The More You See It, The More *Impossible* It Gets

Grab two chess pieces or corks or even matchsticks and try this at home. Start with them in the crooks of your thumbs. Using only the thumb and index finger, can you swap their positions?
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This video made by:
Brian Brushwood
Bryce Castillo
John Rael
Cory Cranfill

[@RenegadeJ]

Brian Brushwood is truly a standup guy. Worked a college gig with him that went south, and he actually apologized to the crowd and provided every audience member with (forgive me for misremembering) either a free or discounted copy of his book. Glad to see he's doing well.

[@yokelo7]

What happened with the show that made it go south?

[@RenegadeJ]

@@yokelo7 there was a musical act headlining the show (won't say which) and they were displeased with the sound quality. I'm still not sure what their specific issue was, but they decided to not perform at all - much to the disappointment of many individuals in the crowd who were primarily there to see them. Brian Brushwood didn't have to make it up to the audience, but he did anyway. IIRC Brian's act was awesome.

[@paulsophocleous2544]

I love the relationship between you and Josie. This is the wholesome content we need!

[@bruciebrucedunndonette1786]

35 seconds in you can tell the apple had a very short fall.

[@andybihl481]

Hey Brian! I'm a medical student and just wanted to drop off my $0.02 that the part of the hand between the thumb and the index finger is called the thenar webspace or the purlicue. The area between the other fingers is called the interdigital webspaces. Just a fun fact if you ever need to describe that area again!

[@scamschool]

thanks!!

[@chrissherer2047]

do the trick with Arby's fries and you put the curliques in the purlicues

[@NourSelim0]

interdigital webspace sounds like the sci-fi 80s name for the internet :D

[@BlackLeaf_Studio]

No it's called a webbycranny, did you not watch the video? Jeez

[@James-lb7yd]

What thrills me about this, is what you said in the beginning about how this can be repeated. Oh so wonderful!

[@asjmpickle]

Brian I love the tricks you do with your daughter the best. That childhood innocence is why most of us have persued a life of scoundrel behaviour. Fooling a magician is great fun and free beer but fooling a child is true magic.

[@misofac]

A good way of teaching this to people who still cannot work out the hand movements even after the explanation is to have them try to do the move backwards first - starting with the chess pieces between your thumb and index finger, you want to get both pieces into the "webby crannies" at the same time. Have them rotate their right hand by 180 degrees as the first move, and from there people usually work out the movements needed to do the move backwards, and then they can try "undoing" them to learn the actual move.

[@Painted_numbers]

I've seen this trick with batteries (pretty sure on scam school) but never with chess pieces. I love the visual of them physically changing sides

[@louiswouters71]

Batteries? Yeah sure lets create a trick that lets people touch the anode and kathode of a battery simultaneously over and over again. I know this trick with wine corks.

[@NourSelim0]

I kept looking around me trying to find 2 objects I can use for this, nothing was small enough, opened a cupboard that has all sorts of stuff, tried with some keys, didn't work, pens are too big, until I found AAA Batteries! Worked great 😁

[@fredr500]

I love that you used to fly from Austin to San Francisco to record these, now you sit at home at the kitchen table and do it with Josie. Reminds me of teaching Katy blockhead after she saw you do it. She and Allie still do it occasionally.

[@erictaylor5462]

"Oh! I did get it." I just love her reactions. You are so going to lose this channel to her in 5 to 8 years.

[@Tekkerue]

*"Tuck them into the armpit of your hand... There's gotta be a name for this."* Thumbpit? 🤷‍♂️😂

[@leefisher6366]

No... Webby cranny. Weren't you listening? 😄

[@Itsjack66]

You guys were actually quite close the skin part between your thumb and your index finger is called the thenar webpace the overall area is called the crotch

[@DeathmaskDuplicant]

Obviously it's called the Webby Cranny

[@Itsjack66]

@@DeathmaskDuplicant ok you got me I lied it’s real name is indeed the webby cranny

[@tonypaolucci516]

I don't know, I like webby cranny much more than a hand crotch.

[@djkommando]

I'd go with thumb-pit...

[@Taz86]

How dare you come in here and science? Do you not watch Modern Rogue?

[@brokenmedic9133]

Omg, watching you two warms my heart. Much ❤ to you bud.

[@GraceWillow]

Watching Josie learn this warmed my heart awwwwww!!! She's so cool!!

[@tNotimportant]

I love the relationship you have and that you have something to share

[@HappyFarmerMG]

These videos with your daughter are adorable and so fun. Keep up the great work. You're such an awesome dad =)

[@undeathbysnipe2986]

I love how KZbin recommended me this trick. I remember I figured out how to do this in elementary school, I used to love doing it just casually in school when I was bored. I completely forgot about it, then while watching this video my brain was like "Hey, I remember this. Here, here. Try it real quick." It took me a few minutes to remember and it's just as fun to do as I remember!

