# Rock, paper, scissors - dynamite? bird? Spock? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 10, 2002, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800 "2002-12-10T17:50:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/1 "2002-12-10T17:50:52Z")
It seems I missed the recent Rock, Paper, Scissors world championship in Toronto. The [Boston Globe article]([http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/342/focus/](http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/342/focus/) The\_rock\_heard\_round\_the\_world+.shtml) quoted the rules (found [here](http://www.worldrps.com/champrules.html) as follows: > [@](#): > > For those new to the game, the only acceptable throws are Rock, Paper and Scissors. Any use of Dynamite, Bird, Well, Spock, Water, Match, Fire, God, Lightning, Bomb, Texas Longhorn, or other non-sanctioned throws, will result in automatic loss of the round. So I gotta ask you aficionados of RPS (and I know you’re out there): Whazzupwiddat? What are these other throws, and what beats what? [edited to fix coding] ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/2 "2002-12-10T17:56:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ElvisL1ves \* > \*\*It seems I missed the recent Rock, Paper, Scissors world championship in Toronto. The [Boston Globe article]([http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/342/focus/](http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/342/focus/) The\_rock\_heard\_round\_the\_world+.shtml ) quoted the rules (found [url=http://www.worldrps.com/champrules.html] here[/url) as follows: > > > [@](#): > > > > \*\* > > For those new to the game, the only acceptable throws are Rock, Paper and Scissors. Any use of Dynamite, Bird, Well, Spock, Water, Match, Fire, God, Lightning, Bomb, Texas Longhorn, or other non-sanctioned throws, will result in automatic loss of the round. > > \*\* > So I gotta ask you aficionados of RPS (and I know you’re out there): Whazzupwiddat? What are these other throws, and what beats what? \*\* I’ve heard about Dynamite, Bomb and God (and Hand Grenade, which is not listed here), and they’re an automatic win, beating all three of the others. They usually come into play when a large amount of beer has been consumed, when either of the participants is very bored, or both. While I can imagine what Spock and Texas Longhorn look like, I’ve no idea what they do. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/3 "2002-12-10T18:25:12Z")
Well, at least according to the venerable “World Rock, Paper, Scissors Society”, things like dynamite and “steer horns” are verboten: [http://www.worldrps.com/faq.html#Anchor-Is-47383](http://www.worldrps.com/faq.html#Anchor-Is-47383) ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/4 "2002-12-10T18:38:55Z")
As to what Spock in a game of RPS looks like, it most likely would be a standard Vulcan Hand Gesture: fingers and thumb all held parallel to the palm, index finger and middle finger held together, ring and pinky held together, middle and ring spread in a “V”. (Saying “Live Long and Prosper” is normally optional, though in this situation, it may be required.) Now this is mere speculation, but might Texas Longhorn be the same as the “Devil” hand gesture popularized by headbangers and heavy metal fans in general? Index and Pinky extended, middle and ring held together and curled under a bent thumb? Going to an offical source, [The World Rock-Paper-Scissors Society](http://www.worldrps.com) is actually not that helpful because they don’t condone the use of any alternate throws at all, and only mention Dynamite by name: > [@](#): > > “The misconception of Dynamite still hangs above RPS games like a great Death’s Head, forcing otherwise reasonable RPS players into a whirling vortex of circular arguments. Let it be known that The World RPS Society does not now, nor has it ever condoned the use of Dynamite in professional matches.” More research is needed. ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/5 "2002-12-10T18:50:28Z")
More research is needed, especially since I missed the previous quote from the World RPS Society that did mention the other throws by name. I have found a variant called Rock Paper Scissors Spock Lizard with the following rules: Scissors cuts Paper covers Rock crushes Lizard poisons Spock smashes Scissors decapitates Lizard eats Paper disproves Spock vaporizes Rock crushes Scissors. It’s actually a balanced set of rules. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find a good depiction of how one makes the Lizard gesture. ---
**Author:** ![KarmaComa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e36b37/32.png) [@KarmaComa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarmaComa)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/6 "2002-12-10T18:55:46Z")
This website is unbelievable… just unbelievable… it doesn’t seem that they’re being ironic at all. Check out this exerpt from ‘Strategic Analysis of the “Great Eight” Gambits’: > [@](#): > > This is another article written by the late RPS Guru Master Roshambollha during his famous outreach tour. Roshambollha? He didn’t invent ro-sham-bo, did he? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/7 "2002-12-10T19:06:47Z")
Hush, you’ll spoil it. 😉 Other mystical throws I’ve turned up in research include Chainsaw, Bulldozer, Bird, ICBM, Spermwhale, and Father Time. Maybe these people have better fingers than I do. I’ve also found references to Strip Rock Paper Scissors. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/8 "2002-12-10T19:45:49Z")
We used to use dynamite on the playground sometimes when I was a kid; it was a fist with your thumb sticking up (to represent the fuse). It beat paper (the fuse ignited the paper) and rock (it blew up rock), but scissors could cut the paper. (Of course, if any of us were smart enough to realize it, this was the ideal throw, since unlike the others it won more than it lost. This was important back then because the winner got free hits.) There were a few others we used as well which I can’t remember. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/9 "2002-12-10T19:57:40Z")
