How to Play Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock: Rules & More

If regular Rock Paper Scissors feels a little… basic, it’s time to
level up your hand-game skills. Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock
(often shortened to RPSLS) takes the classic three-choice showdown,
adds two nerdy contenders, and turns it into a five-gesture battle
that’s both fair and delightfully chaotic.

The game was originally created by Sam Kass with Karen Bryla as a way
to reduce the number of ties that happen when people who know each
other well keep throwing the same symbols in Rock Paper Scissors.
Later, the sitcom The Big Bang Theory turned it into a pop
culture icon in the episode “The Lizard-Spock Expansion,” where
Sheldon explains the rules with great (and very dramatic) enthusiasm.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to play Rock Paper Scissors
Lizard Spock, how each gesture works, easy ways to remember the
rules, simple strategy tips, and fun ways to use the game in real
lifewhether you’re deciding who does the dishes or breaking a tie
in a board game night.

What Is Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock?

Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock is a five-gesture variation of the
traditional game Rock Paper Scissors. You still play with two
players, you still throw hand signs at the same time, and you still
only have three possible outcomes each round: win, lose, or tie. But
instead of three options (rock, paper, scissors), you now have five:
rock, paper, scissors, lizard, and Spock.

The game keeps the classic interactions from Rock Paper Scissors but
adds new ones to keep things more interesting and less predictable.
Every gesture wins against exactly two other gestures and loses to
two, so the game stays mathematically balanced. No one symbol is
“stronger” overall if everyone plays randomly and fairly.

The Complete Rules of Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock

The 10 Winning Interactions

The easiest way to learn the rules is to memorize the “story” of how
each gesture interacts with the others. Here are the ten winning
relationships:

• Scissors cut paper.
• Paper covers rock.
• Rock crushes scissors.
• Rock crushes lizard.
• Lizard poisons Spock.
• Spock smashes scissors.
• Scissors decapitate lizard.
• Lizard eats paper.
• Paper disproves Spock.
• Spock vaporizes rock.

That’s the core of the game: whenever you and your opponent throw
different symbols, you check this list. If your relationship appears
on the list, you win the round. If the opposite is true (for
example, their lizard poisons your Spock), you lose. If you both
throw the same gesture, it’s a tie and you play again.

A Quick Way to Remember the Rules

Instead of trying to memorize all ten lines separately, notice the
pattern:

• Each gesture beats two others.
• Each gesture loses to two others.
• Every pair has exactly one winner.

Here’s a compact way to remember them by symbol:

• Rock beats: scissors, lizard.
• Paper beats: rock, Spock.
• Scissors beat: paper, lizard.
• Lizard beats: paper, Spock.
• Spock beats: rock, scissors.

You can even draw a quick pentagon with lines showing what beats
what. Many charts online use arrows to show each winning direction.
After a few games, you’ll find the story-style phrases (“lizard
poisons Spock”) stick in your brain surprisingly fast.

Why the Game Has Fewer Ties

In classic Rock Paper Scissors, if both players choose randomly,
there’s a 1 in 3 chance (about 33%) that they’ll throw the same
symbol and tie. In Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock, there are now
five options, so the chance of a tie drops to 1 in 5 (20%) under
random play. That’s exactly what the inventors were aiming for: less
repetitive “rock-rock-rock” stalemates and more decisive outcomes.

How to Make Each Hand Sign

The game works best when everyone uses the same hand shapes. Here’s
how to form each symbol with your hand:

• Rock: Make a fist with your thumb outside, just
  like in the classic game.
• Paper: Hold your hand flat with your fingers
  together and your palm facing down (or sideways).
• Scissors: Extend your index and middle fingers in
  a V shape, like you’re making a “peace” sign, with the other
  fingers curled in.
• Lizard: Make your hand look like a little
  puppet’s mouth. Bring your fingers and thumb together, slightly
  curved, as if your hand might “bite” or “eat” the other symbol.
• Spock: Use the Vulcan salute from
  Star Trek: extend your hand with fingers spread, then
  separate your middle and ring fingers so you have a V between the
  index–middle pair and the ring–pinky pair.