[@NCHobbies]

Damn, Brian. I barely recognized you with your new hair style. I still remember your mohawk back in the OG days.

[@MaverickMyth]

That's cool! Reminds me of the trick with the straws 😁

[@mrspoon1259]

Its been great watching scam nation over the years. Getting to watch Brain grow from Punk Brushwood to Dad Brushwood. Still the same guy but great subtle differences as he has matured.

[@DWish808]

That's so simply clever. Love it. Let's call it the Thumbpit!

[@djkommando]

I said the same exact thing.

[@thelastpilot4582]

I loved that "I did did it." That's a new phrase. I shall have to remember.

[@DireBeastRexYT]

this is the first slight of hand trick I've ever gotten to work for me!! Thank you so much Bryan and Josie for teaching me my new favourite fidget actvity xD

[@janalbrecht7082]

Once again great Video. I wish i could save all these bets in my brain 🤣 this could be so much fun with the friends

[@dannin1278]

Why do I have a feeling she's the most responsible person in that room?

[@drops2cents260]

Because she actually is? ;-)

[@brassJOE]

I learned this with creamers, at a diner in New Jersey, some drunken night at 1:00 am

[@drtroyturner7464]

Probably not far from Moorestown

[@selianboy8508]

Nice to see that a trick I learned when I was probably about 5 years old - yup some 55+ years ago - is still up and running! I have demo-ed this for ever and not many have cracked it without being taught. I have had two in the that I remember manage it but then I suspected at the time that they had seen the trick before. Always good fun at a party that is for sure...

[@alwaysfallingshort]

I think of myself as a pretty logical person who sees how tricks are done immediately but this one blew my mind when I was a kid, and never ceases to blow my mind. I can do it myself and it blow my mind.

[@MagickP00dle]

I worked out a variation using a small lighter and Marlboro 72's (shorter, wider cigarettes). So inevitably someone at the bar will ask you if they can bum a cigarette because they only smoke when they drink. Show them the set up and bet them that they can't swap the cigarette and the lighter without breaking the cigarette. No matter what, they get a cigarette, but if they can't get it, they owe you a beer. If you want to add some flourish, you can remove the metal safety piece on the lighter ahead of time so you can pinch the lighter between your finger and thumb to light it. Just practice how you position the lighter ahead of time.

[@thewackerly]

Watched the video, did the trick, tried to do it again, failed, watched the reveal several times, finally got a second time. This trick is brilliant.

[@whatwillaguydo1186]

I had to pause and try it myself. The twist of the forefinger over the thumb gave the secret away but somehow even though I did it, it didn't seem like it should have worked

[@Xylasider]

So I some practice tries before the reveal and was able to get it. The thing that made it most easy for me was lining up both thumbs first. I think it works well with chess pieces because there's a definite top & bottom. Line up the thumbs with both bottoms and you're golden.

[@tbgr]

The hint you can give is to start from the ending position in order to obtain the starting position. It usually helps a lot to figure out the movement :)

[@IanJAGreen]

This is truly the most magical and sweetest video I have seen for awhile 🥰🥰🥰

[@squidinc.8042]

“you can use any cylindrical object that’s 1-2 inches tall” I’ll be great at this!

[@concernedcommenter8258]

Heh

[@Charlesb88]

Yeah but you don't want to get arrested for exposing yourself.😂

[@ulaB]

TWO cylindrical objects...

[@devdog007]

@@ulaB he has claspers

[@davidmurphy9049]

I learned this with triple A batteries! It's a fun lil trick! My dad told me you could only use the tips of the fingers and thumbs and even demonstrated how they would be locked together for once you have your fingers and thumbs on you can't let go.

[@JayzenFreeze]

Love that shock she had when she realized she did it.

[@ambulocetusnatans]

Hey Brian, it would be cool if you could do a tribute to the Amazing Randi. I'm sure you heard he passed away yesterday.

[@jaysmok2893]

Oh, no! Just when I thought this year couldn't suck more.

[@ambulocetusnatans]

@@jaysmok2893 Mad Max took place in 2021, and Soylent Green took place in 2022, so we ain't outa the woods yet.

