Winning at Rock Paper Scissors - Numberphile

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  • čas přidán 25. 01. 2015
  • Squarespace: www.squarespace.com/numberphile
    This video features Hannah Fry - / fryrsquared
    More links & stuff in full description below ↓↓↓
    More on this topic (and lizards): • Rock Paper LIZARDS - N...
    And even more on this topic: • Rock Paper Scissors (e...
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    Art and animation by Pete McPartlan
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    Videos by Brady Haran
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Komentáře • 3,6K

  • @anthoneeparker9521
    @anthoneeparker9521 Před 3 lety +7424

    I always play rock so someone can hold my hand for a bit 😢

  • @MrRake-jk5dq
    @MrRake-jk5dq Před 4 lety +6549

    Plot twist: Your opponent has also seen this video.

    • @flpmichel
      @flpmichel Před 3 lety +103

      Plot twist: there is no science about this. Its completely random and it depends only on luck/bad luck.

    • @rabidlorax1650
      @rabidlorax1650 Před 3 lety +196

      Felipe Michel there is a science behind this when humans play this game. There is literally Rock Paper Scissors tournaments, and the best players consistently win. If you have the same people winning every time it can’t be random. If someone consistently won the jackpot for the lottery it would be because he figured out how to beat it. Of course that doesn’t happen because the lottery is random.

    • @angry4rtichoke646
      @angry4rtichoke646 Před 3 lety +9

      Given the 3M views, I’d say that’s likely :)

    • @Rallarberg
      @Rallarberg Před 3 lety +34

      Lesson being, allways make the same play: On three, kick the opponent in the shin and run.

    • @IAMDARTHVADERBITCH
      @IAMDARTHVADERBITCH Před 3 lety +9

      Just pick one forever and eventually you'll have a 33% wi rate at least.

  • @camila.m.santos
    @camila.m.santos Před 3 lety +3363

    This why my friend and I tied 7 times straights and started thinking 5 steps a head and almost died from overthinking lol

    • @TheBrickagon
      @TheBrickagon Před 3 lety +45

      Princess bride logic I see 😂

    • @AidanRahder
      @AidanRahder Před 2 lety +21

      @ambassador yeah I used way too much brain power for that game

    • @yaboi7034
      @yaboi7034 Před 2 lety +36

      Just a regular chess player moment

    • @jaakezzz_G
      @jaakezzz_G Před 2 lety +3

      wow you must be very predictable lol

    • @dumbass3843
      @dumbass3843 Před 2 lety +1

      When you try to be smart and tell your friend you gonna play paper to throw him off
      Now you confuse yourself
      And tie 15 straight
      Yeah definetly didnt happened

  • @galaxsea9362
    @galaxsea9362 Před 4 lety +2977

    The fingers being bent and broken by the rock just makes me uncomfortable.

  • @ToTakiSuperSlime
    @ToTakiSuperSlime Před 7 lety +4733

    it becomes really weird when both people know this

    • @in_vas_por8810
      @in_vas_por8810 Před 7 lety +323

      Yup. This is when you go down the mindgame rabbit hole. The "what if" never ends. Thats why I try to play what I think is the most risky choice. I open up with paper. most people don't expect it. If I'm playing a person who is as tricky as me, I'll open up with scissors cause if they are strategic, they may choose paper.

    • @jes_us9
      @jes_us9 Před 7 lety +29

      it will become into a cycle

    • @davidvanderhoeven8647
      @davidvanderhoeven8647 Před 7 lety +154

      How on earth would picking paper at first be unexpected? There's only 3 choices.

    • @Monsolido
      @Monsolido Před 7 lety +77

      David Vanderhoeven It's an unspoken rule that paper is the least played sign, even more so on the first turn. Goes like 45% Scissor 35% Rock 20% Paper. Scissor is the default choice for most people. Paper is the last resort.

    • @colgatelampinen2501
      @colgatelampinen2501 Před 6 lety +72

      Most casuals never open with paper, which means people who try to beat the casuals always open with rock to minimize their chance of losing on first round. People trying to next level casual beaters, open with paper.

  • @Tohob
    @Tohob Před 8 lety +5680

    i just keep picking rock over and over again. people keep being like "surely he won't pick rock again" and go for scissors, but i keep picking rock. even if i lose. rock wins. rock always wins.

    • @Abdullah-ti1uy
      @Abdullah-ti1uy Před 8 lety +136

      +Tohob #TeamRock

    • @Kryptnyt
      @Kryptnyt Před 8 lety +374

      +Tohob Rock has metamorphic properties. You can always mulligan into scissors if your fingers are fast enough, and play it off like you have slow fingers.

    • @0_0cookies0_0
      @0_0cookies0_0 Před 8 lety +123

      I always go paper first because most of people go rock first.

    • @PupdudePwns
      @PupdudePwns Před 8 lety +14

      #TeamLizard

    • @ShardtheWolf
      @ShardtheWolf Před 8 lety +212

      Plus, if they play paper, you can punch them square in the jaw. Tell the responding police officer, they had paper, it SHOULD have protected them. Clearly, Rock beats paper AND scissors!

  • @Dusk-MTG
    @Dusk-MTG Před 3 lety +2036

    Losing as paper or scissors seems very painful, I'll just play rock over and over again.

    • @DaDitka
      @DaDitka Před 3 lety +27

      That's what Bart Simpson did one time...

    • @maldito_sudaka
      @maldito_sudaka Před 2 lety +38

      paper feels weak. Even scissors is more interesting since it's got a blade

    • @daanderks3570
      @daanderks3570 Před 2 lety +28

      meta abuser

    • @codonbyte
      @codonbyte Před rokem +5

      Honestly, bring an actual rock and piece of paper to the game and always choose rock. Then, when your opponent chooses paper, demonstrate how easily a rock can punch a hole in a piece of paper.

