At first glance, everything seems perfectly normal: a classic shirt, like the ones we wear every day. Yet, one intriguing detail makes us look more closely, and even question what we thought we knew. What if this shirt was hiding a little-known secret? A visual detail that, without realizing it, challenges our neurons… Can you guess how many holes there really are?
Why does this kind of riddle tickle our brains so much?
You might think these riddles are just good for passing the time in a waiting room or over coffee. But that would be a mistake ! They do much more than that. These little visual challenges are real stimulators for our brain. Like mental yoga, they encourage us to think outside the box and observe differently.
When you try to solve a puzzle like the holey shirt puzzle, you call upon several essential skills: logic, of course, but also observation, patience, and even spatial memory. The result? You strengthen your cognitive abilities almost without thinking about it . A real bonus for maintaining your mental alertness on a daily basis.
But then, how many holes are there really in this shirt?
One might be tempted to instinctively answer: “Two for the arms, one for the head, and one below… so four!” And yet, the correct answer is much more confusing .
Let’s decipher together:
Both sleeves: each has an opening at the front and back of the shirt. This makes two visible holes, but they go completely through the garment, making four openings in total.
The collar: the same, a through opening to pass the head through. 1 hole, 2 openings.
The bottom of the shirt: often overlooked, but it too constitutes a complete passage. Another hole, two openings.
And that’s not all! There are also two visible holes in the center of the fabric, punched through the front and back. These aren’t for threading anything, but they do go right through the fabric, so they count double, too.
Let’s do the final count:
2 sleeves = 4 openings
1 pass = 2 openings
1 bottom = 2 openings
2 central perforations = 4 openings (front + back)
Total: 12 openings, or 8 real through holes.
A game of illusion that reminds us that we must know how to look differently
This kind of seemingly innocuous visual puzzle reminds us how easily our brains can be tricked by the obvious. It’s not just a matter of math or logic, but also a lesson in perception: what we see isn’t always what we think. Sometimes all it takes is a change of perspective, a step back, or a deeper dive into the truth to discover the truth.
So, the next time something seems strange, don’t brush it off too quickly. Take the time to observe… you might just see something that no one else has noticed!
Because sometimes the simplest puzzles are also the most illuminating.
