Rock Paper Scissors Online
Play rock paper scissors against the computer: best of 3 or 5 matches, a scoreboard, round history, and the lizard Spock version.
Make your move
You
0
Ties
0
Computer
0
You
VSComputer
Pick rock, paper, or scissors to start.
Recent rounds
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How to play against the computer
Press rock, paper, or scissors. Both hands shake to "rock, paper, scissors… shoot!" and the moves are revealed: yours on the left and the computer's on the right. The scoreboard counts wins, losses, and ties, and the history keeps the last ten rounds.
Under "Match", choose "Best of 3" (first to 2 wins), "Best of 5" (first to 3), or "Free play" with no limit. When a match ends, press "Rematch" to start another. Ties do not count toward winning the match.
Rock paper scissors rules
If both players pick the same move, it is a tie and you play again. Every move beats one and loses to another, so none is better than the others.
| Move | Beats | Loses to |
|---|---|---|
| ✊ Rock | Scissors (crushes them) | Paper |
| ✋ Paper | Rock (covers it) | Scissors |
| ✌️ Scissors | Paper (cuts it) | Rock |
Can you beat the computer?
Not in the long run. The computer picks its move with your browser's cryptographic generator the moment you click, before the animation, and each option has exactly a 1 in 3 chance. Against an opponent like that, any strategy wins, loses, and ties about a third of the time.
People are different, because humans do not play randomly. A 2014 study from Zhejiang University found that players who win a round tend to repeat their move, while players who lose tend to switch. That is why many people throw paper more often than they should, or avoid the same hand three times in a row.
Rock paper scissors lizard Spock
This version was invented by Sam Kass and Karen Bryla and became famous through the TV show The Big Bang Theory. It adds two moves: lizard (poisons Spock and eats paper) and Spock (smashes scissors and vaporizes rock). In turn, rock crushes lizard, scissors decapitates lizard, and paper disproves Spock.
With five moves, each one beats two and loses to two. The practical upside is fewer ties: the chance drops from 1 in 3 to 1 in 5.
Ideas for using it
- Decide who goes first in a board game or who picks the movie.
- Teach probability: play 30 rounds and compare the results with the expected third.
- A quick break: a best-of-5 match takes under a minute.
- Warm up before challenging your friends, although no practice beats pure chance.
Frequently asked questions
Does the computer cheat or see my move?
No. Its move is chosen at random the instant you click, without looking at yours or at earlier rounds. The animation only reveals both moves at the same time.
What is the best move?
Against the computer, none: all three have the same chance of winning. Against people, watch for patterns, like repeating a move after a win.
How does best of 3 work?
The first player to reach 2 wins takes the match. Ties do not count, so a match can last more than three rounds.
What beats what with lizard and Spock?
Scissors cuts paper, paper covers rock, rock crushes lizard, lizard poisons Spock, Spock smashes scissors, scissors decapitates lizard, lizard eats paper, paper disproves Spock, Spock vaporizes rock, and rock crushes scissors.
Is my score saved?
No. The score and history live only in your browser and are cleared when you reload the page.