Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Winning Algorithms For Rock, Paper, Scissors

Posted by timothy on from the win-bets-with-children dept.

Celarent Darii (1561999) writes "The probability of winning at Rock-Paper-Scissors is about 1 in 3. However, people do not play entirely randomly, a study has revealed. People tend to follow hidden patterns that can be used to win more games. A short article on the BBC gives hints on the strategies to be used to get a competitive advantage with your Rock-Scissors-Paper nemesis." Remember, these strategies are for use against people, not robots.

5 of 65 comments (clear)

  1. Re:This is useless by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This may come as a surprise to you, but you're not the only person in existence.

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  2. Wait. What? by typing+ape · · Score: 3, Interesting

    OK, so two people play this game, each has about the same chance of winning, and that chance is 1 in 3? BTW, nowhere in the original article does it state that.

    1. Re:Wait. What? by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 4, Funny

      When you play high stakes Rock, Paper, Scissors in a Casino in Las Vegas, the house wins on a tie. That's how they make their money.

      Also note that in Las Vegas, they can boot you for life for trying to "play smart", like just happened to Ben Affleck, for allegedly counting cards.

      It doesn't seem fair to me . . . if you are good at math, and can count cards, why shouldn't you be able to use your intellectual skills at a game?

      Those Las Vegas Casinos are discriminating against geeks. Someone outta sue.

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  3. Re:This is useless by Nkwe · · Score: 4, Funny

    When I play rock, paper, scissors with someone, we just play once unless it's a tie, so there are no patterns.

    If you play to the death there are no patterns either.

  4. Obligatory by QilessQi · · Score: 3, Funny

    Lisa's Brain: Poor predictable Bart. Always takes 'rock'.
    Bart's Brain: Good ol' 'rock'. Nothin' beats that!
    Bart: Rock!
    Lisa: Paper.
    Bart: D'oh!

    --
    Koans and fables for the software engineer