Can't Fool Data (TNG)

Riker makes a bet with Data involving a card trick. But Data isn't as naive as he looks.
(*edit June 25th, 2013: I must say I really am surprised by how many people have started debating over this video. I didn't expect more than a few people to watch it, let alone comment anything about it. I just think it's a funny scene from the show.
Really, you guys, it's not that serious.)
This is from the opening scene of the TNG episode "Legacy" - Season 4.
I am in no way affiliated with the Star Trek franchise. I'm just a fan. This video was created for entertainment.

[@tylerchurch1152]

"Sir, I believe, under the circumstances..." Activates Shit-Eating-Grin program as he takes the pile XD

[@TheBehm08]

Tyler Church SAVAGE

[@ethanspaziani5269]

dddaammmmmmmm

[@MrSqurk]

Man, this comment made me literally laugh out loud. Well done sir.

[@daerdevvyl4314]

“Under the circumstances, I believe a celebratory wedgie followed by mockery of your mother would be appropriate. Do not fear, Commander. I am well aware of the need to carefully calibrate the force applied to your underwear when applying this wedgie.”

[@rueceless7580]

*Data drops the mic*

[@Levi_Skardsen]

What love about this scene is that when Riker asks him to split the deck into 2 even piles, you just know Data split them precisely in half.

[@TheMAZZTer]

@@desolatesurvivalgaming8412 Nope, there should have been 6 or 7 left; he cuts it three times. 52 -> 26 -> 13 -> 6/7

[@manualLaborer]

"I can pick out your card..." - no you can't, DON'T EVEN TRY"

[@PythonRaptor]

I get that reference!

[@manualLaborer]

+PythonRaptor - no you don't, DON'T EVEN TRY!

[@PythonRaptor]

Shut up! As in close your mouth and stop talking! :D

[@manualLaborer]

i beg your pardon!

[@PythonRaptor]

I said shut up!

[@vguyver2]

So Data can figure this out.... but not the simple mechanic of the chinese finger trap?

[@Revan2908]

+V Guyver LOL No shit!

[@esper86]

+V Guyver hahha good point

[@MattSmith-rr2he]

Yikes, good point

[@numinous4789]

+V Guyver See, the thing is, that the finger trap was much earlier. He's learned a lot since then, so his heuristic ability has greatly increased :D

[@vguyver2]

Numinous I'll give you that, this episode was 3 years later so maybe that is the case.

[@ItsYaBoyYogi]

0:55 I get the feeling Brent improvised throwing the cards over his shoulder, and Marina’s laugh was genuine 😂

[@flowertrue]

I want to believe this. So I'm gonna go ahead and believe it.

[@ericacroft13]

sounds like a very Brent thing to do

[@WhatIsThis-zq4hk]

You can see Worf look off set so I think it was improvised

[@WY.C64-Guy]

It's my favorite part of the scene.

[@maryanneryan9861]

Riker said to discard them. So data did as he was asked.

[@Finegemdesigns]

Ryker still actually won this bet since he accomplished what he stated. The fact that Data detected the method doesn't change the fact that Ryker won the bet.

[@Moviefan2k4]

The implication is that Riker's method was equal to him intentionally stacking the deck...which is the case with most card tricks.

[@TheHuntermj]

Riker was always able to control Data's choices, if he left the Jack on top the during the cutting he could just discard the lower halves, when Data chose a selection of cards, Riker could have told him to either keep or discard the chosen cards depending on which pile it was in.

[@z8ph0d]

I swear, if you spell Riker with a Y one more time.....

[@DannTeBg]

This is actually a folow up scene from a previous episode, where Riker bluffed Data at poker and Data fell for it.

[@jasoncdeman]

Ryker didn't do any legit shuffling, so how did he accomplish what he said? He simply lied about his intentions and tried to trick Data, saw through it like a clairvoyant. I would say the trick was to fool Data, not to simply give him his card back. I'm not sure picking up a wrong card would be very good, since it'd just display Ryker his inability to do card tricks. Even if Data explained his reasoning, it'd look to us the audience the TNG crew had to improvise because they can't do card tricks.

[@FlizzyDuck]

I totally like when data takes things literally XD "Throw them away" :D

[@PrivateAccountXSG]

Diana's bit of acting there may have won the scene

[@ThrawnTheater]

+StevenGaspard Who is Diana? You mean Marina?

