About the Rock Paper Scissors
Rock paper scissors is the quickest game for settling a dispute or passing a minute. Choose rock, paper or scissors, and the computer makes its own choice at random. The result is shown at once, and a running score keeps track of your wins, losses and draws until you press reset. The game runs in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere. Type your move: rock, paper or scissors and the rock paper scissors appears at once, with a few related figures underneath, and you can copy the result with one tap. The sums run in your browser, so nothing you enter is uploaded.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Rock Paper Scissors
- 1Enter your move: rock, paper or scissors.
- 2Pick the units or options from the menus if the rock paper scissors tool offers them.
- 3Read the rock paper scissors in the large result box.
- 4Look at the extra rows for related figures.
- 5Press Copy result to keep the answer.
When you need the rock paper scissors
Players use it to decide who goes first, to break ties, and for fun with children. Because the computer plays at random, no strategy of yours can beat it in the long run, which makes it a fair judge.
Against people, patterns help: many players open with rock, and often repeat the move that has just won. Against this computer, there is no pattern to find, since each move is independent of the one before.
How the rock paper scissors is worked out
Rock beats scissors, scissors beat paper and paper beats rock. The computer chooses each move with equal chance, using secure random numbers. If you choose paper and the computer picks rock, you win. If you both pick scissors, it is a draw. Over many games, each player can expect to win about one third of the rounds, lose one third and draw one third.
Every answer on this page comes from that one rule, so you can check any result by hand with a calculator. The figures shown underneath, such as other units, are conversions of the same answer.
- Running score
- Random computer moves
- Works on phone and computer
Mistakes to avoid with rock paper scissors
The score is kept on the page only and disappears when you leave or reload it. Reset clears the score and the last round. This is a one-player game against the computer. For a decision between several people, the Spin the Wheel tool may be a better fit.
On phone and computer
On a phone, type into the boxes one after another and read the rock paper scissors underneath; Copy result puts it on the clipboard for a message or a note. On a computer the inputs sit on the left and the answer on the right, so you can change one figure and watch the rock paper scissors move. The rock paper scissors works the same on both. For other chance games use the Coin Flip Simulator or Dice Roller, and the Answer Ball for quick answers.
Features
- No winning strategy against random play
- Score resets on reload
- Fair for tie-breaks
- Clear messages when the rock paper scissors inputs make no sense
- Copy the result with one tap
- Private: nothing is uploaded
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate rock paper scissors?
Rock beats scissors, scissors beat paper and paper beats rock. The computer chooses each move with equal chance, using secure random numbers. If you choose paper and the computer picks rock, you win. If you both pick scissors, it is a draw. Over many games, each player can expect to win about one third of the rounds, lose one third and draw one third.
What is the formula for rock paper scissors?
Rock beats scissors, scissors beat paper and paper beats rock. The computer chooses each move with equal chance, using secure random numbers. The rock paper scissors applies it exactly and rounds only the displayed answer to six significant figures.
What is the best strategy?
Against a random opponent there is none: each move wins one third of the time. Against people, vary your moves.
Who invented rock paper scissors?
The game is very old and appears in East Asia centuries ago; it is known as roshambo in some places.
Is the computer cheating?
No. It picks its move at random and does not see yours first.
Is this rock paper scissors free and private?
Yes. It is free, needs no account and runs in your browser, so the numbers you type are not uploaded or stored.