Brain Teasers

[SShoreFan 2.0]

Here is the one I have had no one ever solve.  (I am not sure how I solved it.  My friends asked me this on my birthday and I spent all night asking questions to solve it, and thus, didn't study or my final the next day)




"A man goes into a restaurant in Alaska.  He orders a bird for diner.  He takes one bite of it, and then, goes outside and shoots himself in the head."  What happened?

Alrite, 20 questions time.  Is the man allergic to what he ate?

no

I can't lie, I broke down and looked it up (only one so far) and all I can say is ---- yuck

[CelticsWhat35]

Here is the one I have had no one ever solve.  (I am not sure how I solved it.  My friends asked me this on my birthday and I spent all night asking questions to solve it, and thus, didn't study or my final the next day)




"A man goes into a restaurant in Alaska.  He orders a bird for diner.  He takes one bite of it, and then, goes outside and shoots himself in the head."  What happened?

Alrite, 20 questions time.  Is the man allergic to what he ate?

no

Does it matter what kind of bird he ate?

[wdleehi]

Here is the one I have had no one ever solve.  (I am not sure how I solved it.  My friends asked me this on my birthday and I spent all night asking questions to solve it, and thus, didn't study or my final the next day)




"A man goes into a restaurant in Alaska.  He orders a bird for diner.  He takes one bite of it, and then, goes outside and shoots himself in the head."  What happened?

Alrite, 20 questions time.  Is the man allergic to what he ate?

no

Does it matter what kind of bird he ate?

yes

[wdleehi]

Here is the one I have had no one ever solve.  (I am not sure how I solved it.  My friends asked me this on my birthday and I spent all night asking questions to solve it, and thus, didn't study or my final the next day)




"A man goes into a restaurant in Alaska.  He orders a bird for diner.  He takes one bite of it, and then, goes outside and shoots himself in the head."  What happened?

Alrite, 20 questions time.  Is the man allergic to what he ate?

no

I can't lie, I broke down and looked it up (only one so far) and all I can say is ---- yuck

That's what makes it great when dealing with HS students.

[Roy Hobbs]

Here is one of my all time favorites. 


There is an ancient monarchy with a dying queen.  She has no heirs.  She wishes to find a wise person to assume the throne after she dies.  So she devises a plan.  After scouring the country’s universities, boardrooms, clown colleges and internet message boards she comes up with a list of three people that she deems fit to rule.  One woman, one man, and one extremely precocious eight-year-old with a broadband connection.  She brings them into her throne room and tells them that she has devised a plan to determine who will assume the throne when she dies.  What follows is more or less an exact account of what she said.
“Greetings my pretties.  I made up a little game for you.  I have in my hand a bag.  In that bag there are small hats.  Five small hats, to be exact.  Each hat is one color and one color only, white or black.  Three of the hats are black and two are white.  I am going to turn out the lights in my chamber and it will be completely dark.  I have some dope night vision goggles so I’ll be able to see fine but none of you will be able to see a thing.  I am going to line you up in a row facing me so that once the lights are back on, the first person in the line can see only me, the second person in the line can see the person in front of her/him/it and me.  The third person in line will be the lucky one, he/she/it will be able to see both people in front of them as well as me. 

“Now then.  Once you are in line I will bring the bag to you and you will reach in and put one and only one hat on your head.  Once you each have a hat on your head I will put you in line just as I described.  I will also have the remaining hats incinerated so that nobody will know what was left in the bag (but I will take care to remove my dope night vision goggles before doing so: I am a wise queen after all).  I will then turn on the lights in my throne room.  None of you will be allowed to move from your position, reach for the hat on your head, or speak to eachother.  If you do so you will be executed immediately.  The first one of you to correctly tell me what color hat you are wearing will be my heir.  If you are wrong you will be executed immediately.”

The queen proceeded to do this just like she said.  And everything went according to plan.  Everybody lined up with a hat on their head.  Nothing happened at first, but after about five minutes the extremely precocious eight-year-old—who was standing at the front of the line—raised it’s hand and correctly told the queen what color hat it was wearing.

What color was the hat and how do you/did it know?

The Black Hat because his head started heating up.

Nice try. 

There are no tricks to this one.  Just use your logic.

Okay, here's my guess:

The kid's hate is black.