[@Brettbren]

+ThrawnTheater I think he probably meant Deanna.

[@MattSmith-rr2he]

+Brettbren regardless, he's right. The chemistry with these actors, man.....

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

maybe but let's be honest the 1st few yrs the writing was ATROCIOUS no disrespect to the late great Gene Roddenberry but the series didn't get its own identity until after his passing; just compare seasons 5>> to 1-3(think he passed something during season 4?)

[@Jacktoro44]

And that's how Data was kicked out of the Magic Circle.

[@drakekay6577]

And how he found his new calling as a psychic detective. Ya know the type, the observant scientist who debunks psychics for a living. :D

[@BS8000_]

Phil Dunphy likes it

[@colonless7512]

OH COME ON! -Gob

[@archaeologistify]

But can he Pickcard?

[@funguy8801]

^ Underappreciated comment

[@Mrcheckpointeh]

What if it has a Q on it?

[@thisismyname9569]

He can Troi.

[@ClarkPotter]

nice

[@jeanlukvolker5130]

Data is The Real McCoy

[@Tekaida]

Riker: Throw them away. Data: *Y E E T*

[@KingDecahedron]

yeet s a video game sound indicating a goal or a prize, similar to dwoop or ding.

[@KingDecahedron]

@@kakroom3407 thank you old timer !

[@KingDecahedron]

@@kakroom3407 LOL , little boy. no clue, that's ok. The soil and sky appreciates your candor.

[@mattwo7]

Deanna: **Facepalm**

[@mattwo7]

@The Alpaca Redstoner Data: It was to my understanding that humanity in the late 20th century and early 21st century was suffering from the aftermath of the Eugenics wars?

[@taylormoore5098]

But can Data see why kids like the sweet taste of Cinnamon Toast Crunch?

[@manualLaborer]

we're you a 90s kid? sounds 90s to me for some reason.

[@taylormoore5098]

+manualLaborer 80's

[@youwatch2muchtv]

were*

[@manualLaborer]

damn auto-correct. that's what i get four commenting on the toilet.

[@taylormoore5098]

manualLaborer Confuscious say, "He who comments from toilet is doomed to shitpost."

[@Moviefan2k4]

I love how Data just casually throws the cards away, over his shoulder. It makes me wonder if that was scripted, or Brent improvised it.

[@TheRogueWolf]

Knowing Brent Spiner, he probably came up with it.

[@hardwirecars]

no it suited brents personality because he is data so data has his mannerisms.

[@davecrupel2817]

Either one works. I can see this being both a Brent thing, AND a Data thing xD

[@Revan2908]

haha Actually, he told a fan once that he's really Bob Wheeler pretending to be Brent Spiner.

[@michaelmichaelson2014]

I wouldn't be surprised if the first take he did it as a joke and everyone broke character, but then they saw how it worked and included it for the next take.

[@Seekay_]

I love how Data, being unfamiliar with human expressions, literally throws the cards away when Riker tells him to. It's all the little things like that, that make him such a great character.

[@jason60chev]

On Get Smart, Hymie, the robot, would do the exact same thing

[@MarkJohnson-ro1ed]

While Data is right in his explanation of Riker's manipulations, Riker was still correct in that he did get Data to revel the card. Riker gets the pot!

[@UXSpecialist]

But Data convinced Everyone, including Riker, that he actually deserved the pot, so he won the real game, the game to see who would get the money.

[@MarkJohnson-ro1ed]

@@UXSpecialist except that wasn't the bet.

[@UXSpecialist]

@@MarkJohnson-ro1ed And yet, his prowess was so astoundingly convincing, that no one even objected. :))

[@nebulous6660]

Even Data’s explanation was wrong. There was more than just one card remaining that he could have chosen from so Data wrong on multiple levels here.

[@sneedchuck8616]

Nope. Data didn't help him find it. Riker tracked it the whole time by himself. Data pointed that out.

[@JIMBO8472]

Data is so epic when he calls bullshit.

[@narsal]

he still lost

[@tablescissors67]

They were equally matched.

[@laurenjcoates]

0:18 I love the little walk data does with his hands to pick a card

[@davincent98]

He let his fingers do the walking

[@CorvusCorone68]

i just imagined a disembodied hand a la Thing from the Addams Family

[@TheMikeSwitch]

Sir, I believe under the circumstances..... (rakes in chips)

[@MsPrincesspaulina]

How to gloat without gloating. lol

[@westlock]

Riker won. He did what he said he would do.

