The rules of rock paper scissors
Two players, three hands, one cycle. The rules take ten seconds to learn, which is why the game has survived for centuries as the fastest fair way to settle anything.
How a round works
- Both players pump a closed fist to a shared count, traditionally "rock… paper… scissors… shoot!"
- On the final beat, each player reveals one of the three signs simultaneously.
- Rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, paper beats rock. Matching hands are a draw and the round is replayed.
Etiquette that actually matters
- No late reveals. Throwing a beat after your opponent, so you can react to their hand, forfeits the round.
- Agree the count first. Whether you throw on "scissors" or on "shoot" varies by region, so settle it before you start.
- Vertical paper is fine. Some players throw paper sideways like a handshake; both are legal.
Scoring formats
- Single throw: One round settles it. The standard for deciding who goes first.
- Best of three: First to two round wins. The everyday default.
- Organised play: Leagues and tournaments usually run best-of-three sets, themselves scored best of three.
Rock paper scissors, against an AI that learns you.
Every throw teaches it your habits. It predicts your next move, and shows you the read. Think you can stay random?
Play →Frequently asked questions
Is there a fourth hand in rock paper scissors?
Not in the standard game. Variants add hands, most famously Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock, which uses five. Any variant needs an odd number of hands, each beating exactly half the others, or it cannot stay fair.
What is the "shoot" in rock paper scissors?
Players pump a closed fist on a shared count, commonly "rock, paper, scissors, shoot", and reveal on the final beat. Some regions reveal on the word "scissors" instead, which is why players agree the count before starting.
What happens on a draw?
Identical hands are a draw and the round is simply replayed. Draws are not scored, which is why win rates in this game are usually quoted with draws excluded.
Is rock paper scissors a game of luck or skill?
Against a perfectly random opponent it is pure luck, because no strategy can beat an even mix. Against a human it is a game of skill, because humans are not random and reading them is a learnable skill.