Rock Paper Scissors Online: Play Against the Computer
Play rock paper scissors online against the computer. Pick rock, paper or scissors, see what the computer throws and keep score as you go. Play a quick best of 3 or 5 to settle a decision, or switch on the Lizard Spock version for five-way battles. The computer picks with a fair random number generator, so it never cheats.
Quick answer: Rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, and paper beats rock. Click your move and the computer picks at the same moment. Choose “Best of 3” to settle a disagreement fairly.
How to play rock paper scissors online
- Pick Classic, or the five-move Lizard Spock version for more variety.
- Choose to keep playing or to play a best of 3, 5 or 7 match.
- Click rock, paper or scissors, or press R, P or S on your keyboard (L and K for lizard and Spock).
- Watch the score. Reset any time to start over.
Rock paper scissors rules
| Move | Beats | Loses to |
|---|---|---|
| ✊ Rock | Scissors (rock crushes scissors) | Paper |
| ✋ Paper | Rock (paper covers rock) | Scissors |
| ✌️ Scissors | Paper (scissors cut paper) | Rock |
If both players choose the same move, it is a tie and you play again.
Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock
This version, invented by Sam Kass and Karen Bryla and made famous by the TV show The Big Bang Theory, adds two moves so ties are rarer. Each move beats two others and loses to two:
- Scissors cuts paper, and decapitates lizard.
- Paper covers rock, and disproves Spock.
- Rock crushes lizard, and crushes scissors.
- Lizard poisons Spock, and eats paper.
- Spock smashes scissors, and vaporizes rock.
Is there a winning strategy?
Against this computer, no. It chooses each move with your browser’s cryptographic random number generator, so every option has exactly the same chance and past games do not affect the next one. Against people, studies suggest beginners often open with rock, and players who just lost tend to switch to the move that would have beaten their opponent’s last throw. Mixing up your moves at random is the only unbeatable plan.
More quick ways to decide: flip a coin, spin the yes or no wheel, roll the dice or ask the magic 8 ball.
FAQ
Is the computer really random?
Yes. It does not see your choice before picking, and it uses unbiased random numbers.
What is the game called in other countries?
It is also known as roshambo, scissors paper stone, and jan-ken in Japan, where it may have started.
More free games and tools
See all of them on the QuickOnlineTips free online tools page and the free online games page.