[@charlesf6247]

Here data too smart

[@Daehawk]

Data is a thief. Each time he picked the cards. Out of the last 3 even that final card was his choice. He could have picked any of them. Riker won and Data comes off an ass.

[@charlesf6247]

Daehawk no actually Riker lost due to cheating its a magicians trick I had a friend who was an amuter magician he showed me that trick and Brent spiner is also an amuter magician that's how he knew he cheated

[@anaamari5643]

That little smirk at the end is the best.

[@z8ph0d]

Especially when Data busted him up.

[@SpicyDragonWings]

They must be emotion chips

[@JoLiKMC]

I don't know if that was in the script of if Brent Spiner was ad-libbing, but either way, it got a laugh out of me when I saw it. Heh heh.

[@Halffullofjuice]

The smile on his face at the end as he raked in the chips made this scene even sweeter. You know he has programmed his smiles accordingly to match humans so at this point he is on cloud 9 in his programming. Data is one of my favourite all time characters.

[@dee-annschwanke6676]

I love it how Data smiles at the end like "HA! I am unbeatable. You can not fool me!"

[@TheFatPunisher]

you cannot fool me!*

[@patatofred9079]

Truly a sign of pride, but i'm not sure data should have been about to show that smile.

[@HereticDuo]

exactly, he wasn't happy, he was just pretending to be smug as from his viewings of human behaviour he knew that's how a human would act under the circumstances.

[@zeke1220]

Protip: 'cannot' and 'can not' actually mean different things.

[@ziiofswe]

It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness... That is life.

[@AmazingArends]

Being a magician will really suck in the future!!!

[@jebiveter5804]

HAHAHA, GOOD ONE :)

[@legothoron1]

+AmazingArends especially if you have Data there

[@brendalg4]

Being a magician that's what this scene makes me think

[@tenhirankei]

+legothoron1 Unless you warn him not to explain to the audience how the magician did it. Or you could simply say "It's like watching a play, Data. You know that the people onstage are not the characters they represent, but you do not point that out to the audience. This is entertainment. If they enjoy themselves, details do not matter."

[@Gunman610]

Being a poker player must suck in the future if you're playing with an android and an empath?

[@sergeantassassin3425]

"Sir, I believe under the circumstances...get fucked~"

[@yagamijase]

I like how Data literally throws the cards away.

[@Quick_in_and_out]

So did Diana :)

[@NameCallingIsWeak]

"I like how Data literally throws the cards away" It was a nice touch, highlighting his literal Android thinking.

[@roberthaworth8991]

I think that might have been an ad-lib by Spiner in rehearsal, which they decided to keep in.

[@Discrimination_is_not_a_right]

Actually I think Brent Spiner threw the cards away.

[@judgedbytime]

So did the writers, and deanna, and the rest of the audience, as intended.

[@Cowcharge]

"And yet it doesn't explain why, of the three remaining cards, Riker would know which one Data would pick." If Data picked the wrong card, Riker would tell him to throw it away. Until he picked the right one or there was only one left.

[@bjbell52]

You don't understand how it's done yet. Down to 3 cards Data picks one. If it's the correct card, the tricks over and Riker would tell him to show it. If not, he would tell him to toss it and it starts over again. Here's a similar trick. Shuffle a deck a cards very well, lay the deck on the table, then spread the cards out all over the table. Then announce that you can predict what cards you pick and ask your audience to remember the cards. Close your eyes and announce "I will pick the 3 of spades" and then pick it up. Then announce "I will pick the jack of diamonds" and then pick it up. Next announce "I will pick the 7 of spades" and then pick it up. Finally announce "I will pick the 2 of hearts" and then pick it up..... Then ask the people to name the four cards, one at a time. As they say the card's name, you lay THAT CARD on the table face up. Applause to follow. Here's how you do it - after the shuffle just peek at the bottom card and remember where it is. That will be the FIRST card your announce. Then you pick up any card except that bottom card. Now name the card you just picked up as your next card. Do the same thing two more times, picking up that bottom card as the last card you pick up. Easy.

[@Quick_in_and_out]

bjbell52 Dude... that's exactly what he said. Only you wrote a million words to say the same thing.

[@cullysloy2705]

WE don't know that at all! Do you assume this because that is how the trick is played?

