Researchers from Zhejiang University have revealed a strategy to help you win at “Rock – Paper – Scissors” more effectively.
Many people believe that “Rock – Paper – Scissors” is a simple game that relies heavily on luck. However, reality shows that this game also requires strategy, keen observation, and a bit of intelligence to consistently come out on top.
Scientists from Zhejiang University in China recently published the results of a large-scale study on the game and provided tips to enhance your chances of winning.
Most people will take turns playing Rock – Paper – Scissors in one-third of the time, making it difficult for you to accurately predict your opponent’s next move to beat them.
However, experts from Zhejiang University have “revealed” that you should pay attention to the first round of play.
The reason is that if a player wins the first round, they will often continue with a similar strategy in the next round. If that player loses, they will definitely change their strategy in a clockwise direction – that is, swapping Rock for Paper, Paper for Scissors, and Scissors for Rock.
To illustrate this more simply, let’s look at a game between two players, A and B:
Round 1:
Round 1: If A plays Paper and B plays Rock, then A wins.
A (left) plays Paper – B (right) plays Rock, so A wins.
Round 2: A plays Paper, and B will switch to Paper. Result: A and B tie.
A (left) and B (right) tie because they both played Paper.
Round 3: A plays Scissors, and B also plays Scissors. Result: A and B tie.
Overall, B lost this round. However, if B had paid attention to the research from Zhejiang University, the outcome could have been different.
Round 2:
Round 2: A plays Paper, and B will switch to Scissors. Result: B wins.
A (right) plays Paper and B (left) plays Scissors, so B wins.
Round 3: A plays Scissors, and B will switch to Rock. Result: B wins another round.
A (right) plays Scissors, and B (left) plays Rock, hence B wins.
From this experiment, you can derive the principle of the game: when you lose, you should change your strategy in a clockwise direction – swapping Rock for Paper, Paper for Scissors, and Scissors for Rock.
Researchers previously believed that this game operates under a theoretical principle known as “Nash Equilibrium.” According to this principle, each player has a set of optimal mixed strategies when they know the strategy choices of the other players. From this, they will choose a strategy they believe will effectively counter the strategy of the other player.
In larger studies, experts noted that players tend to arrange their choices in a cyclical pattern. This means that players can subtly use their ability to “condition their responses” to optimize their opponent’s strategy.
The researchers at Zhejiang University concluded: “Whether conditioned responses are a mechanism determined by the human brain or merely a consequence of neural mechanisms remains a challenging question for future researchers. Therefore, we will continue to seek answers to the unique activities of the brain.”
