Hand Games
How to play Rock Paper Scissors
Choose rock, paper, or scissors simultaneously to settle a quick contest.
QUICK ANSWER
How do you play Rock Paper Scissors?
Count together: Rock, paper, scissors, shoot. Reveal one hand sign at the same time. Rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, and paper beats rock. Repeat ties and continue until the match is decided.
Jump to the step-by-step rules ↓EDITOR'S TABLE NOTES
Is Rock Paper Scissors a good fit for your group?
This game works especially well for players who want a clear objective, manageable turns, and a beginner-friendly first session; the listed 2-player range and 1–5 min playing time should also fit the group. Before setting up, decide whether that matches the experience your group wants today.
Rules version covered here
This guide explains the most common casual version. Confirm any edition, platform, or local-rule differences before play. For Rock Paper Scissors, pay particular attention to the stated setup and ending condition below.
QUICK VIDEO GUIDE
Learn Rock Paper Scissors in under a minute
About this video
This original mini lesson covers what you need, setup, normal play, the winning condition, and one beginner tip. Continue below for the complete written guide.
INTERACTIVE LEARN-TO-PLAY
Practice Rock Paper Scissors before the first round
Walk through the setup, try a sample turn, and get a quick answer when play stalls.
Agree whether the match is one round or best of three.
Stand where both hands are visible.
Playable example turn
Step 1 of 4
Count together: Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.
What should we do now?
Start with this action: Count together: Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.
Scoring and winning
Repeat ties and continue until the match is decided.
Common dispute to prevent
Revealing late after seeing the other hand. Agree on any edition-specific variation before the first turn.
The objective
Your goal is to choose rock, paper, or scissors simultaneously to settle a quick contest. Before play begins, make sure every player can explain how the game ends and what determines the winner. That one check prevents many mid-game disagreements.
What you need
Two hands. Lay out every required item before teaching the rules. If pieces, cards, controllers, or play space are missing, resolve that before the practice turn.
How to set up
- Agree whether the match is one round or best of three.
- Stand where both hands are visible.
Setup check: Ask one player who did not arrange the game to compare the table, field, or screen with these steps. A fresh look often catches an incorrect starting position.
How to play: step by step
- Count together: Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.
- Reveal one hand sign at the same time.
- Rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, and paper beats rock.
- Repeat ties and continue until the match is decided.
Example first round
A useful first-round walkthrough for Rock Paper Scissors begins this way: Count together: Rock, paper, scissors, shoot. Next, reveal one hand sign at the same time. Continue in normal turn order until the ending condition applies: repeat ties and continue until the match is decided.
How scoring and winning work
- The result is determined by the guide's stated objective: Choose rock, paper, or scissors simultaneously to settle a quick contest.
- The final step explains when play stops: Repeat ties and continue until the match is decided.
- For the most common rules question, use this clarification consistently: Replay the round.
Useful variations
- Use one no-score practice round before beginning the full game.
- For a shorter session, announce a stopping time before starting; 1–5 min is the normal planning range for Rock Paper Scissors.
- When playing with beginners, demonstrate this strategy before scoring begins: Vary your choices.
Beginner strategies
- Vary your choices.
- Reveal exactly on shoot.
Choose one of these ideas for the first game instead of trying to remember every strategy at once. Afterward, identify one decision that changed the result and one move you would test next time.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Revealing late after seeing the other hand.
- Disagreeing about the count rhythm.
If an illegal move is discovered, pause and agree on the least disruptive correction. For casual play, consistency and a shared understanding matter more than reconstructing many turns.
Frequently asked questions
What happens on a tie?
Replay the round.
Is it luck or strategy?
Both; patterns can matter across repeated rounds.
Related hand games guides
Official instructions for your edition or the game publisher’s current documentation take priority over this summary. If you spot a factual error or an important edition difference, please tell us.
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