Rock-paper-scissors (also known as rochambeau), is a game often used as a selection method similar to coin flipping, drawing straws, or throwing dice to randomly select a person for some purpose or competition.

To play, the contestants both say aloud, “Ro! Sham! Bo!” each time raising one hand in a fist and swinging it down on the count. On the third count (saying “Bo!” ), the players change their hands into one of three gestures, which they then “throw” by extending it towards their opponent.

Rock: represented by a clenched fist.
Paper: represented by a flat open hand, with the fingers connected.
Scissors: represented by the index and middle fingers extended and separated

The objective is to select a gesture which defeats that of the opponent. Gestures are resolved as follows:

Rock smashes scissors; rock wins.
Paper covers rock; paper wins.
Scissors cut paper; scissors win.

If both players choose the same gesture, the game is tied and the players throw again.

The rock-paper-scissors (RPS) tournament is played in a “best two out of three” match with the winner advancing to the next round.

For more information, visit the Rock-Paper-Scissors page on Wikipedia.