  • @ArtemisTherion
    @ArtemisTherion Před 2 lety +610

    This reminds me of a funny story. I had a coworker who I would play rock, paper, scissors with whenever we were trying to decide something between us. Who went on break first, who got the last drink in the fridge, ect. We would do this probably at least once a day, and for 6 years he always chose scissors with the intention that he should stick to his choice because eventually it will win. Coincidentally I also chose to stick with my strategy of playing rock and going on the longest winning streak ever in rock versus scissors.

    • @Runescapehalofreak
      @Runescapehalofreak Před 2 lety +77

      6 years?! Wow, that person and job must be very memorable for you. This also sounds like it would be an episode of The Office!

    • @amerikagaijin
      @amerikagaijin Před 2 lety +110

      Mayne he's getting used to you picking rock so one day he can wager something HUGE, and then beat you with paper.

    • @josephbilderback4549
      @josephbilderback4549 Před 2 lety +46

      @@amerikagaijin the long con

    • @ivocorte1580
      @ivocorte1580 Před 2 lety +30

      @@amerikagaijin But imagine choosing paper, attempting to outsmart him when that time finally comes only to lose against... fricking scissors.

    • @amerikagaijin
      @amerikagaijin Před 2 lety +8

      @@ivocorte1580 lol! That would be great!

  • @MrDeeb8
    @MrDeeb8 Před 7 lety +4862

    The rock on Hannah's finger defeats us all.

  • @Arturo-Peredo
    @Arturo-Peredo Před 6 lety +782

    I love how the animation of the kids shows them getting progressively more sad

    • @Adarsh_amd
      @Adarsh_amd Před 2 lety +3

      thanks, i missed it

    • @Postermaestro
      @Postermaestro Před 2 lety +1

      hahaha why

    • @memelissa7169
      @memelissa7169 Před 2 lety +2

      They're in China, so yeah

    • @FEScarf
      @FEScarf Před 2 lety +1

      @@memelissa7169 it's not that deep

    • @memelissa7169
      @memelissa7169 Před 2 lety

      @@FEScarf The real reason they're sad is you haven't uploaded the next letter yet

  • @CreamySpoon
    @CreamySpoon Před 3 lety +559

    "Rock flies right through paper!"
    "Then what beats rock?"
    "Nothing beats rock!"

    • @antongustafsson1776
      @antongustafsson1776 Před 3 lety +11

      Except METAL

    • @Luna-xe1nd
      @Luna-xe1nd Před 3 lety +18

      Classical does:)

    • @irrelevant_noob
      @irrelevant_noob Před 3 lety +7

      Spock beats Rock. ;-) (Well, technically it's "vaporizes" but still.)

    • @Michael-mt6yb
      @Michael-mt6yb Před 2 lety +1

      Scissors cuts a hole in the paper at the last second…Scissors win

    • @AidanRahder
      @AidanRahder Před 2 lety +2

      @@irrelevant_noob I forget the justification for a lizard beating spock

  • @bubblegumstudios1179
    @bubblegumstudios1179 Před rokem +21

    Here’s a thing: so I’ve realized that often people find the need to NOT play any duplicates. If you go and play against someone who never duplicates, play whatever would lose to what they just played. This guarantees you either getting a point or having a draw. If you lose the first match, go backwards until you win, and then use this strategy. In the end, you’re opponent will only get points from either the beginning or any duplicates you play.

  • @omargoodman2999
    @omargoodman2999 Před 7 lety +902

    If you ask them a question just before they throw, most people will reflexively throw rock. Also, if you throw rock and lose, your hand is already conveniently made into a fist.

    • @minecraftninja1622
      @minecraftninja1622 Před 7 lety +48

      I always thought it produced scissors. And it always does so...

    • @kennoquick
      @kennoquick Před 7 lety +2

      Omar Goodman I got it, in like 5 seconds

    • @raphaelraj2007
      @raphaelraj2007 Před 6 lety +10

      But you're also usually accustomed to saying rock paper and scissors last so you might reflexively throw in a scissor first

    • @SMFizzy
      @SMFizzy Před 6 lety +3

      +Longnall Sapuel Everytime i played we said scissors, paper, rock

    • @lukaskennedy7946
      @lukaskennedy7946 Před 5 lety

      Ha

  • @directoryerror6653
    @directoryerror6653 Před 7 lety +1322

    TL;DW:
    If you lose, play what wasn't played
    If you win, play what they just played

    • @theramendutchman
      @theramendutchman Před 7 lety +24

      Go for rock first.
      At the third time, reverse.
      Go for Win-Tie situations rather than Win-Lose or Tie-Lose.
      Avoid looking up RPS-101.
      Cheating through perception is always an option.

    • @unic0de-yvr
      @unic0de-yvr Před 6 lety +15

      In other words, go R, S, P, R, S, P, R, S etc. forever without even paying attention to what happened last round

    • @JBehnen
      @JBehnen Před 6 lety +85

      No, go R, E, S, P, E, C, T.

    • @henryviii4629
      @henryviii4629 Před 5 lety +7

      @@unic0de-yvr seeing as rock is the most popular, I go P,R,S

    • @TheAllecool
      @TheAllecool Před 5 lety +5

      JBehnen is this a new version of Sheldon’s Rock Paper Scissors lizard Spock?

  • @BUFU1610
    @BUFU1610 Před 3 lety +55

    Interestingly enough in world championships (yeah, I don't know either..) the best players randomly choose a series and then stupidly play it without thinking about it twice. Before the later stages though, they basically crawl into their opponents' minds and have almost psychic abilities to predict their next move (like the "I won - I use it again!" thing here that happens mostly unconsciously). But at a certain point it is too risky to rely on that and random beats the prediction. Their opponents can't read their unconscious mind if they stick to random.

    • @christopherwellman2364
      @christopherwellman2364 Před 11 měsíci

      What's the trophy look like?

    • @Donbros
      @Donbros Před 5 měsíci +1

      @@christopherwellman2364maybe you get ticket to rock concert, diploma and scissors just for fun

    • @christopherwellman2364
      @christopherwellman2364 Před 5 měsíci

      @@Donbros idk but I like that idea

  • @7isntitobvious7
    @7isntitobvious7 Před 2 lety +107

    Another thing I've noticed: People often pick Scissors on their first time, because it's the last thing you say before you make your decision. I'll even drive it in deeper by asking my opponent "do we go on scissors, like rock paper scissors, or do we go on shoot, like rock paper scissors shoot? How about on scissors?" So at this point they've heard the word scissors about 4 times. So picking rock first is a great foundation with this tactic, and then you can apply game theory for the proceeding matches.

