Rock Paper Scissors Shoot
The official WRPSA cue is unambiguous: reveal on “Shoot.”
WRPSA ruleset v1.0 uses four cues—“Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot”—and both players reveal on “Shoot.” Other groups may use a three-cue local convention, so players should agree on the reveal cue before the first round. A reveal before the agreed cue is a false start; delaying to react after seeing the opponent is a late throw.
“Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot” is the cadence defined by WRPSA ruleset v1.0 for Rock Paper Scissors. Both players keep a closed fist through the count and reveal on the fourth cue. The purpose is procedural: everyone must know the same reveal beat.
Why the Reveal Cue Must Be Agreed
Players may encounter more than one cadence. The reviewed sources support the WRPSA four-cue rule and a Japanese janken sequence; they do not establish population-wide prevalence for every English-speaking region.
- WRPSA four-cue convention: keep a closed fist through “Rock, Paper, Scissors” and reveal the final action on “Shoot.”
- A three-cue local convention: some groups reveal on the third spoken cue. This is not the WRPSA v1.0 competition cadence.
Either local cadence can produce a simultaneous reveal when both players use the same final cue. Mixing them produces different reveal beats. Agree on the words and reveal cue before play.
What the Official Rules Say
Regional traditions differ on whether players reveal on "Scissors" or on a final "Shoot." The current WRPSA competitive rules use the four-count cadence "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot!", with both players revealing simultaneously on "Shoot." For informal play, agree on the cadence before the first throw.
The win cycle stays the same—Rock beats Scissors, Scissors beats Paper, and Paper beats Rock—even when names and cadences vary. Read the current official competitive rules before a sanctioned match, or explore the full history of Rock Paper Scissors.
What the Sources Establish
Japanese teaching materials document janken chants that synchronize a reveal, while WRPSA v1.0 publishes a four-cue English cadence. Those records show two defined procedures. They do not establish that every chant shares one origin or that one wording is universal. The separate Roshambo guide explains why its name history remains unresolved.
Ties and Match Continuation
Matching actions are a tie and the round is replayed. In the WRPSA standard match, play continues until one player has two decisive-round wins. The strategy guide and probability guide state their evidence and assumptions; online play applies the same rules identity to eligible Classic matches.