Here's why:

These are three brilliant people.  If the kid and person #2's hat were white, person #3 would have immediately shouted out that s/he (#3) was wearing black.  However, that didn't happen, so we know that either #1 or #2 was wearing black (and potentially both).

Person #2 is capable of the same logic we just used.  Thus, if the boy was wearing *white*, he (#2) would know that he (#2) was wearing black (since they both couldn't be wearing white).

Thus, the boy is wearing black.

I'm not sure if I explained that right, but I feel good about that answer.  (Again, it presumes that these three people really are brilliant, but I'll trust them.  However, perhaps person #3 is sadistic, and just wants to see somebody get executed.  That would throw off everything. )

[Celtic Fan Forever]

Here is one of my all time favorites. 


There is an ancient monarchy with a dying queen.  She has no heirs.  She wishes to find a wise person to assume the throne after she dies.  So she devises a plan.  After scouring the country’s universities, boardrooms, clown colleges and internet message boards she comes up with a list of three people that she deems fit to rule.  One woman, one man, and one extremely precocious eight-year-old with a broadband connection.  She brings them into her throne room and tells them that she has devised a plan to determine who will assume the throne when she dies.  What follows is more or less an exact account of what she said.
“Greetings my pretties.  I made up a little game for you.  I have in my hand a bag.  In that bag there are small hats.  Five small hats, to be exact.  Each hat is one color and one color only, white or black.  Three of the hats are black and two are white.  I am going to turn out the lights in my chamber and it will be completely dark.  I have some dope night vision goggles so I’ll be able to see fine but none of you will be able to see a thing.  I am going to line you up in a row facing me so that once the lights are back on, the first person in the line can see only me, the second person in the line can see the person in front of her/him/it and me.  The third person in line will be the lucky one, he/she/it will be able to see both people in front of them as well as me. 

“Now then.  Once you are in line I will bring the bag to you and you will reach in and put one and only one hat on your head.  Once you each have a hat on your head I will put you in line just as I described.  I will also have the remaining hats incinerated so that nobody will know what was left in the bag (but I will take care to remove my dope night vision goggles before doing so: I am a wise queen after all).  I will then turn on the lights in my throne room.  None of you will be allowed to move from your position, reach for the hat on your head, or speak to eachother.  If you do so you will be executed immediately.  The first one of you to correctly tell me what color hat you are wearing will be my heir.  If you are wrong you will be executed immediately.”

The queen proceeded to do this just like she said.  And everything went according to plan.  Everybody lined up with a hat on their head.  Nothing happened at first, but after about five minutes the extremely precocious eight-year-old—who was standing at the front of the line—raised it’s hand and correctly told the queen what color hat it was wearing.

What color was the hat and how do you/did it know?

The Black Hat because his head started heating up.

Nice try. 

There are no tricks to this one.  Just use your logic.

Okay, here's my guess:

The kid's hate is black.

Here's why:

These are three brilliant people.  If the kid and person #2's hat were white, person #3 would have immediately shouted out that s/he (#3) was wearing black.  However, that didn't happen, so we know that either #1 or #2 was wearing black (and potentially both).

Person #2 is capable of the same logic we just used.  Thus, if the boy was wearing *white*, he (#2) would know that he (#2) was wearing black (since they both couldn't be wearing white).

Thus, the boy is wearing black.

I'm not sure if I explained that right, but I feel good about that answer.  (Again, it presumes that these three people really are brilliant, but I'll trust them.  However, perhaps person #3 is sadistic, and just wants to see somebody get executed.  That would throw off everything. )

You lost me towards the end of that, but I see your logic. Pretty impressive how you figured that out.

[wdleehi]

Here is one of my all time favorites. 


There is an ancient monarchy with a dying queen.  She has no heirs.  She wishes to find a wise person to assume the throne after she dies.  So she devises a plan.  After scouring the country’s universities, boardrooms, clown colleges and internet message boards she comes up with a list of three people that she deems fit to rule.  One woman, one man, and one extremely precocious eight-year-old with a broadband connection.  She brings them into her throne room and tells them that she has devised a plan to determine who will assume the throne when she dies.  What follows is more or less an exact account of what she said.
“Greetings my pretties.  I made up a little game for you.  I have in my hand a bag.  In that bag there are small hats.  Five small hats, to be exact.  Each hat is one color and one color only, white or black.  Three of the hats are black and two are white.  I am going to turn out the lights in my chamber and it will be completely dark.  I have some dope night vision goggles so I’ll be able to see fine but none of you will be able to see a thing.  I am going to line you up in a row facing me so that once the lights are back on, the first person in the line can see only me, the second person in the line can see the person in front of her/him/it and me.  The third person in line will be the lucky one, he/she/it will be able to see both people in front of them as well as me. 

