Confidence trick?

The Orion Online - Duo puts its own magic into Has Beans: "The volunteer told him the first one was pointing up. Houchin then placed his hand above the knife. He slammed his hand down on the knife the volunteer said was pointing upward but never got hurt because he knew the volunteer was lying.
Houchin continued this trick until he just had one knife left that was pointed up. "

Get the point?