[@ShardtheWolf]

Oh, i learned this at a gun range once. We were sitting off to the rear, cleaning the guns before we left, and a dude showed me it with some discarded brass

[@MOsesIcan]

thaaat was so confusing to learn, but thank you ! what a simple yet elegant illusion

[@matthewdobbie6740]

Have you finally accepted that Josie is a modern rogue

[@LifeisReal1990]

I remember seeing this done with 2 corks on the show "Mission Unstoppable" and Miranda Cosgrove hosts it. I did this earlier this summer with 2 highlighter caps and people were so confused as well. It's a fun joke to do as a magic trick and small gag.

[@TheHeIIion]

Wow it took me a long time to get this. I'm blaming wild turkey for that and the fact it's 2:00am. I do find that I often have to use my middle finger for my left hand since I feel like I can't get the object to rotate enough. Maybe later on when I'm sober...

[@blaster-zy7xx]

This is one of my favorite tricks . And the best part is that you can do it slowly and not hide thing and they can't do it. The more smooth and slower you can do it the better.

[@dwaneanderson8039]

The easiest way to figure it out is to do it in reverse. Start with each piece held with the tips of your thumbs and index fingers, rotate your hands in opposite directions, and place them in the webbing of your opposite hands. Then you just do that move in reverse.

[@antoniotorlentino5949]

The first try I got it, but then I could not repeat it after that because I couldn’t even understand how I did it

[@shellsterdude]

For anyone else who still had trouble understanding how to do this: You want to rotate or right hand until your elbow is pointed towards the ceiling and your index finger is pointed mostly downward. Now grab the top and bottom of the item in your left hand with your finger and thumb of your right hand. Now relax your left thumb and slight rotate your left wrist so that your left index finger points more towards the ceiling, then you should be able to grasp both ends of the remaining item (left index finger up, left thumb down). At this point, you have completed the trick. Just hold this position making sure to clear your other fingers so that people can see what appears to be two linked items. You can pull them apart whenever you wish.

[@ThePurpleBlackDragon]

I love this trick. The first time I saw it was with bottle caps from coke or something. This is something that I also just might end up doing just for fun if I have the materials.

[@ejsdead-6363]

As a modern rogue fan this was so nice to see, Brian not being condescending 💀💀

[@rusianalf]

I like this trick. It’s nice to find a new trick you never seen before

[@maverick62990]

this trick made sense in my brain when i did it in reverse and held both in my thumb and index finger, then put the pieces back in the crook of the opposite hand

[@patrickchinoski]

Ooo this is a neat trick!

[@pgprentice]

I find that it is easier to show it in reverse to teach someone. Awesome one!

[@ginopascual1700]

Your a wizard Brian! Lol I was so confuse. That was pretty awesome

[@Man2quilla]

I first learned this with batteries at summer camp. It’s such a fun trick to learn when you’re young because it’s one of those things you can go confuse adults with once you get it

[@idogtv]

I didn't pay much attention until the very end with the outro, but that's some interesting music background, particularly toward the end. I legit wish I could look it up, but guessing it just comes from a licensed music website or something so I'm sure it's unlikely I could find it from a normal search on KZbin lol.

[@josephmiller325]

I do this with wine corks. I have a great time with my friend who simply can't put it together. I've shown him as many as 12 times. So he changes to dropping the corks to stand on end.

[@jay-]

I do this exact trick with pen caps. Easy to find. Works like a treat.

[@spawniscariot9756]

This can't work, this doesn't work, this didn't work, there is no way I just did this, how did I do this... If magic isn't real, someone explain the frisson I got through my body doing this the first dozen times!

[@grevens6688]

When u realise that your childhood idol has a daughter that is the same age as you were when u first started watching his videos. *Life... has now become.... full circle, young padawan.*

[@pvic6959]

his daughter is gonna be a master scammer at this rate LOLOL "If I pull these two chess pieces through eachother, will you do my homework for me?" LOL

[@uaintrecognizemehoe8128]

Oh god i feel old now i was actually younger than his daughter when picking locks with a soda can became interesting to me 😂

[@hazard2366]

I CAME FROM YOUR TWEET I DIDNT GET THIS NOTIFICATION BUT IM HERE

[@Grandemagothebest]

I remember you teaching this with matchsticks (or toothpicks?), but with chess pieces it is sooooo much better!

[@staubach1979rt]

I've always loved this. Simple trick. Teaching it? Not so much.

[@johnbarr7215]

THIS TRICK IS SO SATISFYING hahaha I had her EXACT reaction !! 5:08

[@TheWisestWizards]

I can't figure it out, I shouldn't''t have had all of this wine before attempting it.

[@Hrethgir]

Holy crap, so cool, gotta try this!

[@maidenless_tarnished]

Been awhile since I've seen Brian and I gotta say I am behind this new hair style

[@scamschool]

thanks!