[@moogleplay9131]

@@cullysloy2705 It's Star Trek Witchcraft is what it is! Burn Riker's beard at the stake!

[@mikeymcmikeface5599]

@@bjbell52 🤦

[@Galilee1964]

"Throw them away." Tosses them over his shoulder. LMAO !!!

[@clickrick]

It's Deanna's reaction that kills me!

[@judithsixkiller5586]

Random neutral mastery.

[@PMW3]

the moral of the story? if you try card tricks with an android, make sure it's a damn good one.

[@Electricshrock]

Or a cheap knockoff android

[@darthXreven]

moral of all games in Sci-Fi.... let the wookie win never try to trick an android never try to get one over on a klingon unless you're an android never play a guess where the poison is game with a man dressed in all black [fantasy but couldn't resist] never tell Han Solo the odds, he'll always rush in headlong..... never go up against an elf in a drinking game [more fantasy but just can't resist]

[@8Rincewind]

darthXreven that Klingon thing though. Have you heard of the Worf effect? It's a trope where a supposedly strong character is used as a way of showing that an enemy is a threat. So the strong character (such as Worf, for whom the trope is named) appears weak because of the sheer number of times he gets beat up. Think about it, how often do we see Worf get beaten up by some greater threat. I think it would have been great to have more episodes of him actually being violent and showing some real strength and skill.

[@adelissahunsley]

@@darthXreven and never go up against a Sicilian when death is on the line

[@judithsixkiller5586]

@@adelissahunsley ( To be fair, That didn't quite work out in a certain Sicilian gentlemans favor one particular time.)

[@williamsquires3070]

When Data throws the cards away, Counselor Tori’s expression is priceless! 😂

[@Diamondfist1]

I love Troi's' reaction to Data throwing the cards over his shoulder when Riker tells him to "throw 'em away".

[@hobbitdude13]

"I believe the cultural incantation required at this time, is 'Come to poppa'."

[@tree_alone]

lollll

[@judithsixkiller5586]

" Daddy's kitty need's new shoes" Would also have been acceptable.

[@nirablackfire2792]

That little smile he makes in the end. So fucking adorable.

[@nitehawk86]

0:57 I have always wondered if that was improvised. If not, it was excellent writing.

[@HiopX]

I think, the fact that we have a different shot of reactions following that, I guess it was scripted.

[@davecrupel2817]

nitehawk86 i love Brent's heavily-kept poker face as he did that xD

[@ClarkPotter]

I felt that gag was a little cringishly obvi myself and my least fav aspect of this scene.

[@CardinalDXMP]

Good eye. Knowing Brent, it may have been improvised. Deanna, whose acting usually comes off as _really fake,_ actually seemed to genuinely laugh there. And yes it does have two different camera angles, but if I'm not mistaken, when they do scenes for shows like this, they have multiple cameras recording the shots from different angles simultaneously, and then they splice them back together afterwards.

[@jamiemoreton4705]

@@CardinalDXMP There's a tradition of Brent doing his level best to make Marina corpse - check out "If I stroke the beard thusly ..." I'd say it was probably improvised because that reaction looks very much the same.

[@gowronsonofmrel867]

Data failed to recognise that even though he figured it out, that wasn't part of the bet. So Riker won

[@DutliAnvilhand]

"Sir, I believe under the circumstances..." (slides chips towards himself) Such a hilarious way to end that.

[@Revan2908]

+Dutli Anvilhand Only thing that might seem quite as funny would be the scene from a TOS novel, where Kirk teaches Ambassador Sarek how to play poker. When Sarek wins, he says "I believe the expression is, 'Come to papa.'"

[@4everanarsenalfan]

Riker(thinking) fuck you Data

[@Svochak78]

OH! I read that in Mark Lenard's voice!

[@Optimusprime240]

Data's troll face...

[@3Rayfire]

That's what makes the shot right there. When he claims the pot he has that big cheese eating android grin. No emotions my ass.

[@metalmadness5851]

I do appreciate the moment of genuine surprise on Data's face when it works. He's legitimately impressed, even though he saw through it.

[@gemarrs]

Someone: I can fool data! Riker: "NO YOU CAN'T, DON'T EVEN TRY!" :P

[@z8ph0d]

No*

[@CorvusCorone68]

but wasn't that line from the one where he was trapped in a Romulan holodeck simulation where he was supposedly a captain?