    • @exiledknight3961
      @exiledknight3961 Před 2 lety +16

      Actually i read the study and its says men will play rock 90 percent of the time as their opener.

    • @linebeck1381
      @linebeck1381 Před 2 lety +5

      This is untrue because most people play rock on their first throw.

    • @siderealbeast
      @siderealbeast Před 2 lety +1

      Will Smith and Margot Robbie made a movie about that assumption

    • @deltaone2837
      @deltaone2837 Před 2 lety

      @@siderealbeast Wait,
      The diversion movie thing was about Rock Paper Scissors?
      Why'd nobody tell me that?

    • @fetterkeks2796
      @fetterkeks2796 Před 2 lety +2

      In Germany we go "Scissors Rock Paper", so it'd be interesting to see if there was any statistical difference there

  • @e-nsecure
    @e-nsecure Před 5 lety +3646

    i lost 3 grand with this strategy. Thank you

  • @ZiVazier
    @ZiVazier Před 9 lety +316

    Used these tips against my 15 year old little sister and it was disastrous, we played for 10 rounds, I only won the first one. she never stopped laughing at me knowing that I told her I'd never lose at all. Thank you Numberphile.
    PS: My sister sucks at RPS.

    • @___________2204
      @___________2204 Před 8 lety +47

      ZiVazier Actually, often these are psychological wars and mind games playing about. Just because you know this "tactic" doesn't mean you will win. In games like RPS, you have to be smart. You really can't use the tip in the video on anyone, say that they heard the same tip that you just did? That means you have to find your own pattern.
      P.S. seeming to not have a pattern to confuse your opponent is also a skill. Haha!

    • @oraletsnorter
      @oraletsnorter Před 6 lety +5

      i say that i'll do rock, then they think that i'll do something else like paper or scissors, so they do paper or rock, if they do paper, i lose and i say "at least i say the truth" if they do scissors and i win, i'll repeat that 1-2 times, then i'll say that i will do scissors, but i'll make paper, they will be confused and i'll continue like that 1-2 times more, then i'll switch tactics again. if you play 10 times, its guaranteed that you'll win at least 7 of them

    • @casimiriii5941
      @casimiriii5941 Před 6 lety +8

      If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.
      ~Sun Tzu, Art of War

  • @RyanGerhardtYimimoto
    @RyanGerhardtYimimoto Před 4 lety +37

    I am no one to be trifled with. I have spent the past few years building up an immunity to rock.

  • @yorkshire_tea_innit8097
    @yorkshire_tea_innit8097 Před rokem +7

    The trick is to know what kind of person your opponents think you are, and if you're flustered, just pick one randomly. Also people often get trapped in between using 2 and ignoring the 3rd option, in which case you cant lose the hand. If people look strong, they are likely to pick rock, but you have to know what kind of player they are because if they saw that you saw they would pick rock, they will go scissors. You have to know if they are are +1 thinker of a +2 thinker, often if they lose they will +1 to their thinking, if they win they sometimes stay the same and sometimes +1, which means once again you cant lose the hand. Im like 20/0 in this game in my life. Check me out.
    Another sure fire way to win, is to keep playing until you're ahead. Best of 3, no best 5, best of 7? You need a lot of games to swim in the opponents brain sometimes.

  • @erictaylor5462
    @erictaylor5462 Před 8 lety +143

    So if they haven't seen this video, follow the strategy. If they have seen this video you should reverse the strategy, But if they know that you know they have seen the video, you should follow it. But if you know that they know that you know. they saw this video then you should reverse it.
    For some reason I feel a very strong need to shout "Inconceivable!"

  • @TwoCraZyEyes0
    @TwoCraZyEyes0 Před 7 lety +393

    1:20, he had a left right hand...

  • @adraedin
    @adraedin Před rokem +4

    I recalled seeing this a few years back - I forgot a lot of the mechanics/math/theory except for the "play what they just played" part. So, I took that little info, and challenged a friend to RPS and beat them 8 times in a row. They were as stunned as I was. It doesn't work every time, but it is fairly consistent.
    In practice, or rather - from personal experience - I think simply picking one "rule/strategy" and following it every time is the way to go instead of trying to anticipate your opponents next move based off a large/changing dataset.
    AIso, found it VERY entertaining to watch my opponents essentially "playing against themselves" while I did a minimal amount of work/calculating.

  • @daeru0125
    @daeru0125 Před 2 lety +16

    "If you just've won, now, they're going to expect you to play the same thing again, right? Which means they're gonna play the thing that would beat the thing that you just played. So you need to play the thing that would beat the thing that would beat the thing that you just played" - Hannah 2015
    words to live by.

    • @jaakezzz_G
      @jaakezzz_G Před 2 lety

      the most obvious common sense to ever be common

  • @Koploper77
    @Koploper77 Před 8 lety +955

    "If you lose, that means the other person has won, right?"

    • @geekyvors2837
      @geekyvors2837 Před 8 lety +104

      nope its causes a paradox which may result in unraveling the fabric of time space

    • @franciscoioimperadordaaust824
      @franciscoioimperadordaaust824 Před 7 lety +28

      Not really, maybe another person won and the one in front of you is a illusion. You can't know...

    • @potatoserver9282
      @potatoserver9282 Před 6 lety +3

      So? Pretty much the same when you try to prove in geometry. like the reflexive property .

    • @Tzzzmadiik
      @Tzzzmadiik Před 5 lety

      Geeky Vors n

    • @markiyanhapyak349
      @markiyanhapyak349 Před 5 lety +3

      Why did You write this?

