60. 6 Matches, 4 Triangles

class: closer | impressiveness: 3/5 | factors: challenging puzzle | requires: strangely enough… 6 wooden matches | watch full episode

Audio Commentary:

(00:01:40)

Here’s another tough match puzzle almost guaranteed to win you a drink. Remember, it’s the tricks that get you attention, but selling the answers to puzzles gets you the drinks.

The Rules: Using 6 matchsticks or toothpicks, create 4 equilateral triangles. All 4 triangles have to be the same size, and the sides of each triangle have to be exactly one matchstick long.

It sounds impossible, and 99% of the time the mark will just give up. Grab some matches and try to work this one out.

I’ve tried the puzzle, Brian. It took me 25 days before I gave up. In that time I’ve lost my job, my wife, and home. I can only hope that the answer is worth it…