# Why does paper beat rock? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 12, 2005, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321 "2005-12-12T21:59:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/41 "2005-12-13T04:28:20Z")
Here are my results after 34 games. I seem to be able to beat it, however I’m not using any particular strategy other than trying not to be predictable. Statistics for 34 games winning percentage\*: 17.65% won : 44.12% lost: 26.47% tied: 29.41% ---
**Author:** ![soulmurk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b782af/32.png) [@soulmurk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/soulmurk)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/42 "2005-12-13T05:26:20Z")
It’s obviously a very large piece of paper. Corrugated, reinforced paper made from Uru shavings and recycled Victoria’s Secret catalogs. ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/43 "2005-12-13T06:09:19Z")
Another joke on Rock, Paper Scissors made by Monty Python, aired 15th December 1970. > [@Monty Python sketch 'Ypres 1914'](#): > > Major: Now rank doesn’t enter into this, but obviously if I should get through the lines, I will be in a very good position to recommend anyone, very highly, for a posthumous VC. (He looks round to see if there are any takers.) No? Good. Fine. Fine. Fine. Fine. Right. (counting out) Dip, dip, dip, my little ship sails on the ocean, you are (comes back to himself)… no wait, wait a minute, no I, I must have missed out a dip. I’ll start again. Dip, dip, dip, dip, my little ship, sails on the ocean, you are … (it’s back on him again) No, this is not working out. It’s not working out. What shall we do? > > Jenkins: How about one potato, two potato, sir? > > Major: Don’t be childish, Jenkins. No, I think, I think fisties would be best. OK, so hands behind backs. After three, OK, one, two, three. (Everyone except the padre, who has no arms, puts out a clenched fist.) Now what’s this… stone, stone, stone, (looks down at his hand) and scissors. Now. Scissors cut everything, don’t they? > > Sergeant: Not stone, sir. > > Major: They’re very _good_ scissors. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/44 "2005-12-13T06:32:26Z")
> [@Taber](#): > > after 26 games I’m 9/9/8 > > It seems to do about as well as random chace so far After 51 games I’m 22/11/18 so I’d say it actually does worse than random chance. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/45 "2005-12-13T07:10:08Z")
FWIW, rock IS the best move in Rock-Paper-Scissors because people pick scissors more often than rock or paper. I always lead with rock and it wins about 50% of the time. It’s kind of like asking someone to think of a fruit. Banana, right? ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/46 "2005-12-13T07:13:52Z")
> [@Pochacco](#): > > FWIW, rock IS the best move in Rock-Paper-Scissors because people pick scissors more often than rock or paper. I always lead with rock and it wins about 50% of the time. > > It’s kind of like asking someone to think of a fruit. > > Banana, right? Apple, actually. ---
**Author:** ![wayward](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a87d85/32.png) [@wayward](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wayward)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/47 "2005-12-13T11:30:55Z")
My friends and I once made up a much more logical variant after a few beers. Cat, Bird, Mosquito. Cat eats Bird. Bird eats Mosquito. Mosquito bites Cat and Cat dies of Malaria. Sadly, the hand symbols are lost in the mists of time (and booze). ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/48 "2005-12-13T11:40:22Z")
[Rock-Paper-Scissors.com?](http://www.rockpaperscissors.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/49 "2005-12-13T11:49:37Z")
Paper beats rock by blinding it, of course. That way it can’t see its opponant and ends up flailing around aimlessly until it drops from exhaustion. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/50 "2005-12-13T11:51:26Z")
[http://www.umop.com/rps.htm](http://www.umop.com/rps.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Mycroft\_Holmes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a5b964/32.png) [@Mycroft\_Holmes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mycroft_Holmes)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/51 "2005-12-13T12:41:27Z")
Well, the first commandment of [Roshambo](http://www.emf.net/~estephen/roshambo/faq.html#web) says: > [@](#): > > I am the Lord your rock. Thou shalt make no paper to cover me. but the fourth commandment says: > [@](#): > > Paper covers rock, rock crushes scissors, scissors cuts paper; all other combinations shall be a “push.” So I guess even those studying Roshambo philosophy aren’t really sure. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/52 "2005-12-13T17:18:26Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > > [@Pochacco](#): > > > > FWIW, rock IS the best move in Rock-Paper-Scissors because people pick scissors more often than rock or paper. I always lead with rock and it wins about 50% of the time. > > > > It’s kind of like asking someone to think of a fruit. > > > > Banana, right? > > Apple, actually. Suppose he’s got a pointed stick. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/53 "2005-12-13T17:24:38Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > > [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > > > > [@Pochacco](#): > > > > > > FWIW, rock IS the best move in Rock-Paper-Scissors because people pick scissors more often than rock or paper. I always lead with rock and it wins about 50% of the time. > > > > > > It’s kind of like asking someone to think of a fruit. > > > > > > Banana, right? > > > > Apple, actually. > > Suppose he’s got a pointed stick. > > Regards, > Shodan Then you release the tiger. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/54 "2005-12-13T17:30:56Z")
How about the [five possibility game?](http://www.samkass.com/theories/RPSSL.html) Scissors cuts paper covers rock crushes lizard poisons Spock smashes scissors decapitates lizard eats paper disproves Spock vaporizes rock crushes scissors. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/55 "2005-12-13T17:41:40Z")
> [@Pochacco](#): > > FWIW, rock IS the best move in Rock-Paper-Scissors because people pick scissors more often than rock or paper. I always lead with rock and it wins about 50% of the time. This is why I always lead with paper. ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2005, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/56 "2005-12-13T18:51:00Z")
Mr.stretch and I play foot, cockroach, nuclear bomb from _That 70s Show_. Hyde and Fez play this game and we decided we like it better. I can’t recreate the hand signs here. Foot beats cockroach (stomping), nuclear bomb beats foot (explosions trump feet every time), cockroach beats nuclear bomb (cockroaches will survive anything). ---
**Author:** ![Citizen\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Citizen\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Citizen_Bob)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2005, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321/57 "2005-12-14T06:16:29Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > Tiger _claw_. > Rowwwrr. Hey! You guys never played with dynamite? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-paper-beat-rock/335321.md?page=2)