Today, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alex Bellos, the author of the new book “Think Twice: Solve the Simple Puzzles (Almost) Everyone Gets Wrong.” We dived into two fascinating puzzles and their unexpected answers.
We kicked things off with the “Pint-sized problem.” I asked Alex, “Which is longer: the height of this pint glass or the circumference of its rim?” He explained that most people usually jump to the conclusion that the height is longer, especially when thinking about traditional UK pint glasses. However, he was actually referring to the taller, slimmer continental style glasses.
“Surprisingly, the circumference of the rim is longer,” Alex clarified. “For instance, a sleek Peroni glass has a rim circumference of about 238mm, while its height is just 231mm.” He pointed out that our intuition often falters when it comes to understanding circumferences, as we tend to think in straight lines. “When we view a glass from the side, we intuitively focus on left and right dimensions,” he remarked. “But remember, the relationship isn’t straightforward—circumference is over three times the diameter, thanks to pi!”
Next, we explored his second puzzle, “Fool House.” I asked him to explain which poker hand would win in a game of five-card stud poker. “People often get sidetracked comparing how these hands perform against one another,” he said. “But that’s not the right way to look at it. With a single deck, if one player has a specific hand, the other player cannot.”
Alex elaborated, “The strength of a hand is determined by its ability to dominate in the game. In this case, hand b) with AAA99 is stronger because it blocks more possible straight flushes than AAAKK does.” He acknowledged that while the difference might seem small, it’s a crucial insight for poker enthusiasts seeking an advantage.
As we wrapped up our conversation, I asked Alex if he had any closing thoughts. With a smile, he replied, “I hope you enjoyed these puzzles! If you did, my book ‘Think Twice’ has plenty more to offer. It’s perfect for group fun and, honestly, a great Christmas gift!”
He also provided some important poker definitions for our readers, noting that a royal flush is the highest hand (AKQJ10 of a single suit), followed by a straight flush, four-of-a-kind, and a full house.
Since 2015, Alex has been a staple in the puzzle community, sharing new challenges and keeping the excitement alive. He welcomes puzzle suggestions via email from anyone who has a great idea.
