What is Rock Paper Scissors?

Rock Paper Scissors is the classic hand game where you choose rock, paper, or scissors and play against a computer opponent. Pick a difficulty — from a purely random Easy to a pattern-reading Hard — or switch on the Lizard Spock variant, then track your wins, losses, and draws across rounds.

On Easy the computer picks a fresh random move every round, so there's no pattern to read. Switch to Medium or Hard and it tracks the moves you use most and tries to counter them, which turns the game into a battle of mixing up your choices. The scoreboard tracks wins, losses and draws across the session, and the move distribution shows which symbol you reach for too often. Turn on Lizard Spock for the five-move variant when three moves feel too predictable.

How to use

1. Step 1 — Choose your move by clicking Rock, Paper, or Scissors.
2. Step 2 — The computer locks in its move at the same time. On Easy it plays randomly; on Medium and Hard it tries to read and counter your habits. The winner is revealed.
3. Step 3 — View the running scoreboard with your win/loss/draw record and play again.

When to use

• Settling a quick disagreement online when nobody has a coin handy.
• Killing 60 seconds between meetings without installing a game app.
• Teaching kids the win/loss rules with clear visual symbols.

Result

A player chooses Rock, the computer picks Scissors — Rock crushes Scissors, so the player wins. After 10 rounds the score is 5 wins, 3 losses, and 2 draws.

FAQ

Is the computer really random, or is it trying to beat me?

On Easy it's a uniform random pick with no memory of your past moves. Switch to Medium or Hard and it starts watching the moves you lean on and counters them, so a predictable player will start losing. Stay random and even Hard can't get an edge.

What's the best opening move?

Against the Easy (random) opponent there's no advantage to any move — all three have identical 1/3 win, lose and draw odds. On Medium and Hard, the trick is to avoid favouring one move, since the computer punishes repetition. Against a human, surveys say men open with rock more often, so paper is a slight edge against newcomers.

Why is there a short delay before the computer reveals its move?

The 600 ms hold gives the round its tiny dramatic pause and prevents you from spam-clicking through plays without registering each outcome. Skipping the reveal animation would feel like a vending machine, not a game.

Do my scores persist if I close the tab?

No. The scoreboard resets every session, so closing the tab or refreshing wipes wins, losses and draws. Treat each visit as a fresh tournament — it keeps the stakes light.

Does this include the 'lizard' and 'Spock' moves?

Yes — flip the Variant switch to Lizard Spock for the five-move version popularised by The Big Bang Theory. Rock and paper keep their usual jobs, while lizard and Spock add two more ways to win and lose, so ties become rarer. Classic mode keeps the familiar three-move game.

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