Here’s How to Win Your Next Crucial Rock, Paper, Scissors Battle
There are many strategies for winning a heated game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. As most people do, you can attempt randomization. You can take a more pyschological route and try to confuse your opponent. Or, if you’re not morally bound to peaceful interactions, you can try to physically intimidate any adversaries. Unfortunately, researchers say all of those strategies are wrong.
A team at China’s Zhejiang University studied the game only to find that there is a pattern to what option people choose, even when they are trying to keep selections randomized.
The study, which was published in MIT’s Technology Review, found that players who win a round tend to throw the same action the next round. Those who lose move to the next action in this order: rock, paper, scissors, rock, paper, and so on.
From Technology Review:
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That could be useful the next time you find yourself in a heated battle of rock, paper, scissors, but keep in mind the trend might not pan out unless you’re playing a best-of-375 series.
(H/T Policy Mic)
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