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✂️ Rock · Paper · Scissors

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How to play Rock Paper Scissors

The 3 gestures

The rules

Objective

Both players reveal their gesture simultaneously. The winning gesture earns one point. First to reach the target score (or best of 3) wins the match.

Strategy

Each gesture beats one and loses to one — pure reads and psychology. No dominant option exists: every choice is a calculated risk.

A few proven patterns to exploit: beginners throw Rock most often, so opening with Paper gives you a statistical edge. Winners tend to repeat the gesture that just won — throw what beats it. Losers tend to switch — predict the switch. If both players have repeated the same gesture twice, neither wants to throw it a third time.

History

Rock Paper Scissors traces back to China's Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), where it was played as shoushiling. The game spread to Japan in the 17th century under the name jan-ken, and reached the West in the early 20th century. Today it's one of the most recognized hand games on the planet — used to settle disputes, break ties, and fill waiting rooms.

Variants

The most popular expansion is Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock — adds Lizard and Spock to create 10 possible outcomes per round, cutting tie probability nearly in half. Popularized by The Big Bang Theory. Play RPSLS →