Mike Dojc

SPORTS

Rock Paper Scissors Playbook-The Final Chapter of the Newsvine RPS Series

4/25/2006

First there was the primer, then there was the philosophy , and now comes the final chapter of the triology. With a little help from the Sinister Southpaw, here is the RPS playbook. Now all you home gamers can play like the pros. Remember, these are the just the basics. For a John Gruden sized book check out Douglas and Graham Walker's comprehensive tome which according to Sven Jorgensen, (national Swedish RPS champion 2001-2003) is " every pro player's worst nightmare -- a compendium of the most powerful RPS strategies ever devised."

Cloaking: Holding back a paper throw until the very last possible nanosecond in order to dupe your opponent into thinking you are going to be going with rock.

Krueger: RPS circuit pros can see a cloaked paper coming a mile away. Yet they all use it as well.

Paper-Clipping: A frequently used novice neutralizer. Draw paper from your opponent’s fist and counter with scissors. The success of this tactic relies heavily on its user’s ability to influence his opponent to throw paper.

Krueger: How you influence them is where the secret lies - one I will not reveal.

Priming the Chump: Utilizing speed in the priming phase to force your opponent to hasten his pace and struggle to get in synch with you, thus breaking his concentration and hindering him from delivering an effective throw.

Krueger: “This adversely effects their throws, causing them to lose games, and they become a chump' as a result. I've met many 'chumps' in competitions

The Wildman: Convincing your opponent that you are completely bonkers and have no idea what you’re throwing.
Krueger: It can throw off your opponent as they will think you've suddenly gone gourdless, however it can annoy everyone around you and you’ll end up looking like a schmuck.

Crystal Ball Strategy: You tell your opponent what his next throw is going to be. You can say “I see you are going to throw scissors” and then chances are he’s not going to do what you say he is and will opt instead for rock or paper which makes paper a pretty safe throw. At worst you will tie and at best you will win.

Krueger: My advice to counter this is to just throw what your opponent says you'll throw. Or even better, counter with your own Crystal Ball: "You're going to throw paper...”. That really screws up an opponent, and puts you in command of the match.

This story was first published in Chill Magazine

Copyright © Mike Dojc, 2006