I believe that page was created by one of the Tiltboys. [http://www.tiltboys.com/](http://www.tiltboys.com/) I know one of them programmed the Roshambot: [http://chappie.stanford.edu/~perry/roshambo/](http://chappie.stanford.edu/~perry/roshambo/) Good luck trying to beat it. Read their Vegas Trip reports; they are hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/10 "2002-12-10T20:10:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Priceguy \* > \*\*\ when either of the participants is very bored, or both. \*\* 😃 How much more bored can you get? You are already reduced to amusing yourself by playing rock paper scissors 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/11 "2002-12-10T20:17:15Z")
We used “fire” on the playground. Fire beat everything - burned paper, melted scissors, scorched rock. You wiggled every finger to simulate the fire. It got outlawed pretty quickly. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by SC\_Wolf_ > Now this is mere speculation, but might Texas Longhorn be the same as the “Devil” hand gesture popularized by headbangers and heavy metal fans in general? Index and Pinky extended, middle and ring held together and curled under a bent thumb? The Texas Longhorns hand gesture is the pinky and index finger raised, and the thumb closed around the non-extended fingers. See the picture on [this](http://www.utexas.edu/admin/opa/oncampus/01oc_issues/oc010927/oc_cheerleader.html) page. I always thought the “devil” headbanger gesture also extended the thumb… ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/12 "2002-12-10T20:23:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Khadaji \* > **How much more bored can you get? You are already reduced to amusing yourself by playing rock paper scissors** Am I the only one here who actually enjoys this game? It’s not the random luck-game people think; actually it’s quite skill-based as long as you don’t play with 8-year-olds. For example, try playing 10 rounds against 10 different people. Statistically, 3 or 4 of these rounds would be a “draw”, ie you both choose the same symbol. If my experiences count for anything, it’s going to be a lot higher, like 7 or 8. And beyond the first round, there’s next to no luck involved. It’s all psychology. I used to boast that no-one could beat me, but lately I seem to have been losing my edge. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/13 "2002-12-10T20:37:35Z")
[Graham Chapman] “Now, um, scissors beats everything right?” “Not stone sir” “They’re very good scissors…” [/Graham Chapman] ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/14 "2002-12-10T20:54:33Z")
At least I can guess what “bird” is, even if that one is more often flipped than thrown. I’d really like to know what “God” is, though. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/15 "2002-12-10T22:16:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Priceguy \* > **Am I the only one here who actually enjoys this game? It’s not the random luck-game people think; actually it’s quite skill-based as long as you don’t play with 8-year-olds.** Actually, I enjoyed the game most when my little sister was eight years old, 'cuz then I could beat her every time. (Poor kid – she always threw scissors.) –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/16 "2002-12-10T22:24:13Z")
“Good old Rock, nuthin’ beats Rock” - Bart ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/17 "2002-12-10T22:30:06Z")
Obligatory Straight Dope Simpsons reference: LISA (thinking): Poor predictable Bart. Always chooses rock. BART (thinking): Good ol’ rock. Nothing beats rock. Lisa throws paper, Bart throws rock. BART: DOH ---
**Author:** ![SC\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@SC\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SC_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/18 "2002-12-10T22:39:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dooku \* > \*\*The Texas Longhorns hand gesture is the pinky and index finger raised, and the thumb closed around the non-extended fingers. See the picture on [this](http://www.utexas.edu/admin/opa/oncampus/01oc_issues/oc010927/oc_cheerleader.html) page. I always thought the “devil” headbanger gesture also extended the thumb… \*\* After a little googling, it looks like the “Devil” hand is the same guesture. Extending the thumb turns it into American Sign Language for “I Love You”. ---
**Author:** ![caffeine\_overdose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85e7bf/32.png) [@caffeine\_overdose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caffeine_overdose)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2002, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/19 "2002-12-10T23:48:45Z")
hijack/boasting I once played strip rock paper scissor and one 14 times in a row. Then when the girl got mad I threw 10 games in a row end of hijack/boasting What the site does not go into enough detail is people’s tendency to start with scissor. It has been my experience that if you throw rock on the first game you almost always win ---
**Author:** ![shelbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shelbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shelbo)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2002, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800/20 "2002-12-11T01:17:08Z")
Here is a hint at how to win at Rock Paper Scissors. In my experience, it will help you win more often than not. People will subconciously pick a throw that will beat the throw that you just threw. So, you need to throw a throw that will beat the throw that beats the throw that you just threw. 😃 It is called the **shelbo** maneuver, and is effective against most people (or at least, can get you over a 50% win rate). But if you start using it against me, I know the counter. Bwaaahaaahaaaa. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rock-paper-scissors-dynamite-bird-spock/141800.md?page=2)