[@chriswerner2993]

Stand up if you have been a watcher since the spikey hair. Can you also sing the original Scam School theme song? 😁

[@LifeIsATruce]

holy damn Brian you changed so much since back in the day when you had the spikey hair. Your vids helped me a lot to meet new people, i'm even engaged now. nice to see you are doing great big hugs man

[@soberhippie]

Bob Mortimer famously called that "a clooney of one's hand". I repeat, _famously_

[@BlackStartheSorcerer]

My favorite trick. I love it and it always baffles everyone around me. Love that your passing it on to your children. Your the man I look up to Mr. Brushwood!

[@benjibrackbill5671]

I have watched this for 50 minutes and still cant replicate this

[@bg6b7bft]

I'm finding the easiest way to learn this trick is to do it in reverse. Start with each piece help in your finger and thumb tips, then try to stuff them into the opposing web crannies.

[@mulgerbill]

Slick! It's tough with matches but I got it after a few tries, now for the chess pieces so I can make the magic happen.

[@marielthegreat]

I seriously couldn’t do this until I went and got two chess pieces from the other room. I’m floored.

[@teeratkissun4296]

Yo I came back randomly after like 4 years and this change has changed a bit it’s more kid friendly and the name changed to scam nation from scam school but my favourite vid ever was the one where Brian ate glass that was a madness

[@lawrencenovak5203]

Easy way to learn is to start with items in the thumb and index finger and try to put them back (i.e.: do it in reverse to learn hand orientation)

[@greenones8754]

That's the thumbcrotch, you're welcome ✌️ 😂😂

[@skyepyro7104]

"Webby cranny" sounds... Euphemistic.

[@leefisher6366]

Not as bad as 'Crotch' which is apparently the correct term. (See a comment above).

[@GRAYgauss]

I tried it and I'm rather good at topological style problems, 2nd or third try I got it but after I got it I got even more confused at first. I think basically the trick is rotating one hand under the other instead of trying to grab with each finger goign around the objects. (So hidden is the index finger going around and under while the thumb pulls through the hole so that both fingers are on the same side of the other hand's object. But he compresses his hands and makes it hard to know if I'm doing the same motion... not to mention the objects I'm using are real awkward) Guess I'll just watch to end. Seems to be the same steps, but quite different execution than I thought. Nice.

[@peterjamesfoote3964]

Fantastic! Webbycranny! A great new word!

[@moneky265]

Brian shoulda voiced the joker with that laugh golly

[@JoshwaLaw]

can it be ANY cylindrical object 1-2 inches long? Cuz i only have 1 of those

[@tonchette7993]

LMAOOOO

[@rays5163]

When I learned this I was taught not to pull them away so quickly and try to sell the illusion that they're melting through each other kinda like the handcuff trick. Anyway I always forget how to do it also

[@louiswouters71]

There's a much easier way to perform this. Keep one hamd in the starting position with thumb facing forwards. Grab normally with the other hand, your other thumb will already be very close to where it needs to go, now just rotate that thumb so it can be put on top of the chess piece.

[@wolfelkan8183]

There's got to be a name for that already. **googles it** Yeah... let's stick with webby-cranny...

[@ujftv]

This...👍👍👍👍 YES!!!

[@chupacavraz]

Dude, you are the best dad.

[@mthf5839]

as the video was going, I pulled two pencil caps out of my drawer and tried it. Got it two times on accident, but had no clue how until it got explained in the video.

[@nohi3355]

Instructions unclear. I now require thick rimmed glasses.

[@Violianom]

I tried it before seeing the solution and got it out, but in a different way. You're telling me there's two smooth versions of separating them?!

[@alienbob21]

The area of skin between the thumb and the index finger is often call the "thenar webspace".

[@WarhavenSC]

What non-Euclidean geometric madness is this!

[@tbgr]

I learned this trick when I was 10 and I use it at every family or friends reunion (mainly with champagne corks). It fools a lot of people and it is always a good time (at least for me :D ). Thanks for this nice video :)

[@BleachWizz]

this is addicting

[@Appleblade]

For some reason, KZbin sent me to 'Scam Nation' on Nov4 right after watching Rudy G complaining in Philly about election fraud. ;)

[@Redwolver111]

I had trouble getting my mind around this until I grabbed two rooks , then I got it on my second try. Now I just need to work on getting it to look smooth

[@AdamMontoyaUSA]

Shoutout to the Discord Squad!

[@CreamySpoon]

Ah... the ol' "coffee creamer trick" being performed at diners since the 80's. Haven't met a waitress yet that doesn't enjoy this minor distraction in their day.

[@ericsimoneau4818]

I also put them back in front of people haha. Love this trick.

[@denglish5]

There has to be some sort of interesting topology at play here.