SMRTR Science & EngineeringDec 10, 2025Less Wrong

Rock Paper Scissors is Not Solved, In Practice

SMRTR summary

Despite Rock Paper Scissors appearing mathematically solved with a Nash equilibrium of random play, humans consistently deviate from optimal strategy in practice. Players exhibit predictable patterns and biases that skilled opponents can exploit, with professional tournaments demonstrating significant skill differences between competitors. This gap between theoretical solutions and human behavior reveals why the simple game remains strategically complex in real-world competition.

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