English edit

 
A shell game in The Conjurer, by Bosch

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Noun edit

shell game (plural shell games)

  1. A game of skill which requires the bettor to guess which of three small cups (or shells) a pea-sized object is concealed under, after the party operating the game rapidly rearranges them, providing opportunity for sleight-of-hand trickery.
  2. Any confidence scheme, especially one involving the rapid movement of investment funds to a location beyond recovery.

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