“Now then.  Once you are in line I will bring the bag to you and you will reach in and put one and only one hat on your head.  Once you each have a hat on your head I will put you in line just as I described.  I will also have the remaining hats incinerated so that nobody will know what was left in the bag (but I will take care to remove my dope night vision goggles before doing so: I am a wise queen after all).  I will then turn on the lights in my throne room.  None of you will be allowed to move from your position, reach for the hat on your head, or speak to eachother.  If you do so you will be executed immediately.  The first one of you to correctly tell me what color hat you are wearing will be my heir.  If you are wrong you will be executed immediately.”

The queen proceeded to do this just like she said.  And everything went according to plan.  Everybody lined up with a hat on their head.  Nothing happened at first, but after about five minutes the extremely precocious eight-year-old—who was standing at the front of the line—raised it’s hand and correctly told the queen what color hat it was wearing.

What color was the hat and how do you/did it know?

The Black Hat because his head started heating up.

Nice try. 

There are no tricks to this one.  Just use your logic.

Okay, here's my guess:

The kid's hate is black.

Here's why:

These are three brilliant people.  If the kid and person #2's hat were white, person #3 would have immediately shouted out that s/he (#3) was wearing black.  However, that didn't happen, so we know that either #1 or #2 was wearing black (and potentially both).

Person #2 is capable of the same logic we just used.  Thus, if the boy was wearing *white*, he (#2) would know that he (#2) was wearing black (since they both couldn't be wearing white).

Thus, the boy is wearing black.

I'm not sure if I explained that right, but I feel good about that answer.  (Again, it presumes that these three people really are brilliant, but I'll trust them.  However, perhaps person #3 is sadistic, and just wants to see somebody get executed.  That would throw off everything. )

Why can't they both be wearing white? 



And how would the third person see the little kids hat?

[CelticsWhat35]

Here is one of my all time favorites. 


There is an ancient monarchy with a dying queen.  She has no heirs.  She wishes to find a wise person to assume the throne after she dies.  So she devises a plan.  After scouring the country’s universities, boardrooms, clown colleges and internet message boards she comes up with a list of three people that she deems fit to rule.  One woman, one man, and one extremely precocious eight-year-old with a broadband connection.  She brings them into her throne room and tells them that she has devised a plan to determine who will assume the throne when she dies.  What follows is more or less an exact account of what she said.
“Greetings my pretties.  I made up a little game for you.  I have in my hand a bag.  In that bag there are small hats.  Five small hats, to be exact.  Each hat is one color and one color only, white or black.  Three of the hats are black and two are white.  I am going to turn out the lights in my chamber and it will be completely dark.  I have some dope night vision goggles so I’ll be able to see fine but none of you will be able to see a thing.  I am going to line you up in a row facing me so that once the lights are back on, the first person in the line can see only me, the second person in the line can see the person in front of her/him/it and me.  The third person in line will be the lucky one, he/she/it will be able to see both people in front of them as well as me. 

“Now then.  Once you are in line I will bring the bag to you and you will reach in and put one and only one hat on your head.  Once you each have a hat on your head I will put you in line just as I described.  I will also have the remaining hats incinerated so that nobody will know what was left in the bag (but I will take care to remove my dope night vision goggles before doing so: I am a wise queen after all).  I will then turn on the lights in my throne room.  None of you will be allowed to move from your position, reach for the hat on your head, or speak to eachother.  If you do so you will be executed immediately.  The first one of you to correctly tell me what color hat you are wearing will be my heir.  If you are wrong you will be executed immediately.”

The queen proceeded to do this just like she said.  And everything went according to plan.  Everybody lined up with a hat on their head.  Nothing happened at first, but after about five minutes the extremely precocious eight-year-old—who was standing at the front of the line—raised it’s hand and correctly told the queen what color hat it was wearing.

What color was the hat and how do you/did it know?

The Black Hat because his head started heating up.

Nice try. 

There are no tricks to this one.  Just use your logic.

Okay, here's my guess:

The kid's hate is black.

