Shell game

The shell game (also known as thimblerig) is a gambling game, often used to perpetrate fraud. It is played on a flat surface, and requires three shells (or thimbles, cups, etc.) and a pellet or other small object. One person places the pellet under one of the shells, then quickly shuffles the shells around. The player must decide under which shell the pellet is located. Shell games are a very common confidence trick.

Related Topics:
Gambling - Game - Fraud - Confidence trick

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The term shell game is used more generally to describe a situation in which conspicuous actions are taken to cover up deception. For example, the methods used by Enron and Worldcom in their accounting scandals were described as a shell game. In this usage, it is synonymous with Enronomics.

Related Topics:
Enron - Worldcom - Enronomics

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