  • @Slaphappy1975
    @Slaphappy1975 Před 9 lety +8989

    Can you please now delete this video so that I have an advantage over the rest of humanity. Thank you :)

    • @yashagarwal8249
      @yashagarwal8249 Před 9 lety +103

      Ahaahhahahahhahahaahhahaahaahahahahahhaahhahahahahahahahahah
      I laughed way too hard at this! XD

    • @EazyDuz18
      @EazyDuz18 Před 9 lety +10

      Yash Agarwal loser

    • @vroxxzz
      @vroxxzz Před 8 lety +62

      +Eazy that was unnecessarily mean. There's no need for name-calling when comments are made in jest... especially not on a numberphile video.

    • @grapheist612
      @grapheist612 Před 7 lety +135

      I think your real advantage on the rest of humanity is that you're watching math videos on CZcams.

    • @Wowzate
      @Wowzate Před 7 lety +27

      *laughs in foreign language*

  • @Adigenzyzz
    @Adigenzyzz Před 2 lety +51

    I still remember that day when my right hand won against my left hand.
    That one win really changed my life.

  • @jameswhitley4101
    @jameswhitley4101 Před 2 lety

    I have been using these methods for a while and found them to be quite useful, but its also important to profile you're opponent and figure out how far they are likely to think ahead-- you've always got to be one step further.

  • @KasabianFan44
    @KasabianFan44 Před 9 lety +1511

    What about Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock?

    • @numberphile
      @numberphile  Před 9 lety +138

      ***** check the extra footage at Numberphile2

    • @KasabianFan44
      @KasabianFan44 Před 9 lety +29

      Numberphile Haha, I knew you would include it somewhere :)

    • @Imyubel
      @Imyubel Před 9 lety +79

      Numberphile
      what about rock paper scissors lizard spock spiderman batman wizard glock?

    • @BaboonLoverTV
      @BaboonLoverTV Před 9 lety +6

      What about RPS 101?

    • @dcsob
      @dcsob Před 9 lety +12

      ***** I have a 27 way version. it has dragon and volcano and 22 other great things. or maybe its 21 way and there are 16 other things

  • @breazy1648
    @breazy1648 Před 5 lety +321

    If Hannah did every video, I’d be a math whiz by now!

  • @SeetaRaam2024
    @SeetaRaam2024 Před rokem +2

    Went to play with my lil brother, feeling confident. Lost 8times in a row. Now I am watching it again.

  • @samuelaraujomedeiros6682
    @samuelaraujomedeiros6682 Před 2 lety +8

    When I was in mid school I had a similar strategy to win at odds and evens. I had the impression that when your opponent chooses odds or evens, they're more likely to play a number which matches their choice. In this way, you'd always be more likely to win if you played and odd number. This is probably just an impression, but I remember winning a lot at odds and evens when I used that strategy.

  • @elliest55
    @elliest55 Před 7 lety +95

    This video and the paper it is based on is likely to create an observer's paradox effect, where by observing people's behaviour in r-p-s and by explaining the winning strategies it is changing the way people think about the game thus changing the winning strategies. The people who wrote the paper should write a follow-up paper with the same experimental design except having given all the participants a summary of their previous findings.

    • @jackbrand4507
      @jackbrand4507 Před 4 lety +4

      elliest 55 now that would be next level

  • @SnootchieBootchies27
    @SnootchieBootchies27 Před 5 lety +315

    I've already been using this strategy for years. 60% of the time, it works every time.

    • @fbn7766
      @fbn7766 Před 3 lety +79

      "60%of the time, it works every time"... 😂😂😂😂

    • @sumans7620
      @sumans7620 Před 3 lety +5

      Ah, a portal reference

    • @SnootchieBootchies27
      @SnootchieBootchies27 Před 3 lety +27

      @@sumans7620 is it? I thought it was a Ron Burgundy reference...

    • @hameed
      @hameed Před 2 lety +1

      @@sumans7620 no

    • @txg_andrew3962
      @txg_andrew3962 Před 2 lety

      So it doesn't work everytime😭

  • @RicardoMontee
    @RicardoMontee Před 2 lety +3

    0:33 haha, I forgot about that whole child labour experiment thing in the paper!

  • @dr.downvote
    @dr.downvote Před 2 lety +1

    This whole video gives "Let's just say I have a friend who knows a guy who knows another guy" vibes

  • @Talamare
    @Talamare Před 7 lety +652

    But it's so simple. All I have to do is divine from what I know of you: are you the sort of man who would put the poison into his own goblet or his enemy's? Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet, because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I am not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool, you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me. Because iocane comes from Australia, as everyone knows, and Australia is entirely peopled with criminals, and criminals are used to having people not trust them, as you are not trusted by me, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. You've beaten my giant, which means you're exceptionally strong, so you could've put the poison in your own goblet, trusting on your strength to save you, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But, you've also bested my Spaniard, which means you must have studied, and in studying you must have learned that man is mortal, so you would have put the poison as far from yourself as possible, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.

    • @Bane_questionmark
      @Bane_questionmark Před 7 lety +61

      They were both poisoned.

    • @Talamare
      @Talamare Před 7 lety +78

      ***** He actually did solve it. "You've beaten my giant, which means you're exceptionally strong, so you could've put the poison in your own goblet, trusting on your strength to save you"
      It's technically what he did.

    • @CraftBasti
      @CraftBasti Před 7 lety +27

      Well that's why you clink glasses so that both splash into one another - either you both die or non of you. Combine that with the rule of the host drinking first to maximize your chances for this.
      Now, it one of you is allergic to something the other isn't, you shouldn't drink anything at all. Same goes if there is poisen the other could have used the anti-poisen on himself.
      ...
      You know what, I'll eat all by myself from now on.

    • @dragonfyre1589
      @dragonfyre1589 Před 7 lety +22

      This might be the best comment I've ever read.

    • @figeon
      @figeon Před 6 lety +8

      This has to become a copypasta.

  • @allluckyseven
    @allluckyseven Před 9 lety +6

    I'm distracted by her beauty and great handwriting and good humour.
    More of her, please.
    edit: oh, oh, and her voice.

  • @kalebbradburn5298
    @kalebbradburn5298 Před 4 lety +32

    numberphile has 3.14 million subs...