Here's why:

These are three brilliant people.  If the kid and person #2's hat were white, person #3 would have immediately shouted out that s/he (#3) was wearing black.  However, that didn't happen, so we know that either #1 or #2 was wearing black (and potentially both).

Person #2 is capable of the same logic we just used.  Thus, if the boy was wearing *white*, he (#2) would know that he (#2) was wearing black (since they both couldn't be wearing white).

Thus, the boy is wearing black.

I'm not sure if I explained that right, but I feel good about that answer.  (Again, it presumes that these three people really are brilliant, but I'll trust them.  However, perhaps person #3 is sadistic, and just wants to see somebody get executed.  That would throw off everything. )

I like your logic there, and that seems like the right answer.  Now my dog theory seems stupid.  I just got thrown off when I noticed the original poster referring to the eight year old as "it".

[Roy Hobbs]

Here is one of my all time favorites. 


There is an ancient monarchy with a dying queen.  She has no heirs.  She wishes to find a wise person to assume the throne after she dies.  So she devises a plan.  After scouring the country’s universities, boardrooms, clown colleges and internet message boards she comes up with a list of three people that she deems fit to rule.  One woman, one man, and one extremely precocious eight-year-old with a broadband connection.  She brings them into her throne room and tells them that she has devised a plan to determine who will assume the throne when she dies.  What follows is more or less an exact account of what she said.
“Greetings my pretties.  I made up a little game for you.  I have in my hand a bag.  In that bag there are small hats.  Five small hats, to be exact.  Each hat is one color and one color only, white or black.  Three of the hats are black and two are white.  I am going to turn out the lights in my chamber and it will be completely dark.  I have some dope night vision goggles so I’ll be able to see fine but none of you will be able to see a thing.  I am going to line you up in a row facing me so that once the lights are back on, the first person in the line can see only me, the second person in the line can see the person in front of her/him/it and me.  The third person in line will be the lucky one, he/she/it will be able to see both people in front of them as well as me. 

“Now then.  Once you are in line I will bring the bag to you and you will reach in and put one and only one hat on your head.  Once you each have a hat on your head I will put you in line just as I described.  I will also have the remaining hats incinerated so that nobody will know what was left in the bag (but I will take care to remove my dope night vision goggles before doing so: I am a wise queen after all).  I will then turn on the lights in my throne room.  None of you will be allowed to move from your position, reach for the hat on your head, or speak to eachother.  If you do so you will be executed immediately.  The first one of you to correctly tell me what color hat you are wearing will be my heir.  If you are wrong you will be executed immediately.”

The queen proceeded to do this just like she said.  And everything went according to plan.  Everybody lined up with a hat on their head.  Nothing happened at first, but after about five minutes the extremely precocious eight-year-old—who was standing at the front of the line—raised it’s hand and correctly told the queen what color hat it was wearing.

What color was the hat and how do you/did it know?

The Black Hat because his head started heating up.

Nice try. 

There are no tricks to this one.  Just use your logic.

Okay, here's my guess:

The kid's hate is black.

Here's why:

These are three brilliant people.  If the kid and person #2's hat were white, person #3 would have immediately shouted out that s/he (#3) was wearing black.  However, that didn't happen, so we know that either #1 or #2 was wearing black (and potentially both).

Person #2 is capable of the same logic we just used.  Thus, if the boy was wearing *white*, he (#2) would know that he (#2) was wearing black (since they both couldn't be wearing white).

Thus, the boy is wearing black.

I'm not sure if I explained that right, but I feel good about that answer.  (Again, it presumes that these three people really are brilliant, but I'll trust them.  However, perhaps person #3 is sadistic, and just wants to see somebody get executed.  That would throw off everything. )

Why can't they both be wearing white? 



And how would the third person see the little kids hat?

The kid is first in line.  Person #3 can see the hats of Person #2 and the kid.

There are 5 hats.  Only two of them can be white.  If Person 2 and the kid are both wearing white, Person #3 would have immediately known what call their own hat was (black). 

[popeyejones]

Here is one of my all time favorites. 


