On: The secret to winning at rock, paper, scissors

[jsomers]

I just look at my watch and take the seconds mod 3. 0:rock, 1:paper, 2:scissors. Pretty sure random play (insofar as this method is random) is best.

[pc → jsomers]

That's optimal only if your opponents also act randomly. (Or in the absence of any information.)

[pixcavator → pc]

>That's optimal only if your opponents also act randomly.

By choosing the random strategy you force your opponent to do the same and you have a draw. It is optimal, in this sense.

[chengmi → jsomers]

Funny, I always use (seconds+1)%3...

[icky → chengmi]

That's the strategy I use while playing against jsomers, but while playing against chengmi, I always use (seconds+2)%3. (Unfortunately, chengmi's watch is 2 seconds fast (or 1 second slow), so he still ends up winning...)

[palish → jsomers]

Psshh.. I make all of my rock-paper-scissors decisions with a resistance noise generator.