    • @pedroivog.s.6870
      @pedroivog.s.6870 Před 3 lety

      They should have made an special video

    • @LEO-mb9dl
      @LEO-mb9dl Před 3 lety

      yeah....... they lost 1 after this video...

  • @eldermartins130
    @eldermartins130 Před 2 lety +4

    I always play rock. I'm a guitarrist.

  • @hampusgunnarsson8389
    @hampusgunnarsson8389 Před 6 lety +191

    Would be interesting to see a study of how, if in any way, utilizing these techniques affects the opponents way of playing, and therefore the efficiency of the techniques

    • @Vern01
      @Vern01 Před 2 lety +5

      That’s what I was thinking. If they figure out your strategy, it’s useless

    • @minimushrooom
      @minimushrooom Před 2 lety +5

      @@Vern01 well if they also know this strategy then it's likely they'd only be certain you also know it after 3 goes. So if you start off winning, then they choose what your last move was twice (and also lose twice) then by the 4th move they'd think they need to shift to playing what you just played, essentially reversing the rules, so you can one up them and play what wasn't played last round. After that just call it quits

  • @chickenking1753
    @chickenking1753 Před 7 lety +316

    Cant beat me if you don't have hands

  • @JamesScholes
    @JamesScholes Před rokem +1

    I find letting your opponent go first is the best strategy.

  • @othercalvin
    @othercalvin Před 4 lety +20

    Her handwriting is so beautiful. Mine looks like a 3 year old's handwriting lmao.

  • @shabirparwaz
    @shabirparwaz Před 9 lety +7

    Glad people are providing useful comments as to which visitor they were and when their reply was placed. Really helpful, thanks!

  • @superstringcheese
    @superstringcheese Před 7 lety +256

    I want this girl's voice for my Siri.

    • @jaysterling26
      @jaysterling26 Před 3 lety +4

      Dr Fry does have the most mellifluous voice.

  • @milanesaurio4937
    @milanesaurio4937 Před rokem +1

    I was delighted with this video, I saw it more than 3 times. When I was going to see it the fourth time I realized that it was muted.

  • @diabeticjesus87
    @diabeticjesus87 Před 3 lety +69

    That's just a theory. A GAME THEORY!

  • @hazemhassan8422
    @hazemhassan8422 Před 9 lety +207

    But what about if the person I'm playing against already knows this strategy? Doesn't that put me in trouble because he can make a strategy against this?

    • @numberphile
      @numberphile  Před 9 lety +266

      Hazem Hassan but what if you know that they know that you know!?

    • @Styleth
      @Styleth Před 9 lety +80

      Numberphile Illuminati comfirmed!

    • @dragan176
      @dragan176 Před 9 lety +12

      Numberphile But what if they know that?

    • @AuroraSymphony
      @AuroraSymphony Před 9 lety +4

      Numberphile Yes, RPS is rooted in complex game psychology. /sarcasm

    • @Markus9705
      @Markus9705 Před 9 lety +3

      Numberphile Then you know that they know that you know that they know that you know!

  • @Kodlaken
    @Kodlaken Před 7 lety +615

    Scissors cuts Paper, Paper covers Rock, Rock crushes Lizard, Lizard poisons Spock, Spock smashes Scissors, Scissors decapitates Lizard, Lizard eats Paper, Paper disproves Spock, Spock vaporizes Rock, (and as it always has) Rock crushes Scissors.

    • @buybymail
      @buybymail Před 5 lety +12

      Kodlaken I watched this video to see if this came up in the comments.

    • @mrsavedbygrace2569
      @mrsavedbygrace2569 Před 4 lety +27

      Thank you Dr Cooper

    • @stevethea5250
      @stevethea5250 Před 4 lety +3

      @@buybymail i love girls handwriting 1:54

    • @santanu7849
      @santanu7849 Před 4 lety +9

      I am sorry can you please repeat again?😂

    • @Sychonut
      @Sychonut Před 4 lety

      Now that's a game I can behind.

  • @vanibandodkar31415
    @vanibandodkar31415 Před 4 lety +10

    That handwriting tho 😍

  • @Ottuln
    @Ottuln Před 9 lety +77

    Veesh, this strategy is a logical fallacy of generalization. The assumption that statistical data represents any particular individual. The strategy presented is sound according to game theory only for the second turn as, after that occurrence, you will have more information on the particular individual's tendencies, and should adjust according to that information.

    • @Ottuln
      @Ottuln Před 9 lety +2

      *****
      Which is essentially what I said above : D

    • @Frankotronify
      @Frankotronify Před 9 lety +40

      You are making a fallacy fallacy, disregarding the general behavior of people which has been supported by statistical evidence is unreasonable and irrational. Someday, if you keep on studying philosophy, you will understand that fallacies don't disprove an argument and that fallacies are not equivalent with lies. For example, say you go to the doctor and he tells you something which you repeat to your friend. He will accuse you of making a blind loyalty fallacy because you trust someone in a position of authority. This does not make you wrong, and in fact you will probably be right if you trust the doctor. You see what I mean?

    • @pantsrevolutions
      @pantsrevolutions Před 9 lety +12

      Frankotronify As someone who studied epistemology in undergrand, THANK YOU! I am kind of sick of the people who have the fallacy table always pulled up in a second tab, thinking they are doing the world some justice by "disproving" everyone's arguments.

    • @Bleagle
      @Bleagle Před 9 lety +1

      You're right, you should definitely consider the new/individual information acquired each additional round and then adjust your strategy.
      But if your opponent plays similar to the average player (which is of course most likely), these 'new' informations won't be that valuable.

