There can’t be a better thing to master in life than rock, paper, scissors.  This talent alone can earn you shotgun, avoid having to buy the next round of drinks, or avoid having to talk to the ugly girl between the two of them.

So if you have yet to master the art of rock, paper, scissors don’t fret.  It’s very simple.  So simple it can be done in three simple rules.

1. Play paper first. Rookies tend to lead with rock, so paper is the safest opener. (A savvy opponent will try the same, causing a tie.) If you win, claim victory; if not, start the next throw right away, because of course it’s two out of three.

2. Exploit copycats. Casual players often switch to the object that just beat them. You can encourage them to do this by shouting, “Paper wins!” when you defeat their rock. Then throw scissors on the next round.

3. Watch for doubles. People rarely throw the same hand three times in a row; if they play scissors twice, your next move is paper. Also, keep up the pace so they have less time to think and instead fall into patterns.

We can thank Graham Walker, coauthor of The Official Rock Paper Scissors Strategy Guide, for these easy to remember steps.  Best of luck, bitches.