Sasso-Carta-Forbice

Nicola Imperati

About this game

The starting gesture of the game is almost identical to that of "even or odd", and the game is often used in similar contexts, that is when you have to "cast lots". Unlike what happens with the toss of a coin or with other purely random systems (and contrary to what one might think) there is in this game a margin to apply strategy, at least if it is played repeatedly with the same opponent: in fact it is possible pay attention to its "weaknesses" (that is, any tendency to act with some regularity and therefore predictability).

Sasso (or Roccia or Pietra): the hand closed in a fist.
Paper (or Net): the open hand with all fingers extended.
Scissors: closed hand with index and middle fingers extended to form a "V".
The aim is to defeat the opponent by choosing a sign that can beat that of the other, according to the following rules:

The stone breaks the scissors (the stone wins)
Scissors cut paper (scissors win)
The paper wraps the stone (the paper wins)
If the two players choose the same weapon, the game is tied and is played again.


Strategy
Player strategy obviously involves the use of psychology to predict or influence the opponent's choices.