    • @Ottuln
      @Ottuln Před 9 lety +3

      Frankotronify I don't recall saying this was a lie, only that the scope of the argument is limited, and based on a logical fallacy, ie: the assumption that a particular individual will be represented by group data.
      Playing this strategy beyond the second turn results in a unbalanced game state that will quickly revert to the standard random 1/3 nash equilbrium solution. In addition, by adding in the information presented in the video, either both players are aware of these tendencies, and will work to remove the flaw in their games and be aware of the other person doing so as well, resulting in standard R-P-S game play or we are playing a new game of imperfect and unbalanced information that only casually resembles R-P-S, though multiple iterations will still end up being the same game.
      Mr. Pants,
      Thank you for the condescension, but some of us can actually identify fallacious arguments without reference material. This is a mathematics channel, and the information being presented is expected to have a mathematically provable, and thus logically sound, base. Standard logical arguments can be rendered as equations, with fallacies resulting in an error. Calling attention to such a fallacy is not:
      "thinking they are doing the world some justice by "disproving" everyone's arguments. "
      though I would enjoy your oh-so-studied epistomological review of which common internet fallacy you are indulging in here : D

  • @NbaLive4ever
    @NbaLive4ever Před rokem +2

    Randomly came across this video on my watch later list that I added from years ago 😂

  • @mjpennell1603
    @mjpennell1603 Před 4 lety +3

    the goal of rock paper scissors (when there's nothing riding on it) for me now is to get as many draws in a row as possible. everybody wins and you can go back to that specific five minutes at age six when you thought you were magic/telepathic

  • @nPhlames
    @nPhlames Před 6 lety +28

    "Patrick, how come you always choose paper?"
    Legit strats

  • @ZoggFromBetelgeuse
    @ZoggFromBetelgeuse Před 9 lety +48

    At 1:11, you claim that if you are playing against a computer who is chosing perfectly randomly (implying that he doesn't analyze the player strategy at all), the "best strategy" would be to pick each strategy with equal probability.
    But why would this mixed strategy be better than any pure strategy (say, playing always scissors)? Wouldn't both strategies have an equal winning chance (fort each turn 1/3 win, 1/3 draw, 1/3 lose)?

    • @VinitBavishi
      @VinitBavishi Před 9 lety +24

      I think what they meant was you cant have any advantage with any strategy against a computer... do whatever you want.

    • @Markus9705
      @Markus9705 Před 9 lety

      If you picked just one hand and kept on playing it, you'd end up winning 1/3 of the times.

    • @aetius31
      @aetius31 Před 9 lety +1

      Hey Zogg nice to see you!
      Same (kind of) question as above , do you plan to post a new episode soon?

    • @ZoggFromBetelgeuse
      @ZoggFromBetelgeuse Před 9 lety +4

      Depends how narrow you define "soon".

    • @Mothuzad
      @Mothuzad Před 9 lety +2

      Correct. If your opponent chooses randomly, there is no dominant strategy. Dominant strategies only exist when there's bias. That is, any information you have about your opponent's bias gives you some advantage. Just don't let them know how you plan to use that information, or the same effect applies in reverse.

  • @perkele1989
    @perkele1989 Před 4 lety

    The trick is learning how smart different kids are, and how far they tend to predict your moves, and then just try to be 1 step ahead. I was a damn champ in rock paper scissors in preschool for this reason!

  • @axscs1178
    @axscs1178 Před 2 lety +3

    Hannah Fry!! One of my favourite mathematicians ❤️

  • @ZezimaTruth
    @ZezimaTruth Před 7 lety +37

    Every time they write on that paper with those markers, my body shivers.

  • @CBMaster2
    @CBMaster2 Před 9 lety +602

    Did they really have to do a 300 person experiment to find that out? I've been doing that since I was like 10

    • @Slithy
      @Slithy Před 9 lety +385

      No, they did it to have statistical evidence.

    • @CBMaster2
      @CBMaster2 Před 9 lety +79

      ***** when it comes to rock-paper-scissor, yes

    • @brekkoh
      @brekkoh Před 9 lety +2

      Well you probably play differently as you age I imagine...

    • @Evija3000
      @Evija3000 Před 9 lety +4

      300 people for two hours... think of how many instances of "rock paper scissors" happened. I understand the need for lots of data, but that seems a bit over the top.

    • @qman1314
      @qman1314 Před 9 lety +33

      ***** 54,000 instances. There are two students per round.

  • @url4345
    @url4345 Před 2 lety +4

    There’s something else called conditioning which I expect would be in effect here.
    The first things you win with are weighted more in your opponents mind than further things.
    If you get lucky and win with rock say 3/5 of the first rounds, your opponent will be wary of you playing rock after that, so more likely to pick paper. Thus, after getting lucky with something, you can switch to the thing that counters your opponents counter, and continue to beat them!

  • @Yoyomeyo
    @Yoyomeyo Před 4 lety +4

    I was at a camp once where we played rock paper scissors with whoever we crossed paths with around the room. If you won, you'd stand up; if you lost, you'd kneel. Keep doing this with different people and if you won 3 in a row, you'd stop playing and stand by the side. I noticed 2 things: 1) I kept losing. I might win one but then I'd lose the next one. 2) Everyone (including me) kept picking rock, sometimes scissors but almost never paper. So I just started using paper instead and suddenly started winning

  • @ivanmatz5812
    @ivanmatz5812 Před 9 lety +75

    This is so wrong, the chinese students wouldn't have those eyes

  • @karlboud88
    @karlboud88 Před 9 lety +55

    SHE SAID GAME THEORY!

    • @mitchelnext1
      @mitchelnext1 Před 9 lety +45

      but that's just a theory... a GAME THEORY!

    • @CDeuce152
      @CDeuce152 Před 9 lety +4

      The Game Theorists They calling you out with rock paper scissors.

    • @justinlindfors8512
      @justinlindfors8512 Před 9 lety +6

      mitchelnext1 Thanks for watching!

    • @Badmuthaa
      @Badmuthaa Před 9 lety

      ***** tis mere banter my friend

    • @Markus9705
      @Markus9705 Před 9 lety

      mitchelnext1 Damn those game theory-ist and there materialistic manta!

  • @alemobra5747
    @alemobra5747 Před 2 dny +1

    and that's why i always play rock paper scissors lizard spock

  • @masterlangtau
    @masterlangtau Před 2 lety

    "But you must have known I was not a great fool, you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me."

