How can I point you in the opposite direction?
Another of those fiendishly simple tricks that you can never quite remember how to do, just when you think you’ve finally foxed your mates.
Not to worry. Follow Fred, and everything will be fine. That’s how it’s been for 40 years, no reason to stop now.
Here’s the setup: you have a triangular pattern made out of ten coins. Your challenge? Make the triangle point the other way, but you’re only allowed to move three coins.
Gareth? Baffled.
He tries moving the three that form the point, but that leads…
…nowhere.
Gail? Not much better, frankly.
She… you know, let’s just find out what Fred does, eh?
Now pay attention. Move these two coins…
…to here.
Then move this coin…
…to here.
Ta-daaa! Amazing, Fred. Now… how many times did you have to do that to get it right, eh?