The Secret To Winning At Rock, Paper, Scissors
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The secret to winning at rock, paper, scissors
By Gary Cleland
Scientists believe they have worked out the secret to winning at paper, scissors, stone.
While most people are aware that stone blunts scissors, scissors cut paper and paper covers stone, there is a psychological element to the game which many players may have missed.
According to New Scientist magazine, the way to win is to start with scissors.
Research shows that stone, also called rock, is the most popular of the three possible moves in the game.
That means that your opponent is likely to choose paper, because they will expect to you to start the game with stone.
By going with scissors, you achieve an early victory.
The scissors strategy has proven very successful in the past – in 2005 it secured auction house Christies a ÐЈ10 million deal.
A Japanese art collector who could not decide whether to sell his Impressionist paintings through Christies or rival auction house Sothebys, instructed them to play the game against each other.
Christies consulted its employees on strategies and, on the advice of the directors 11-year-old daughters, chose scissors.
The little girls, keen fans of the game, explained that “everybody expects you to choose rock”.
As predicted, Sothebys went for the open palm in a bid to beat the expected clenched fist, and lost the deal.
There