[@sailtheplains]

Data: Your guidance is much valued counselor. BAHAHAHA. That was the most subtle sarcasm I've ever heard. Hey, Data--everyone else says that to her too--equally sarcastic.

[@Smiae]

Amazing! I see your comments in every Star Trek: the Next Generation video I watch.

[@z8ph0d]

It's true. Counselors are the most pointless people in Star Trek. The only reason why Ezri ever got anywhere in life is because Sisko was friends with her from another lifetime and a half.

[@Moviefan2k4]

The whole point of having a ship's counselor, was because if you were on a starship, you'd be stuck with the same people for years at a time...and not everyone is able to bear that stress full-time. As part Betazoid, Deanna's job was to help other crew members with their feelings, being more objective than most. The only times she consistently lost her own focus were with Riker, because she loved him. Her brief romance with Worf seemed forced to me.

[@Pixxeria]

Yeah, sure, ever heard of PTSD?

[@z8ph0d]

The singular case of PTSD that I can think of from Star Trek was when Nog lost his leg. And when that happened, Vic Fontaine did more for him than Ezri Dax did. And Vic wasn't even real!

[@Ansemrp]

I feel like the scene where Data throws the cards away could have easily been Brent Spiner being goofy on set, with Marina Sirtis' actual reaction to his shenanigans, and it worked so well because Michael Dorn stayed in character so they used it.

[@purplegreenredyellow]

Spiner rocked. Totally rocked. The rest of them were no slouches, but Data was the ultimate android person thing!

[@PumaPantalones]

The "off-duty" stuff is a great thing about TNG...

[@AllknowingUnknown]

"Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you!"

[@DutliAnvilhand]

“Sir, I believe under the circumstances...” (grins as he slides all the chips his way.) I love Data.

[@jasonsumma1530]

I like what Data did when Riker told him to throw away the cards. Deanna and Worf's reaction to it was priceless.

[@Lava91point0]

Riker: Fuck you Data :). I wish they hadn't cut that line from the script

[@JasonL77]

I often wonder how difficult it was for Brent Spiner to deliver these types of lines 100% straight deadpan.

[@tsm688]

most of their gag reel is people bursting into laughter for absolutely no reason so, there you go

[@rip93ford]

I love how Riker asks Data how many cards were left after he cut them a couple times and he said 11 without even batting an eye. For some reason that makes me laugh every time.

[@MrCompassionate01]

Data: 'Your guidance is most valued counsellor' greatest lie ever told, nobody compares to Data at lying.

[@ronindebeatrice]

when has Troy ever been insightful. "They seem to be hiding something" well no fucking shit!

[@kaleighgilbert4598]

To quote the Borg from First Contact: "You're becoming more human every day, Data. Now you're learning how to lie." This fits here.

[@thalivenom4972]

hes not lying. he values her advice, he doesnt NEED it.

[@alexanderleonardi3625]

technically he didnt lie. her guidance IS most valued. she was the only one to give guidance. therefore, her guidance, regardless of its value, must be most valued

[@MrCompassionate01]

@@alexanderleonardi3625 AH good point.

[@mikeosullivan3699]

Riker won the bet. The idea that he didn't "find" it because it wasn't "lost" is semantic nitpicking. He revealed the right card and Data helped.

[@BattleCat380]

I have to out of all respect disagree! Riker Cheated! He placed his his left thumb on the card Data choose,when he divided the card's that were left,he made sure that card was left on top.He had Data save or discard the card which he followed at each step,until they were left with just one....The card Data choose! So based on that alone Data win's!

[@hiveinsider9122]

Colleen Foley *chose

[@BattleCat380]

DrAnvilplays I never could spell very good...lol.

[@thripweed]

Vulcan

[@jamesarnold1140]

The bet was riker would find the card once it was hidden. Which the trick is in this particular case is that it was not hidden, it was at the top of the deck.

[@aperson22222]

Hang on Data, the bet was that Riker could find your card and have you help him do it. He accomplished both of these. There was nothing in the terms you agreed to saying he had to conceal his methods from you.

[@nebulous6660]

Thank you!

[@danieldickson8591]

The bet was that Riker could find any card Data hid in the deck. Data never hid it, because Riker marked it with his thumb.

[@aperson22222]

@@danieldickson8591 Even if so, those are not the grounds on which Data refused to concede.

