The following is taken from the book ’211 Things a Bright Boy Can Do’ by Tom Cutler.  All information taken directly from the book is marked by quotations, otherwise the material is summarised by Yours Truly.

Mr. Cutler gives the following advice;

• “Learn the odds, which you can easily discover with a computer search.  Once you know them upside-down you’re ready to go.”
• “Bet only when the odds are in your favour: so avoid the tables and target the gamblers.”
• “When you do win, keep very quiet but when you lose, make a big noise about it.  This is known as the reverse fruit-machine technique.”

Find a loudmouth at a craps table who is yelling about fives and seeming to be in a gambling mood.  “You know that, out of the 36 possible combinations from a throw of two dice (6 X 6), there are four ways to roll a five.  The odds are therefore eight to one that he won’t roll a five, so you say: ‘I bet you four to three is isn’t a jolly old five.’ Chances are he’ll forget the odds and bet on his superstition, and you’ll win again.”

Mr. Cutler also provides tricks which you can base certainty bets on.

• If you take a cigarette and wrap it in flattened cellophane leaving extra cellophane at the ends which you twirl shut, you can then tie the fag in a knot against belief.  You can also stamp on it and dip it into a pint without damaging the ciggy inside, thus earning you your winnings!
• Ask “Lady Luck” to choose who picks up the bill after a meal, by getting her to put several matchsticks (snapped in halves) in an ashtray.  Get your fellow diners to each take a stick in turn, the last one to pick up being the one who has to pay.  “The secret is simple: always pick first.”

The following is taken from the book ’211 Things a Bright Boy Can Do’ by Tom Cutler.  All information taken directly from the book is marked by quotations, otherwise the material is summarised by Yours Truly.

“The Shrieking Monkey”

This is the best known trick that can be done with blades of grass.  Align your thumbs parallel to each other, then place a thick blade of grass lengthways between them.  The knuckle and heel of your thumbs hold the grass tightly in place so that it is taut.  Form an ‘O’ with your mouth, then blow through your thumb knuckles hard to make the grass vibrate, thus producing “an ear-splitting shriek.  It’s not very musical but is excellent for attracting the attention of your chums across a millpond – and for annoying your sister.”

“Magic Climbing Grass”

If you look closely at a blade of grass, you’ll see thousands of tiny hairs which all point the same way.  Holding the grass at one end very lightly between index finger and thumb, stroke the hairy side of the grass rapidly with your thumb.  “The grass will climb mysteriously upwards. (If it goes down, you have it positioned the wrong way.)”

“Catchum”

Find a blade of grass “not longer than your finger”, and attach a wee glob of mud to one end.  Dangle the grass glob side down over a friend’s extended thumb and forefinger.  “Bet him he cannot catch the grass by closing his thumb and finger if you let it go without warning.  Nine times out of ten he will fail.”

“The Nose Cannon”

Roll a blade of grass into a ball and shove it into one of your nostrils.  Draw attention to yourself, then close the empty nostril and blow the grass out, hopefully with enough velocity to carry the balled-up grass a good distance.  “Make sure your sinuses are clear before trying this; people dislike being struck by particles of extraneous nose-matter.

The following is taken from the book ’211 Things a Bright Boy Can Do’ by Tom Cutler.  All information taken directly from the book is marked by quotations, otherwise the material is summarised by Yours Truly.

                                                                               ”Like the ability to burp at will, this is one of those things with almost no practical application.  But if you take the trouble to learn how to do it, you are always ready to wow people with a demonstration of your skill… Unlike burping, it’s more important here that you follow the instructions precisely and with care, otherwise you will hurt yourself.”

What you will need:

• An 8 or 10 inch nail
• A large piece of soft cloth
• A short wooden plank (Choose a softish type of wood such as pine)
• 2 chairs

How to do it:

1. Show the nail to your audience, holding it by its tip.  “Wrap your rag… so that it lies in the centre of the cloth, which is balled up and held in your right palm, the nail protruding between the curled middle and third fingers, at a point between the first and second knuckles.”
2. Ask an audience member to set up the plank between two chairs.
3. “Steady the plank with your left hand and raise your right hand slowly and dramatically, as high as you can reach.”
4. “Suddenly bring your hand down hard, absolutely perpendicular to the board.  You must strike it with the nail perfectly straight or it will not penetrate.”
5. “Remove your hand and unwind the wrapper to reveal the nail in the wood.”
6. You can then pass the plank around and ask people to remove the embedded nail… this should be a tough task.