If someone can’t comfortably do the Vulcan salute (it happens!), you
can agree on an alternative Spock sign, such as a raised hand with
only the middle three fingers extended. Just make sure everyone
agrees before the game starts.

How to Play Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock Step by Step

You can learn the game in just a few rounds:

1. Choose your opponent. Two people face each other,
   usually standing or sitting close enough to see each other’s
   hands.
2. Agree on the format. Decide if you’re playing a
   single round, best-of-three, best-of-five, or using the game to
   break a tie in some larger decision (like who picks the movie).
3. Count in sync. Like classic Rock Paper Scissors,
   you count together. Many players say “Rock, Paper, Scissors,
   Lizard, Spock, shoot!” or simply “One, two, three, shoot!” On the
   final beat (“shoot”), both players reveal their chosen hand sign.
4. Reveal your gesture. Each player shows one of the
   five symbols at the same time. No switching after you see the
   other person’s handthis is a game, not a magic trick.
5. Determine the winner. Use the rules list. If
   you’re still learning, keep a printed or digital chart nearby.
   After a few rounds, you’ll be able to recite the interactions from
   memory.
6. Handle ties. If both players throw the same
   symbol, it’s a tie. Play again until someone wins the round.

That’s it. No scorekeeping systems are required unless you want
them. For a quick decision (“Who gets the last slice of pizza?”) one
victory is enough. For a more competitive feel, keep a tally and
crown a champion after a set number of wins.

Strategy Tips and Mind Games

Even though RPSLS is a game of chance, there’s more going on than
pure luckespecially when you play repeatedly against the same
person. Humans are notoriously bad at being random, and that’s where
strategy sneaks in.

1. Start with “Balanced Randomness”

From a game theory perspective, the fairest strategy is to choose
each of the five options equally often over time. That means each
symbol should show up about 20% of the time. This prevents your
opponent from easily predicting your pattern and countering it.

In practice, you won’t track exact percentages in your head, but you
can avoid obvious habits like “I always start with rock” or “I
never pick lizard.” If your opponent is paying attention, those
patterns become weaknesses.

2. Watch for Emotional Biases

People often prefer certain gestures:

• Some “power players” love rock because it feels strong and solid.
• Sci-fi fans might gravitate toward Spock just for the meme value.
• Others pick lizard less often because the hand shape feels less
  natural at first.

If you notice your friend repeatedly throwing rock or Spock, adjust:
choose gestures that beat those options more frequently. Over time,
this small edge can add up if you’re playing multiple rounds.

3. Use “If I Were Them” Thinking

After a loss, players often react in predictable ways. For example:

• Some people switch away from the symbol they just lost with (“Ugh,
  that didn’t work, I’ll pick something else.”).
• Others double down and play the same symbol again to “prove” it
  can win.

Pay attention to your opponent’s style. Do they tend to repeat or
rotate? Do they avoid certain symbols altogether? Even simple
observations can help you predict their next move better than
random guessing.

4. Keep It Light

Remember, this is a goofy, nerdy party game, not the world
championship of hand gestures. Play smart if you like, but don’t
suck out the fun with over-analysis. The magic of Rock Paper
Scissors Lizard Spock is that it feels clever and complicated while
still being easy enough for kids to learn in a minute.

Fun Ways to Use Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock

Once you know the rules, the game becomes a handy tool for everyday
decisions and social situations. Here are a few fun ways to use it:

1. Settling Everyday Arguments

Can’t decide who takes out the trash, who picks the restaurant, or
who gets the window seat? Instead of debating until one of you gives
up, play best-of-three RPSLS. It feels fair, it’s fast, and it
usually makes both people laugheven the loser.

2. Icebreaker at Parties or Game Nights

Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock is a great way to warm up a group.
Teach everyone the rules, then run a mini-tournament:

• Pair people up for quick matches.
• Winners move on to the next round.
• Keep going until one champion remains.

It’s low-pressure, inclusive, and doesn’t require any equipment.
Plus, people watching the matches get invested quickly because the
outcomes are so fast and dramatic.

3. Classroom or Youth Group Activity

Educators sometimes use RPSLS to teach probability, decision-making,
or even basic game theory. Because each symbol wins against two and
loses against two, it’s a neat example of a balanced system. You can
have students track results, calculate win rates, and compare tie
frequencies against regular Rock Paper Scissors.

