How to win at rock, paper, scissors
16th April 2015Our first Rock, Paper, Scissors social took place back in 2012, when long-standing bobber, Clems, became our first champion. Of course, that has all changed with various members taking the crown, from Christoph who first snatched the victory, to current shared holders of the title Laura + Imara…but it could all change this Friday. Who will take the new Rock, Paper, Scissors crown?
All will be revealed on Friday 17th April (tomorrow!) in Shoreditch….
See more photos from our last tournament at the thinking bob Facebook page.
“Rock is for rookies” – Rock, Paper, Scissors (RPS) tips from the experts
Many believe that this is a game of luck – not so! Here are some of our favourite RPS tactics from the professionals.
- “Rock is for rookies”, a common expression in RPS circles, refers to the theory that males tend to throw a rock on their opening throw, particularly if they’re inexperienced.
Females tend to throw scissors or paper, depending on which expert you believe (we’re sure there’s some science behind it…)- Watch your opponent’s hand closely, as their fingers will flex depending on which move they are about to make.
- Experienced players tend to fall back on scissors (since rock is so obvious). Throwing scissors as your opening move is more likely to lead to a win or, at worst, a stalemate.
- Watch for a ‘double run’ – if your opponent throws the same move twice, they are less likely to make that move again.
- Beat your previous winning throw – players who have just lost tend to throw the move that just beat them.
And the geek alternative…
Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock was originally invented by Sam Kass and his wife Karen Bryla after they realised that the chances of a tie in the original game rocket to 75-80% once you know someone well
enough. So they added another two variations, reducing the chances of a tie
The rules are, of course: scissors cut paper, paper covers rock, rock crushes lizard, lizard poisons Spock, Spock smashes scissors, scissors decapitate lizard, lizard eats paper, paper disproves Spock, Spock vaporizes rock, rock breaks scissors.
A few years later, the game was picked up by the producers of The Big Bang Theory. Read the real story behind Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock (and the maths behind it).
Now you have your game plan, sign up here and see you on Friday!