicks at a time,they always end up with the last one. Same betcha different setup. Gets them every time.

I think that one uses a different technique ( although I know that one too) and my only issue is that more people seem to know it ( so its risky to go for a bet with a stranger!) If I said the number 4 would I be on the right track without giving too much away?

I was out tonight and was doing a set when someone came up to me and said he recognised me as the man who had done 3-5-7 on them 19 years ago ( it coincided with a particular event in their life so they knew when it was!) and that it had bugged him ever since! He said he had looked all over for a solution and hadnt found it so asked me to tell him,,,,.
I didn't tell him but I did play the game with him and others for an hour or so! ( Oh dear another 19 years of purgatory for him!)

About to send you PM, can't wait to have another betcha up my sleeve.

Roy and Captain Smiffy I will reply to your PMs tonight ( UK time) its one of those that reads more complicated than it is! If anyone else would like details of this PM me.

Thanks for the PM, zactudor. I'm going to have some fun with this one!

Psychod PM sent. Hope you like it

Zactudor,

Thank you for this. I'm anxious to play this against my sister and nephews (all math people) to see if they can 'catch on'.


Dave

I have sent instructions to around 6 people now. Latest is Zuke. Anyone else interested?

Thanks, Zactudor.....have pm'd you.

Nice, thanks very much for the PM Zactudor. I'm looking forward to taking this for a spin!

Muchas Gracias!