The Complete Guide to Rock Paper Scissors
From basic rules to advanced strategies and creative variations
How Rock Paper Scissors is Played
Rock Paper Scissors (also known as Rochambeau or Roshambo) is a classic hand game played between two people. The game is simple to learn but can involve surprising depth in strategy.
Basic Rules:
- Players count aloud "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot!" or simply "1, 2, 3, Shoot!"
- On "Shoot," each player forms one of three shapes with their hand
- The possible shapes are:
- Rock ✊ (closed fist)
- Paper ✋ (flat hand)
- Scissors ✌️ (index and middle finger extended)
Winning Combinations
Rock crushes
Scissors
Paper covers
Rock
Scissors cut
Paper
If both players show the same shape, the game is a tie and is typically replayed.
Rock Paper Scissors But You Can Use Anything
One of the beautiful aspects of Rock Paper Scissors is its adaptability. The core mechanics can be applied to any three options that have a circular dominance relationship.
Popular Variations
- Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock (5 options)
- Fire Water Leaf (for Pokémon fans)
- Gun Bear Ninja
- King Queen Slave
Creating Your Own
To create your own version:
- Choose 3 (or more) distinct options
- Establish which beats which in a circular pattern
- Ensure each option beats and is beaten by the same number of others
Example: Breakfast Edition
- Pancake (covers Bacon)
- Bacon (greases up Orange Juice)
- Orange Juice (soaks Pancake)
Why These Variations Work
The mathematical beauty of Rock Paper Scissors lies in its balanced, non-transitive relationship. This means:
- No single option is inherently stronger than the others
- The relationships form a complete cycle where A beats B, B beats C, and C beats A
- This creates perfect balance and prevents any one strategy from dominating
Rock Paper Scissors Game Strategies
Beginner Strategies
- Random play: Truly random choices prevent opponents from detecting patterns
- Double run: Play the same move twice in a row, then switch
- Opponent observation: Many players subconsciously avoid repeating the same move three times
Advanced Techniques
- Frequency analysis: Track opponent's move frequency to predict probabilities
- Pattern disruption: Intentionally break your own patterns to confuse opponents
- Meta-gaming: Anticipate what your opponent thinks you'll do and counter that
Tournament Statistics
Opening Move Frequencies
Rock: 35% (most common opening)
Paper: 33%
Scissors: 32% (least common opening)
Win Rate by Strategy
- Pure random 50%
- Pattern recognition 58-62%
- Psychological tactics 65-70%
Play Rock Paper Scissors Online
Now that you've learned all about the game, try your skills against our AI opponent in the interactive Rock Paper Scissors game below!
Cultural Significance
Around the World
Rock Paper Scissors has countless cultural variations:
- In Japan, it's called "Janken" and often used to decide who goes first in games
- Brazilian children play "Pedra, Papel e Tesoura" with slightly different hand gestures
- In parts of India, it's called "Stone, Pencil and Scissor"
In Popular Culture
The game frequently appears in movies, TV shows, and even serious decision-making:
- Used in 2006 to decide who would auction a $20 million art collection
- Featured in "The Big Bang Theory" with the Lizard-Spock expansion
- Japanese auction house used it to decide which client would get a painting