Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock Explained
5 min read
Updated: 10 August 2025
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🪨📄✂️🦎🖖
Popularized by Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock expands the classic game with two additional options, creating more possible outcomes and deeper strategy possibilities.
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TV Show Origins
Sheldon explains the game in Season 2, Episode 8 ("The Lizard-Spock Expansion") as a way to reduce the probability of ties from 33.3% to 20% while increasing strategic possibilities.
Complete Rules
The game adds two new options to the classic three:
✊
Rock
✋
Paper
✌️
Scissors
🦎
Lizard
🖖
Spock
Winning Interactions
Each option beats two others and is beaten by two others:
- Rock crushes Scissors and crushes Lizard
- Paper covers Rock and disproves Spock
- Scissors cuts Paper and decapitates Lizard
- Lizard poisons Spock and eats Paper
- Spock vaporizes Rock and smashes Scissors
Complete Interaction Chart
| Option | Beats | Loses To |
|---|---|---|
| ✊ Rock | ✌️ Scissors, 🦎 Lizard | ✋ Paper, 🖖 Spock |
| ✋ Paper | ✊ Rock, 🖖 Spock | ✌️ Scissors, 🦎 Lizard |
| ✌️ Scissors | ✋ Paper, 🦎 Lizard | ✊ Rock, 🖖 Spock |
| 🦎 Lizard | 🖖 Spock, ✋ Paper | ✊ Rock, ✌️ Scissors |
| 🖖 Spock | ✊ Rock, ✌️ Scissors | 🦎 Lizard, ✋ Paper |
Gameplay Strategies
Probability Considerations
Basic Probabilities
- 20% chance of tie (vs 33% in classic)
- 40% chance to win/lose in random play
- Each option beats 2, loses to 2, ties with 1
Strategic Implications
- More options make patterns harder to detect
- Psychological play becomes more important
- Meta-gaming reaches deeper levels
Beginner Tips
Starting Moves
- Spock is statistically strongest opening
- Lizard counters common Spock openings
- Classic options remain psychologically strong
Pattern Avoidance
- Alternate between "classic" and "new" options
- Vary your responses after wins/losses
- Watch for opponent's favored options
Pro Tip: The Spock Trap
Many players overuse Spock after learning the game. Counter this by playing Lizard more frequently than statistics would suggest - especially after your opponent wins with Spock.
Official Tournament Rules
Standard Formats
- Best of 3, 5, or 7 games
- Sudden death overtime for ties in elimination rounds
- Hand signals must be clear and distinct
- Simultaneous throwing enforced strictly
Counting Style
- "Rock... Paper... Scissors... Lizard... Spock... Shoot!"
- One-second intervals between words
- Throws must be made precisely on "Shoot"
- Referees monitor for late throws