How Many Holes Are There on This Shirt? A Simple Question That Tricks Almost Everyone
At first glance, the question seems easy: How many holes are there on this shirt? Most people answer quickly—and most people get it wrong.
This classic visual puzzle has gone viral again and again because it highlights how our brains tend to overlook the obvious while focusing on the familiar.
Let’s break it down.
Why Our Brains Rush the Answer
When you see a picture of a shirt, your mind immediately jumps to what you expect:
- A neck opening
- Two sleeves
- The bottom opening
So many people confidently say four holes and move on.
But the trick lies in looking more carefully, not faster.
Counting the Obvious Holes
A typical shirt has:
- One hole for the neck
- Two holes for the arms
- One hole at the bottom
That’s four—so far, so good.
The Holes People Forget
Now comes the part that trips people up.
If the shirt in the image has visible tears, rips, or worn spots, each one counts as an additional hole. And here’s the key detail:
👉 Each tear usually has two holes — one on the front and one on the back.
People often count what they see on the front and forget that the hole goes all the way through.
The Correct Way to Think About It
To get the right answer, you must:
- Count all standard openings
- Add every tear or rip
- Multiply those tears by two if they go through both sides
Only then do you reach the true total.
Why This Puzzle Is So Popular
This question isn’t really about shirts—it’s about perception.
It shows how:
- We rely on assumptions
- We skim instead of observing
- Small details change everything
That’s why it’s used in brain teasers, interviews, and social media challenges.
The Takeaway
The next time you see a question that seems too easy, pause. Look again. The answer isn’t always wrong because it’s hard—it’s wrong because we stop thinking too soon.
Sometimes, all it takes is one extra second of attention to see what everyone else missed.
