Scissors, Rock, Paper

The game originates from Japan, where the oldest forms of such games with manually represented symbols are dated to the 17th century. Scissors, Rock, Paper eventually developed in Japan in the 19th century, spread throughout Asia and then came to Europe.

Two players each choose one of the three possible symbols, scissors, rock or paper, and then display it simultaneously with one hand on command. Each symbol can win or lose against another, so one of the players is always the winner. A draw only occurs if both players choose the same symbol. In this case, the game is repeated.

The paper is represented by a flat hand, the symbol of the scissors is the spread index and middle finger, while the rock is symbolised by a fist. The scissors cut the paper (scissors wins), the paper wraps the rock (paper wins), and the rock blunts the scissors (rock wins).

There are also variations with more symbols, so the fourth symbol is the well. With the well, a circle is formed with the thumb and the remaining fingers. However, the well shifts the balance of the chances of winning, because the well wins against the rock and the scissors, which both fall into the well, but loses against the paper that covers the well.

The fifth gesture is the fire or match, which is represented by an outstretched index finger. It burns the paper and floats in the well, so it wins here. But it is smashed by the rock and cut by the scissors and thus loses.

According to Edward Lee Thorndike's law of effect, when players win, they tend to stay with the chosen symbol in the next round. If they lose or draw, they tend to choose a different symbol.