The Answer: 8 Holes
Yes, really—eight holes. Here’s the breakdown:
- 2 sleeve holes – One on each side for your arms.
- 1 neck hole – Where your head goes through.
- 1 bottom hole – The opening at the bottom of the shirt.
- 4 fabric holes – Two in the front and two in the back (since they go straight through).
That gives us:
2 (sleeves) + 1 (neck) + 1 (bottom) + 4 (tears through the fabric) = 8 total holes.
Why This Puzzle Is So Tricky
What trips most people up? We tend to only count the visible holes in the front of the shirt. But here’s the twist: if a hole goes all the way through, it actually counts as two holes—one in the front and one in the back. Think of it like punching a hole through a piece of paper. You’re creating two openings, not one.
Plus, most of us don’t instinctively consider standard openings like the neck or sleeves as “holes,” even though that’s exactly what they are.
This clever mix of visual trickery and logical reasoning is what makes the puzzle so satisfying—and just a little mind-bending.
