Rock Paper Scissors

This is the classic hand game, with the computer as your opponent. Press rock, paper or scissors. The computer makes its move at the same moment, both hands are shown, and the score is kept for you.

Play endless rounds just for fun, or choose best of 3 or best of 5 for a real game with a winner.

• • Rock beats scissors: rock blunts the scissors
• • Scissors beat paper: scissors cut the paper
• • Paper beats rock: paper wraps the rock
• • Same move: the round is a draw, play again

In best of 3 the first to win 2 rounds wins the game. In best of 5 you need 3. Draws do not count.

1. Choose a game: endless, best of 3 or best of 5.
2. Pick your move: tap rock, paper or scissors.
3. Watch the reveal: both hands shake, then show.
4. Check the score: your wins, the computer's wins and the draws are counted.

Press Share to send your score as a link and challenge a friend to do better.

Yes. The computer picks with your browser's secure random number generator, and it picks before it sees your move. It cannot read your choice, it does not learn your habits and it has no favourite. Every move has the same one in three chance, so over many rounds you should win about a third, lose about a third and draw the rest.

Need to settle something between two people instead? Flip a coin, or let the Yes or No Button decide.

• • Decide who goes first in a board game or who picks the film
• • Short breaks: a quick game between tasks
• • Classroom: a fun way to talk about chance and probability
• • Practice before a real game with friends

Playing in a group? Try Truth or Dare with the family, or roll the dice.