[@TimeTravelStudios]

Data: Sir, I believe under the circumstances *pulls pile towards himself with smirk* LOVE THAT! Last second on off the video but...I JUST LOVE that =D

[@robertmiles1603]

"Sir, I believe that under the circumstances, you're pwnt, n00b."

[@SeraphinaAizen1]

Hang on....Riker never said Data wouldn't see HOW he did it. He just said he'd do it. And he did. Data still owes him those chips.

[@im0rtel]

keeping a card at the top of the deck and trying to decieve your oponent that you do some " hocus pocus " to figure out the card, means cheating. data was keen enough to see trough his trickery and thus claimed a victory which he cashed out on.

[@SeraphinaAizen1]

Riker never, at any point, claimed he was about to invoke REAL magic powers. He didn't cheat, he did exactly what he said he was going to do.

[@SeraphinaAizen1]

If you rewatch the clip, at no point did Riker claim to have actual magical powers. All he said was: "I can find any card that you hide in this deck". He did.

[@brendalg4]

You are missing the point. Riker ALSO said he would LOSE THE CARD IN THE DECK. He never lost the card.

[@discobear5752]

@ 0:25 "Now lose it in the deck." Riker gave Data instructions to lose it in the deck. Riker didn't say he would lose it in the deck. So, since Data did NOT follow instructions, Data should have lost the bet.

[@macklee6837]

I love how Word shakes his head in disbelief

[@mardus_ee]

He was being polite to his commanding officer: "Sir, I believe under the circumstances..."

[@WUZLE]

I had someone show me this exact card trick in Air Force tech school. I knew it was a trick but had no idea how he did it.

[@maxspringfield]

The last selection seemed like a free choice to me.

[@skyr8449]

+max springfeild Riker would have said to discard that if he picked the wrong one.

[@maxspringfield]

Lord lima bean Would be pretty lame if he picked the wrong one out of three and then the right one out of the remaining two-- but I guess you are right.

[@Rodshark75]

@@maxspringfield Magicians do it all the time, people would be AMAZED that out of all those cards you manage to get down to the right card as the final one! Wowie!

[@tywilliamnash5078]

I like Data's little smile at the end as he's raking in the poker chips. Very Funny!

[@miikaIS]

Thank god all the new Star Trek series’ kept this lighthearted humor and intellect in them in true Star Trek fashion

[@tofton1977]

it's like "find the lady" knowing it's a scam don't help you to win, ask Frank Castle!

[@freezenexusblogspot]

TNG is an amazing series. I can watch all these scenes and it's never gets old

[@lukeluzicka]

There is an error here. riker says "cut the deck into two even piles." he says this 3 times. If you specify "even piles" to data, he will cut the deck perfectly in two equal piles. Starting with 52 cards, that wold take it to 26 cards, then 13 cards, then 2 piles of 6 and 7 cards each. When riker asks how many cards, Data says "11", which there would not be in the final cut pile.

[@Phlebas]

Yeah, as someone who knows a few card tricks, this one kind of bothered me. It's like how scientists groan when they hear sciency-sounding technobabble on the show ("quantum mechanics doesn't work like that!"). There are tonnes of tricks that use the basic principle of "magician's choice" but the screenwriters felt the need to invent their own version for some reason and then get the desired result with editing rather than go to the trouble of finding a trick that actually works.

[@shreddman8704]

He surreptitiously added more cards from his sleeve.

[@wilsonconvictor]

Maybe decks have 88 cards in the future...

[@MisterGarak]

I love how Data pauses at 1:15 as if he is gathering his thoughts.

[@sethorren]

Gotta love how you see Brent Spiner's smile there at the end.

[@TheVoracity]

To be fair he said "I'll bet I can find any card that you hide in this deck and furthermore, I'll make you help me do it." Data goes and states how he did it and then proceeds to grab the chips, but that had nothing to do with the bet. The card was found and Data did indeed help him do it (if only by physically handling the cards) and such the conditions of the bet were completed. You'd think an android would be able to see the wording of this bet.

[@kanehemlock290]

It was never lost is the idea..data played 4d semantics

[@sirpatientzero3399]

Sir, I believe under the circumstances *proceeds to YOINK*

[@Fushichou1978]

There was actually an episode with a plot like that. "The Royale", where they were trapped in an alien holodeck program of a pulp novel about a casino (the aliens found a 21st century astronaut, and assumed the novel he had with him was a guide to his preferred style of life). The only way out was to assume the role of the investors who buy the casino in the end. . . so Data has to clean house at the casino to make enough money to buy the entire place so the program will let them out.

