Hand Games
How to play Rock Paper Scissors
Reveal rock, paper or scissors together: rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, and paper beats rock.
What you need
Only two players' hands
Set up the game
- Agree on a simultaneous reveal signal such as 'Rock, paper, scissors, show.' Decide whether playing one round or best of three.
- Make the shapes clear: closed fist for rock, flat hand for paper, two extended fingers for scissors.
Reveal hands and determine the winner
- Both players choose a shape in secret and reveal it at the same signal.
- Compare the two shapes. Rock crushes scissors; scissors cuts paper; paper covers rock. Matching shapes tie and are replayed.
- A single decisive reveal wins one round. If playing best of three, the first player to win two decisive rounds wins the match; ties do not count as wins.
Paper against rock
Ava shows a flat hand while Bo shows a fist. Paper beats rock, so Ava wins that round. If they both show paper on the next reveal, that is a tie and is replayed; it does not make the match score 2–0.
Why the reveal signal matters
If one player reveals after the other, the late player can change their shape. Count the chant together and show on the same beat. For a disputed late change, declare no contest and reveal again; there is no need to invent a point penalty.
Beginner decisions
- There is no move that beats both other moves; avoid presenting one shape as a guaranteed strategy.
- Use a clear simultaneous reveal instead of waiting to see the other person's hand.
Common rule mix-ups
- Changing the hand after seeing the opponent's reveal.
- Counting a tie as a win or loss in a best-of-three match.
Questions about this game
Does a tie count against the three rounds?
Not in the best-of-three format here. Replay until a decisive reveal.
Is 'shoot' required?
No. Different groups use different chants; the important point is a shared reveal moment.
Sources and edition notes
Traditional three-shape rock-paper-scissors. This page defines a simultaneous-reveal format and optional best-of-three match; regional chants differ and there is no single official rulebook.