There is an ancient monarchy with a dying queen.  She has no heirs.  She wishes to find a wise person to assume the throne after she dies.  So she devises a plan.  After scouring the country’s universities, boardrooms, clown colleges and internet message boards she comes up with a list of three people that she deems fit to rule.  One woman, one man, and one extremely precocious eight-year-old with a broadband connection.  She brings them into her throne room and tells them that she has devised a plan to determine who will assume the throne when she dies.  What follows is more or less an exact account of what she said.
“Greetings my pretties.  I made up a little game for you.  I have in my hand a bag.  In that bag there are small hats.  Five small hats, to be exact.  Each hat is one color and one color only, white or black.  Three of the hats are black and two are white.  I am going to turn out the lights in my chamber and it will be completely dark.  I have some dope night vision goggles so I’ll be able to see fine but none of you will be able to see a thing.  I am going to line you up in a row facing me so that once the lights are back on, the first person in the line can see only me, the second person in the line can see the person in front of her/him/it and me.  The third person in line will be the lucky one, he/she/it will be able to see both people in front of them as well as me. 

“Now then.  Once you are in line I will bring the bag to you and you will reach in and put one and only one hat on your head.  Once you each have a hat on your head I will put you in line just as I described.  I will also have the remaining hats incinerated so that nobody will know what was left in the bag (but I will take care to remove my dope night vision goggles before doing so: I am a wise queen after all).  I will then turn on the lights in my throne room.  None of you will be allowed to move from your position, reach for the hat on your head, or speak to eachother.  If you do so you will be executed immediately.  The first one of you to correctly tell me what color hat you are wearing will be my heir.  If you are wrong you will be executed immediately.”

The queen proceeded to do this just like she said.  And everything went according to plan.  Everybody lined up with a hat on their head.  Nothing happened at first, but after about five minutes the extremely precocious eight-year-old—who was standing at the front of the line—raised it’s hand and correctly told the queen what color hat it was wearing.

What color was the hat and how do you/did it know?

The Black Hat because his head started heating up.

Nice try. 

There are no tricks to this one.  Just use your logic.

Okay, here's my guess:

The kid's hate is black.

Here's why:

These are three brilliant people.  If the kid and person #2's hat were white, person #3 would have immediately shouted out that s/he (#3) was wearing black.  However, that didn't happen, so we know that either #1 or #2 was wearing black (and potentially both).

Person #2 is capable of the same logic we just used.  Thus, if the boy was wearing *white*, he (#2) would know that he (#2) was wearing black (since they both couldn't be wearing white).

Thus, the boy is wearing black.

I'm not sure if I explained that right, but I feel good about that answer.  (Again, it presumes that these three people really are brilliant, but I'll trust them.  However, perhaps person #3 is sadistic, and just wants to see somebody get executed.  That would throw off everything. )

Bingo! /Troy Brown

I'd give you a tommy point but I think it would just get lost among the pile.

[Roy Hobbs]

I'd give you a tommy point but I think it would just get lost among the pile.

TPs are always appreciated, each and every one.

I had a lot of fun thinking that one through.  It brought me back to preparing for the LSATs a bit. 

[OtherRedHead]

Here is the one I have had no one ever solve.  (I am not sure how I solved it.  My friends asked me this on my birthday and I spent all night asking questions to solve it, and thus, didn't study or my final the next day)




"A man goes into a restaurant in Alaska.  He orders a bird for diner.  He takes one bite of it, and then, goes outside and shoots himself in the head."  What happened?

Alrite, 20 questions time.  Is the man allergic to what he ate?

no

Does it matter what kind of bird he ate?

yes

OK.  I can think of two reasons he would want to kill himself:

1) He was upset by what he was eating (the "bird" had some significance).

2) He was poisoned by the bird and was going to die anyway. 

Either of these true?

[wdleehi]

Here is the one I have had no one ever solve.  (I am not sure how I solved it.  My friends asked me this on my birthday and I spent all night asking questions to solve it, and thus, didn't study or my final the next day)




"A man goes into a restaurant in Alaska.  He orders a bird for diner.  He takes one bite of it, and then, goes outside and shoots himself in the head."  What happened?

Alrite, 20 questions time.  Is the man allergic to what he ate?

no

Does it matter what kind of bird he ate?

yes

OK.  I can think of two reasons he would want to kill himself:

1) He was upset by what he was eating (the "bird" had some significance).

2) He was poisoned by the bird and was going to die anyway. 

Either of these true?

1) Yes

2) No

[fairweatherfan]

Here is the one I have had no one ever solve.  (I am not sure how I solved it.  My friends asked me this on my birthday and I spent all night asking questions to solve it, and thus, didn't study or my final the next day)




"A man goes into a restaurant in Alaska.  He orders a bird for diner.  He takes one bite of it, and then, goes outside and shoots himself in the head."  What happened?

