How to Win Rock, Paper, Scissors Every Time: A Strategic Masterclass
Rock, Paper, Scissors: the game that has settled disputes, determined friendships, and maybe even shaped the destiny of countries (okay, likely not countries). It’s usually treated as a game of pure luck, but what if I told you that it’s possible to play Rock, Paper, Scissors as a contest of intelligence and even, on rare occasions, subterfuge? That’s right. Some people play it poorly, of course, and lots of us play it as a whimsy. But there’s a strategy behind the hand signs, and the first part of that strategy is to understand what makes you and your opponent tick.
An Instruction in Contextual Richness Rock, Paper, Scissors has its roots in Japan, where it was called Jan-ken-pon, in the 18th century. It was born as a simple tool for making decisions, but it has evolved into something way cooler: a sport with actual World Championships. Yes, “Rock, Paper, Scissors” and “World Championship” can coexist in the same sentence. After all, someone has to win. And the way to win is to imagine the next move your opponent will make while simultaneously reducing that same opponent to a puddle of nerves.
The Game: Mastering the Strategies Here are eight strategies everyone should know to have a chance of dominating their friends (and hopefully winning the respect that goes along with being a World RPS Champion).
- Rock It Start with a fun fact: Statistically, people (especially men) are more likely to throw rock first. It’s strong, it’s reliable, and it just oozes confidence. So your best first move is paper the humble yet victorious counter to rock. “Tortoise” strategy paper overcomes “hare” strategy rock, with far less running and somewhat more smug satisfaction.
- Scissors, Twisted While experienced players often believe you’ll play rock when making a safe choice and thus would counter with second-best paper, the best counter in this circumstance is to go scissors but with a twist: throw them while looking your opponent right in the eyes and with all the confidence you can muster. It’s the ultimate move (or cut) against overthinking in this meta game.
- Copycat This one’s a bit deceptive. Beginner players might not even know they’re doing it, but they tend to unconsciously mimic their opponents’ last throw. If they just beat your scissors with rock, there’s a good chance they’ll throw rock again. What do you do? Throw paper. Beat them. They’ll never know they were beaten by a strategy that was never used on them when they were using it on us.
- Double on the Rocks If an opponent plays rock twice consecutively, it’s a good indication that you’re facing either a very straightforward player or one who is ridiculously loyal to rock. Either way, your opponent’s next throw is likely to be seed scissors or paper. And you know what throws down both of those options? A third rock. When you’ve got a doubt in your mind about the next throw, just trust that rock breaks through almost any kind of strategy your opponent is throwing at you.
- Observing Your Opponent’s Hand This is where it gets really Sherlockian. You have to watch your opponent’s hand before they throw. Are their fingers tense? Then they’re probably going to throw rock. If their fingers are loose, paper is coming your way. But if the top two fingers are twitching, you better prepare for scissors. You’re not just playing RPS anymore; you’re trying to crack the code.
- Surprisingly, paper is the least likely object to be thrown, accounting for just 29.6% of thrown items. Perhaps it’s because paper gives off a vibe of weakness, almost like it’s afraid to be thrown. You could easily take advantage of this, though. When the person you’re targeting least expects it and is probably feeling all-powerful, that’s when you should throw paper at them. There is no Object To Face that produces as satisfying a reaction as when your flat projectile takes out someone who just threw a rock and is standing there with an expression of utter disbelief.
- Doing Your Homework Be attentive to the habits of your adversary. Do they have a preferred throw? Are they the type to throw “scissors” when you would least expect it? Watch them in previous matches and glean what you can from past performances. Use their throws and your knowledge of what works for them to your advantage, like a well-timed act of sorcery.
- Spock & Roll The forbidden move: Spock. Not quite a part of the classic game, yet highly entertaining and completely unbeatable, precisely because no one knows how to counter it. (Disclaimer: This could get you disqualified or might just get you some funny looks from your friends.)
The Psychology of Victory: Tactics for Winning at Rock, Paper, Scissors.
Hand gestures alone don’t ensure success in rock, paper, scissors; one must also be able to interpret the other player. Are they too certain of themselves? Anxious? Their minds probably aren’t as focused as they should be for a game that hinges on the reading of one’s opponent. And that’s where you come in. Use what you know about tactics, methods, and commands of the game to upend every prediction your rival makes about your next move.
In conclusion, Rock, Paper, Scissors is not merely a chance game; it’s a head-to-head contest that attempts to look like child’s play. When it comes to a debate over where to go for dinner, using RPS to settle such a thing might make a push toward the culinary arts seem a bit childish. But all that’s needed is munchy gratification at the end of this course. If victory in a restaurant duel is what you’re after, these strategies will ensure that you emerge with rightful claims to both appetizers and entrées.