[@florian8599]

"Sir, I believe under the circumstance..." Oh, that smug smile!

[@michaelkelligan7931]

Data still picked that card.......he should NOT have gotten the chips!

[@adventurer3645]

Sort of correct. He exposed the ruse, which is why he says “...under the circumstances...”. The writers should have shown him pick the wrong card at the end due to swapping the correct card with the wrong one, fooling Riker due to Data’s prestidigitation abilities (hands quicker than the eye). However this exposes that fiction writers are not always more clever than every audience member. Nevertheless it was an excellent show, and deserving of all the credit it receives.

[@stoneddom]

Data: PWNING people since Feb. 2, 2338

[@nicholasdickens2801]

This should be really called "Data Owns Riker!" Love this show :)

[@jameswise3971]

Data: Sir, I believe under these circumstances, you lose. Good day, sir!

[@williamsquires3070]

When Riker tells Data to throw away the cards and Data takes him literally and tosses the cards over his shoulder - ROTFL! Deanna’s expression was priceless!

[@xBINARYGODx]

That little smile towards the very end.

[@SteffenSchuchardt1978]

This video was recommended when I was watching Pen & Teller. I am a huge star trek fan btw. And it is amazing that we will create androids like Data in the 21st century.

[@judithsixkiller5586]

I'm hoping that one of the other big three competitor countries will come out with an autonomous humaniod as advanced or. even better than the Hanson Robots, but so far they're pretty much basic stationary animatronics. A few can answer questions and do intake reception.

[@TaliaIGhul]

Riker "How many cards?" Data "11." Riker "Take 5." Data -takes five cards- Riker "Throw them away." Data -tosses the five cards over his shoulder- Deanna "LOL!"

[@apbweezle]

"Throw them away..." *Data literally throws the cards over his shoulder* LOL

[@cjinxed]

I love the stare Data gives to Riker just before explaining the card trick.

[@PMW3]

I like that he chucked them over 'his' shoulder when told to "throw" them away

[@40Kens]

From the comment I read here, and from my own opinion/observation, it was a spontaneous move on Brent's part. And Marina's laughed was genuine. Michael Dorn's (Worf) surprised reaction. I miss TNG. Watched it prime time 1990s..I was in my mid 20s. "Throw them away" - Director probably assumed Brent would just push them aside. But, liked the scene and kept it. No retake.

[@Turboy65]

I think that when he literally threw cards away, that was Brent Spiner improvising. He improvised many of Data's best moments.

[@scottmahoney1230]

The irony of datas superior intelligence with the techniques to find his card hidden in the card deck, but can't figure the solution to a Chinese finger puzzle. What classic senses of humor written into the show by the writers.

[@Argumemnon]

"Your guidance is much valued, counselor." Since when?

[@joeridestrijcker445]

hey... when something huge and ominous shows up on the viewscreen and everyone is crapping their pants, she can look very worried and say 'I sense a presence'...

[@kewltony]

Finally, 4 weeks of watching Penn&Teller and Star Trek clips has led me to this.

[@LnPPersonified]

I love the little smile Data gives at the end. It's so damn cute.

[@mr.mediocregamer9653]

But how does data smile when he has no emotions?

[@tystratton-quirk9859]

Is it just me, or does Brent have a bit of a smug grin at the very end of the video?

[@c.potter1309]

The bet was "I can find any card that you hide in the deck" The card was never hidden because Riker didn't allow him to "lose it in the deck" at the beginning. Data should have called him on it immediately when he did the trick with his left thumb but still, Riker was cheating.

[@Moviefan2k4]

That's why its called a "card trick".

[@UndesirableUK]

Ah, but it was hidden in the deck, even if it were only for the milliseconds it took Riker to put his thumb on it, and no time-frame was stipulated. Thus, Data helped him locate the card at the very beginning. One could also argue that the card in question was hidden from sight for the entire bet, even if Riker were aware of its location, and that is enough to satisfy the criteria of being 'hidden'. Therefore, Riker could have had a claim on the chips, although the stigma of being discovered was enough that doing anything but conceding the bet to Data would have only brought further disrepute to his character.

[@basedbear1605]

@@UndesirableUK If it were hidden, why did they BOTH know exactly where it was 100% of the time. Your logic is /fail.

