Rock, Paper, Scissors Strategy

Often at the beginning of a match, a coin is tossed or the opposing team captains do "rock, paper, scissors" to see who gets to decide to receive or which side of the court to defend.

At first seems to be solely at the mercy of chance and luck. This is a by-product of the very nature of the game. For each attack, there is a parry. The mighty Rock is covered by Paper, Paper is cut by Scissors and Scissors are of course smashed by Rock. Therefore on any given throw the chances of a win, lose or draw outcome are divided equally amongst themselves.



Most people put strategy right up there with the Ouija Board and the Magic 8 Ball, but there is research that shows you how to win at this game.

Besides a book (The Official Rock paper Scissors Strategy Guide) there is the Official Rock-Paper-Scissors Strategy Guide (www.worldrps.com) which offers "plays" and "strategies" that take each move to a deeper level. Opening with a rock is a sign of aggression, while throwing out paper is the least obvious, but not necessarily ineffective, first move.

Professional players say that it's not a random game at all. You win and lose on your choice. It's similar to a shoot-out in a soccer match, the relationship the striker has with a goalie.

Paper is subtle, the choice of intellectual, passive-aggressive types. Scissors are devious, a tool of controlled malice. Rock is between-the-eyes intimidation, preferred by beginners and players who have been backed into a corner.

One professional (umm, yep) rock, scissors, paper players states, "From my personal experience, women tend to open with scissors. There are some other tells I don't want to go into. But I can see things in the shoulders and the forearm."

So, play paper first, unless you want to open with rock or scissors...