  • @jordantistetube
    @jordantistetube Před 7 lety +27

    I wouldn't have been surprised if the animation and artwork had been made by Terry Gilliam.

  • @unbounder
    @unbounder Před 9 lety +13

    This entire episode was explained in 3 minutes by Sora from No Game, No Life - an anime about a world based around gaming. Its moreso complex rational thinking than a 'scientific finding'. If the creator/director of an animated show can think like this, then scientists call it science, then people's views on science have certainly wavered over the years. Lol.

    • @berzerius
      @berzerius Před 9 lety +4

      Too bad the show creator is trapped in plagiarism issues. The show is great. The Shiritori game with Jibril was the best anime experience I ever had.

    • @robinvik1
      @robinvik1 Před 9 lety +3

      Science is just empiricism.

    • @666unknowndevil666
      @666unknowndevil666 Před 9 lety +3

      Berzerius "Lithosphere!"
      Everything after was pure genius. Actually, everything was genius after he said "atom bomb".

    • @federicoromani21
      @federicoromani21 Před 9 lety +2

      Don't want to sound like a douche but i came up with this tactic when i was a kid to exploit it against my friends so it's not that complex.
      The difference is that this study got it rationalised and backed it up with actual data.

    • @Kyuutoryuu
      @Kyuutoryuu Před 9 lety

      Please don't reference anime that just involve the protagonist always coming out on top. Such anime are usually drab... as was NGNL

  • @Ggdivhjkjl
    @Ggdivhjkjl Před 4 lety +1

    This is clearly the most important video on CZcams.

  • @nemiloszorka1162
    @nemiloszorka1162 Před rokem

    That's why we play "Well, Paper, Scissors": paper covers the well, scissors fall into well, and scissors cut the paper.

  • @theM4R4T
    @theM4R4T Před 7 lety +30

    Most of the time I lose I don't change my "item", because I think they think I am going to change it.

  • @IaMSpeaks
    @IaMSpeaks Před 9 lety +3

    Mr. Mcpartlan, Thank-You for the visuals, I like the effects.

  • @1Girl248
    @1Girl248 Před 4 lety +2

    ah, i remember the time i had to play with someone and we got five ties. i can't remember if it was all "going back by one" until i beat him on the sixth turn by repeating my choice or if we happened to repeat our signs once before the end and i had to go up by one. impressed the classmates for sure and i got the perk of whatever we were playing for

  • @stealthknife9158
    @stealthknife9158 Před 3 lety +17

    I'd would be interesting to see if someone who actually used this strategy had an advantage over someone who has never heard of it.

    • @VivekYadav-ds8oz
      @VivekYadav-ds8oz Před 3 lety +6

      Formally stating the strategy makes it look very genius, but all it is, is just 2 level deep thinking. So an average person would crack your algorithm within 2-3 rounds, max, because this is a very intuitive algorithm.

  • @XfinityCubing
    @XfinityCubing Před 8 lety +23

    lol, at my school, everyone says "rock rock rock rock" and then they play paper, since the other person usually gets confused and then plays rock since you said "rock rock rock rock, though it only works the first time you do it

  • @deeluve22
    @deeluve22 Před 6 lety +12

    "Which is the equivalent of saying you need to play what they just played."
    Actually lol'ed!

  • @suricato7391
    @suricato7391 Před 2 lety +1

    Plot twist: Since I don't have any friends my matches are always a draw because I play in front of the mirror.

  • @chocomilo4420
    @chocomilo4420 Před 2 lety +1

    I've seen this video 18 times. I dont like RPS, I just love looking at you. So beautiful

  • @R3fug333
    @R3fug333 Před 9 lety +49

    This makes no sense at all. If I win with Rock, I won't play Rock again. Who does that?

    • @TheSloveniaGuy
      @TheSloveniaGuy Před 9 lety +48

      ***** 360 no scope?

    • @Checkm8isFEELINGood
      @Checkm8isFEELINGood Před 9 lety +2

      Tilen Medved ninja defuse

    • @xmann96
      @xmann96 Před 9 lety +19

      Tilen Medved 2 pi no scope

    • @thewizardninja
      @thewizardninja Před 9 lety +6

      The average person, apparently. You obviously have to determine whether or not your opponent is an "average person" or not for these methods to work. You might need to think 2 or 3 steps forward if your opponent knows what they're doing.

    • @pablossjui
      @pablossjui Před 9 lety +4

      if you think about it, maybe you won't do it, but if you're not playing "with a strategy" and just for fun, you might do it without knowing it

  • @schmitty918
    @schmitty918 Před 6 lety +264

    I’m a simple guy. I see Hannah Fry and i click.

  • @Questiala124
    @Questiala124 Před dnem

    if I lose I mimic the opponents move, if I win I play the move we both didn't play, if I tie I play anything other than what I just played.

  • @adityachoudhary1637
    @adityachoudhary1637 Před 3 lety

    win or lose I always play first chosen sign multiple times (>=3 times for games with 5 or more turns). This tends to create a bias in their mind that I will play the same sign for the non-strategic player and the strategic player gets confused about whether I am bluffing or double bluffing. This gives me a chance to analyze their moves and play further.
    Not best for everyone but has worked for me till now :)

  • @ZoggFromBetelgeuse
    @ZoggFromBetelgeuse Před 9 lety +5

    According to Earthling scientists (Kahnemann & al.), your famous "Intuition" is basically pattern recognition. When you use the "always go backwards" strategy against an Earthling, isn't there the danger that the Earthling's intuition learns inconsciently to recognize the "backwards" pattern and hence to predict your next move?

  • @onwul
    @onwul Před 9 lety +3

    When I was young and I played rock paper scissors, I kind of figured the strategy described in the video. I thought it was reasonably obvious and known...

  • @calebshepherd8435
    @calebshepherd8435 Před 2 lety

    I wasn’t ready for those hand graphics at the beginning. Mangled hands everywhere

  • @BlueEyesWhiteBoy
    @BlueEyesWhiteBoy Před 4 lety +1

    It's a game of skill
    The guy who won the 200 man tournament won again the next year and even again the year after that
    If everyone played a random strategy, 200^3 is 8,000,000 to 1, the odds of that event being one of pure chance

  • @-yeme-
    @-yeme- Před 8 lety +799

    it took considerable restraint to avoid making a totally inappropriate comment on this video

    • @6884
      @6884 Před 8 lety +133

      I'm just falling in love every time. Does this count as inappropriate?

