The shell game (also known as Thimblerig, Three
shells and a pea, the old army game) requires three
shells (thimbles, walnut shells, bottle caps, plastic
cups, and even match boxes have been used), and
a small, soft round ball, about the size of a pea,
and often referred to as such. It can be played
on almost any flat surface, but on the streets it
is often seen played on a mat lying on the ground,
or on a cardboard box. The person perpetrating the
swindle (called the thimblerigger, operator, or
shell man) begins the game by placing the pea under
one of the shells, then quickly shuffles the shells
around...