I have heard of this one before and puzzled through it much the same way you described - massive trial and error.  I won't spoil it for people who are trying to guess, but I will play friendly hint guy and say that the type of bird and the circumstances under which he had previously tried that dish are both important.  In the version I heard it was one specific bird that was identified in the initial puzzle description, but I'd guess you could swap another in there easily.

[BigThreePeat]

Here is one of my all time favorites. 


There is an ancient monarchy with a dying queen.  She has no heirs.  She wishes to find a wise person to assume the throne after she dies.  So she devises a plan.  After scouring the country’s universities, boardrooms, clown colleges and internet message boards she comes up with a list of three people that she deems fit to rule.  One woman, one man, and one extremely precocious eight-year-old with a broadband connection.  She brings them into her throne room and tells them that she has devised a plan to determine who will assume the throne when she dies.  What follows is more or less an exact account of what she said.
“Greetings my pretties.  I made up a little game for you.  I have in my hand a bag.  In that bag there are small hats.  Five small hats, to be exact.  Each hat is one color and one color only, white or black.  Three of the hats are black and two are white.  I am going to turn out the lights in my chamber and it will be completely dark.  I have some dope night vision goggles so I’ll be able to see fine but none of you will be able to see a thing.  I am going to line you up in a row facing me so that once the lights are back on, the first person in the line can see only me, the second person in the line can see the person in front of her/him/it and me.  The third person in line will be the lucky one, he/she/it will be able to see both people in front of them as well as me. 

“Now then.  Once you are in line I will bring the bag to you and you will reach in and put one and only one hat on your head.  Once you each have a hat on your head I will put you in line just as I described.  I will also have the remaining hats incinerated so that nobody will know what was left in the bag (but I will take care to remove my dope night vision goggles before doing so: I am a wise queen after all).  I will then turn on the lights in my throne room.  None of you will be allowed to move from your position, reach for the hat on your head, or speak to eachother.  If you do so you will be executed immediately.  The first one of you to correctly tell me what color hat you are wearing will be my heir.  If you are wrong you will be executed immediately.”

The queen proceeded to do this just like she said.  And everything went according to plan.  Everybody lined up with a hat on their head.  Nothing happened at first, but after about five minutes the extremely precocious eight-year-old—who was standing at the front of the line—raised it’s hand and correctly told the queen what color hat it was wearing.

What color was the hat and how do you/did it know?

The Black Hat because his head started heating up.

Nice try. 

There are no tricks to this one.  Just use your logic.

Okay, here's my guess:

The kid's hate is black.

Here's why:

These are three brilliant people.  If the kid and person #2's hat were white, person #3 would have immediately shouted out that s/he (#3) was wearing black.  However, that didn't happen, so we know that either #1 or #2 was wearing black (and potentially both).

Person #2 is capable of the same logic we just used.  Thus, if the boy was wearing *white*, he (#2) would know that he (#2) was wearing black (since they both couldn't be wearing white).

Thus, the boy is wearing black.

I'm not sure if I explained that right, but I feel good about that answer.  (Again, it presumes that these three people really are brilliant, but I'll trust them.  However, perhaps person #3 is sadistic, and just wants to see somebody get executed.  That would throw off everything. )

Why can't they both be wearing white? 



And how would the third person see the little kids hat?

The kid is first in line.  Person #3 can see the hats of Person #2 and the kid.

There are 5 hats.  Only two of them can be white.  If Person 2 and the kid are both wearing white, Person #3 would have immediately known what call their own hat was (black). 

Haha nicely done... nicely done.  Still could be confusing people.     Just keep in mind there are only two white hats.

The third person in line can see the two people in front of him.  If he saw two white hats, he'd go "OMG OMG... I HAVE A BLACK HAT!"

Since a lot of time passes by and none of the three hear #3 shout, they know that means there is at least one black hat being worn by the two people in front.

Ok from 2nd person's perspective.  He can only see the little boy in front of him.   He doesn't hear #3 shout so he knows that #1 and #2 can't both be wearing white hats.   So in other words, if he saw the guy in front wearing a white hat he would know his HAD to be black, because otherwise #3 would be flipping out.  


The kid in front figures this out... and realizes he must be wearing a black hat.