4. Online and App Versions

There are online simulators and apps where you can play Rock Paper
Scissors Lizard Spock against a computer or friends. These are
especially handy if you want to practice or if you’re playing
remotely with someone on a call or video chat. Just make sure you’re
on the same version of the rules (the one above is the most widely
used).

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

New players often trip over the same few issues. Here are some quick
fixes:

• Confusing who beats whom. Keep the rule list
  nearby until you’re confident. Saying the phrases out loud really
  helps: “Paper disproves Spock,” “Lizard eats paper,” and so on.
• Not counting together. One person rushing the
  throw can make the other feel cheated. Always agree on the rhythm
  and reveal at the same time.
• Changing hands after reveal. This is the RPSLS
  equivalent of moving your chess piece after you let go. Once your
  hand is out, that’s your choice.
• Over-focusing on a favorite symbol. Yes, Spock is
  cool. No, he is not invincible. If you spam one gesture, your
  opponent will adapt.

Real-Life Experiences with Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock

Once people learn Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock, it tends to
sneak into their routines in surprisingly memorable ways. Ask around
and you’ll hear stories that sound oddly similar: “We were arguing
about something small, one of us yelled ‘Lizard Spock it!’ and the
rest is history.”

One classic scenario is the roommate standoff. Two people are
standing in a messy kitchen, eyeing a mountain of dishes that none
of them want to touch. Instead of passive-aggressively ignoring the
mess for another 24 hours, someone suggests a quick best-of-five
Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock showdown. Suddenly, chore duty
becomes a tiny high-stakes tournament, complete with trash talk,
mock-serious commentary, and dramatic reveals. The loser still does
the dishesbut now they get sympathy instead of resentment, and the
whole thing feels more playful than painful.

Another popular use is at game nights when you need a tiebreaker.
Maybe two players are tied for first place in a long board game, and
no one wants to sit through another full round. RPSLS comes to the
rescue as a fast, entertaining way to decide a winner without
rewriting the rules of the main game. Everyone gathers around,
chanting along with the count, and the final “Spock vaporizes rock”
moment often gets more cheers than the entire rest of the night.

The game also shows up in classrooms and youth groups, not just as a
math or probability lesson but as a social tool. Teachers sometimes
use it to pick volunteers or line leaders in a way that feels more
engaging than “I’ll just choose someone.” Kids love the drama of
lizard poisoning Spock or scissors decapitating lizard, and they
quickly start using the game on their own without prompting.

In some friend groups, Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock becomes an
inside joke and a kind of unofficial constitution. Can’t pick a
movie? Lizard Spock. Unsure who has to go back to the car to grab
the forgotten snacks? Lizard Spock. Wondering who texts first after
an awkward date? Best-of-three, obviously. The game evolves from a
silly pop-culture reference into a shared rituala quick way to
handle tiny conflicts that might otherwise turn into drawn-out
debates.

Even online, people use the game as a lighthearted way to decide
things. Friends on voice chat will count together, throw their
symbols on camera, or type out their choices at the same time. In a
world full of complicated decision-making tools, there’s something
refreshingly simple about solving a problem with five possible hand
gestures and a bit of laughter.

What makes these experiences memorable isn’t just the novelty of
adding lizard and Spock. It’s the feeling that everyone is agreeing
to let chance and a shared set of rules settle tiny disputes. The
game is fair, fast, and funnyand once you know the rules, it’s
always available. No dice, no decks, no apps required. Just your
hands, another person, and maybe the occasional dramatic shout of
“Spock vaporizes rock!”

Final Thoughts

Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock takes something familiar, stretches
it in a clever way, and gives you a more interesting, less predictable
way to make quick decisions. With just two extra gestures and a
handful of funny rule phrases, the game becomes a miniature blend of
math, pop culture, and friendly competition.

Learn the ten interactions, practice the hand signs, and try using
the game the next time you and a friend can’t decide whose turn it
is to do something mildly annoying. You’ll get a decision, a laugh,
and a story you might end up telling laterexactly what a great
little party game should deliver.