Rock Paper Scissors
Pick your move and the computer picks at random. The page keeps your wins, losses and draws, and explains which move beat which.
Worked examples
A round of the classic game
You play Paper, the computer plays Rock
You win: Paper covers Rock
Rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, paper beats rock.
About Rock Paper Scissors
Rock paper scissors is the quickest way to settle a small argument, and this page lets you play it against the computer. Pick your move, and the computer picks one at random. The page tells you who won and why, and keeps a running score of your wins, losses and draws.
You can switch to the five move version, rock paper scissors lizard Spock, which has fewer draws. In it every move beats two others and loses to two others: scissors cut paper and decapitate lizard, paper covers rock and disproves Spock, rock crushes scissors and lizard, lizard poisons Spock and eats paper, and Spock smashes scissors and vaporises rock. The computer's choice has no memory of your previous moves, so no pattern can beat it.
How to use Rock Paper Scissors
- Choose the classic game or the five move game.
- Press the button for the move you want to play.
- Read the result and the reason it won or lost.
- Keep playing to build a score, and press Reset the score to start again.
Common uses
- Deciding who goes first without arguing
- Practising a quick game with children
- Settling a choice when no one has a coin
- Passing a few minutes with a game that has a bit more to it than rock and paper
Frequently asked questions
Is the computer cheating?
No. It chooses at random each round, with each move equally likely, and it does not see your move before it chooses. Over many rounds you should win, lose and draw about equally often.
How does Spock fit in?
In the five move game Spock smashes scissors and vaporises rock, and loses to lizard and paper. Each of the five moves beats exactly two others and loses to exactly two others.
Why are there fewer draws with five moves?
A draw happens when both players choose the same move. With three moves that is one round in three, and with five moves it is one round in five.
Is there a best strategy?
Against a random opponent there is no strategy that wins more than one round in three in the classic game. The only way to be hard to beat is to choose at random yourself.
Is my score saved?
No. The score stays on the page while you play and clears when you reload it or press Reset the score.