Rock paper scissors rules
- Rock beats scissors
Rock crushes scissors.
- Scissors beat paper
Scissors cut paper.
- Paper beats rock
Paper covers rock.
- Same move is a tie
Ties do not count toward a best-of match. Just play again.
Rock paper scissors lizard Spock
Switch the Game menu to add two more moves. With five moves, each one beats two others and loses to two, so there are fewer ties. The full rules:
- Scissors cut paper, and scissors decapitate lizard.
- Paper covers rock, and paper disproves Spock.
- Rock crushes lizard, and rock crushes scissors.
- Lizard poisons Spock, and lizard eats paper.
- Spock smashes scissors, and Spock vaporizes rock.
On a keyboard, press R, P, or S to play, plus L for lizard and K for Spock.
Can the computer cheat?
It picks first
The computer's move is drawn the moment you press a button, from your browser's secure random generator. It never sees your move first.
No patterns
Every move has an equal chance every round, so there is no trend to exploit. Against a fair opponent, expect to win about a third of the time.
Settle a real dispute
Need a fair call between two people? A Coin Flip or the Yes or No Wheel works without anyone throwing a hand.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best strategy in rock paper scissors?
Against a truly random opponent like this one, no strategy wins more than a third of the time over many rounds. Against people, players often repeat a winning move and switch after a loss, so watch for habits.
What beats what in rock paper scissors?
Rock beats scissors, scissors beat paper, and paper beats rock. Matching moves are a tie.
How does best of 3 work?
The first player to win two rounds wins the match. Ties do not count. Best of 5 needs three wins, and best of 7 needs four.