[@davincent98]

It's not Star Trek if someone isn't cheating

[@albertelnen9144]

He was not cheating. He changed the rules.

[@mdfilmguy]

Data sees through this playful deception, yet in this same episode, he falls for a much more serious deception from Yar's sister.

[@szahmad2416]

1:20 - OK, absolute salute to Frake’s changing of expressions here. Brilliant acting, going from grinning conceit to frozen surprise to “I can’t believe this guy”, then to guilty look in one fluid motion.

[@gutar5675]

"Under the circumstances" Riker should have still gotten all of the chips because he still got the card Data chose, regardless of whether he was able to figure out trick. The bet wasn't "can you figure out how I did this", it was that he could make him find the card.

[@vjm3]

"The Nigerian Prince should had kept that old lady's money because he still convinced her to wire him her life savings in Walmart gift cards."

[@Rodshark75]

Data should have said this right before he picked the final card and went "If I chose one of these two cards, you will instruct me to chose another card until I get down to the one you marked. Your ruse is up commander. Now I believe under the circumstances."

[@basedbear1605]

@@Rodshark75 But since it's a TV show and none of it is real, they played it the most dramatic way to be effective.

[@parrot998]

@@vjm3 He didn't lie, or cheat, or fail to carry his end of the bargain. He bet he could pull off a trick, and proceeded to pull off that trick trick exactly as he said... Soooo... How are those two things even remotely comparable?

[@c.potter1309]

And how is it that the empath totally sucks at poker?

[@Moviefan2k4]

As a half-human hybrid, Deanna can only sense strong emotions. A full-blooded Betazoid like her mother is far more powerful.

[@c.potter1309]

Moviefan2k4 True, but there are many times on the show when Deanna says she can sense that someone is lying, or even that someone is bluffing (Jellico's negotiation tactics in "Chain of Command" for instance). I think it's safe to say the TNG writers were simply not consistent in their portrayal of her abilities.

[@gerble36]

Or, out of respect for those she played with, made an attempt to not use her abilities when playing poker. Relying on her empathic abilities, she lacks in her skills without them, which would explain her "poker" ineptness.

[@xJacobxHM]

C. Potter Or she gets a feeling every now and then. Otherwise, I would imagine, she would sense things in all the shows.

[@williambarnes5023]

C. Potter Riker is a master bluffer. When she turns her power on Riker, she senses only real confidence, because Riker either knows he's going to win through bluffing a good hand, or win through bluffing a bad hand. Regardless of what his cards are, he is both lying and confident. There's no advantage to be gained by an empath. You need a telepath.

[@Isaiah5417GdLk]

Data is a Beast, hes always been my favorite.

[@Dippers85]

1:32........the look on Riker's face is hilarious! I just had a vision of Riker's beard coming to life like some tentacled monster and seperating Data's head from his shoulders! Riker looks PISSED!!

[@skynetprime82]

I'll never play cards with data, he's a master lol

[@sailtheplains]

There are three types of people in the world. People who laugh when Data wins a bet and smirks People who laugh when Data literally throws the cards away. Over his shoulder. And people who can have no further distinction, for the two other categories are all 'people'.Further categorization dependent upon reason for which a person 'laughs' seems unnecessary as what each person finds funny is very subjective. Though. I cannot fully understand, as I am unable to laugh.

[@samtheman264]

What in God's name are you trying to say

[@Smeginator]

This was a story with a humourous climax.

[@Ana36920]

To be honest I've read the last third paragraph in Data's voice. xD

[@TM-ui6wx]

LMAO! seeing these clips out of context is the cleanest, best pleasure.

[@pemo2676]

i like how riker doesnt even take a second look at data actually throwing the cards behind him

[@duncan343]

[X]Rekd []Not Rekd

[@kxmode]

[X] Riker'd

[@a2pha]

Screw Data ! The whole purpose was for Riker to pull his card. He did. Doesn't matter that Data knows HOW he did it. Pot should go to Riker.

[@2AForever-wi8yj]

from a card data HID in the deck the card was never HIDDEN in the deck as it was always in Riker's control

[@cjinx6083]

I love that sly look Data gives Riker just before explaining the trick.

[@MASSEFFECTfan101]

"I believe under the circumstances...don't fuck with me."

[@anthonylipke7754]

While Data is correct in the spirit of the challenge Riker arguably fulfilled his claims.

[@xavierspade666]

"surreptitiously"