    • @dstutz
      @dstutz Před 7 lety +100

      This comment could actually still be considered totally inappropriate, for what it's worth

    • @renzokukenleneyoyo522
      @renzokukenleneyoyo522 Před 7 lety +17

      Amazing & amazingly beautiful

    • @subvertedfetus7765
      @subvertedfetus7765 Před 6 lety +28

      you lose by asking

    • @BC3012
      @BC3012 Před 6 lety +1

      😩

  • @nomarsenrab
    @nomarsenrab Před 9 lety +4

    Good ole rock, nothing beats that

    • @jjbuckley
      @jjbuckley Před 9 lety

      Poor, predictable Raphael deLaghetto

    • @B3nnub1rd
      @B3nnub1rd Před 9 lety

      Ha,ha! That cracks me up!!

  • @gertalen9616
    @gertalen9616 Před 4 lety +3

    The real trick is to always start with rock because literally nobody ever starts with paper so you either win or draw. As a matter of fact from my experience most people start with scissors, it just comes naturally to them

  • @olly_evans
    @olly_evans Před rokem

    "if you.lose the other person has won" finally something on numberphile I can understand

  • @kevgmei
    @kevgmei Před 7 lety +12

    It also probably helps if you try to guess the person's first pick based on their personality.

    • @theramendutchman
      @theramendutchman Před 7 lety +5

      Most humans go for scissors first, because they DO want to change the position of their fingers ("going commando" with rock doesn't feel right), but spreading all fingers for paper triggers the instinctive fear of leaving your defenses open.
      Scissors is the only left out, and I have indeed experienced a lot of people going scissors first.

    • @DeniseAWright
      @DeniseAWright Před 7 lety +3

      Fons the Magnificient I think people usually pick scissors because we say the word scissors as we choose.

    • @Joggen102
      @Joggen102 Před 7 lety +4

      +Denise A Wright here in australia we say 'scissors paper rock' instead of 'rock paper scissors', and yet majority of people go scissors first. Maybe it does have an impact but probably not a big one.

  • @wakimbrell
    @wakimbrell Před 8 lety +717

    My God she's beautiful.

    • @danielhedrick4234
      @danielhedrick4234 Před 5 lety +23

      That struck me too...so i looked in coments to see how long it took someone else to say it

    • @hyekang3504
      @hyekang3504 Před 5 lety +2

      Now go out and gerrer......😂😂

  • @ksleep5715
    @ksleep5715 Před 2 lety

    This is someone’s job… and I watched the whole thing. What a time to be alive.

  • @manavmillennnium9547
    @manavmillennnium9547 Před 2 lety

    Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock was the new chill after BBT

  • @geekyvors2837
    @geekyvors2837 Před 8 lety +365

    but then its a theory, A GAME THEORY

    • @norb4152
      @norb4152 Před 8 lety +2

      +Geeky Vors Just like gravity!

    • @gdgoenka3379
      @gdgoenka3379 Před 8 lety

      +norb4152 Exactly

    • @gdgoenka3379
      @gdgoenka3379 Před 8 lety

      +norb4152 Exactly

    • @gdgoenka3379
      @gdgoenka3379 Před 8 lety

      +norb4152 Exactly

    • @MrPoutsesMple
      @MrPoutsesMple Před 8 lety

      +norb4152 Gravity is a force, not a theory :P. I'd love to see a relativistic version of Game Theory.

  • @sayantantalukdar9883
    @sayantantalukdar9883 Před 9 lety +306

    but there's a catch to this
    none of these tactics are going to work when you play with dumb people
    i know how it feels when they just win somehow

    • @Dawdan4
      @Dawdan4 Před 9 lety +1

      thats right :D

    • @sayantantalukdar9883
      @sayantantalukdar9883 Před 9 lety +2

      ^feel you bro

    • @xlonewolfx999
      @xlonewolfx999 Před 9 lety

      haha llol

    • @marcin852
      @marcin852 Před 9 lety

      BKrandy the chinese I guess

    • @chronius9496
      @chronius9496 Před 9 lety +13

      Subrata Talukdar It is same with poker or any game related with chance, clueless people screw up pros with randomness caused by lack of logic. Same with board games. There is little game named Saboteur in which some of the players are working for the target and some are saboteurs. Some people manage to screw up even by being not saboteurs, because lack of logic in their actions.

  • @hydrolito
    @hydrolito Před 2 lety +1

    I seriously doubt covering a rock with paper will stop someone with a rock.

  • @terrancelopez9631
    @terrancelopez9631 Před 2 lety +1

    I like the rock-dulls-scissors analogy better; it means
    1) Scissors (aggressor +2, defender 0) //only attacks
    2) Paper (aggressor +1, defender +1)
    3) Rock (aggressor 0, defender +2) ///only defends

  • @golfer435
    @golfer435 Před 8 lety +32

    But if you lose, they are going to think that you are going play the counter to what they just played. Therefore, you should play the thing that counters the thing that they think you are going to play. If I lose playing rock, I will naturally scissors. The opponent will anticipate that and play rock to stop me. I should then anticipate their rock and play paper. In other words, if everyone is thinking how they should, then there is no way that anyone would ever win because a decision would never be made. Yay circular reasoning!!!!

    • @dzarko55
      @dzarko55 Před 8 lety +8

      The problem is guessing where the other person stops,

  • @arnekrug939
    @arnekrug939 Před 5 lety +3

    1:54 "Loosers change"- that's how I beat my brothers.
    After a few rounds of random results once they start to loose by chance I exploit the fact that they will likely change and often they will change to the thing that would have beaten me in the previous round.
    Sometimes they also tried the reverse choosing the thing that would have been weak against my previous hand but they often fell back into a predictible pattern.