Opinion

By Steven D. Levitt July 26, 2006, 3:43 am

Annie Duke Wins 2nd Annual World Series of Poker’s Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament (my research assistant gets knocked out in the first round)

By Steven D. Levitt

Only in Vegas can you, on one day’s notice, get 64 people to put up $500 each to compete in a Rock, Paper, Scissors contest. Phil Gordon was responsible for the tournament. Phil is a great poker player, perhaps an even better poker author, and one of the most kind and generous people I have ever met. The tournament raised $7,000 for Phil’s charity, www.preventcancer.org. It also generated a wealth of data for my research. If they show it on ESPN again this year, you will see my research assistants right there in the middle of the fray, clipboards in hand.

Annie Duke won the tournament, the $10,000 first place prize and her first WSOP Rock, Paper, Scissors bracelet. If you haven’t read her autobiography, I highly recommend it. She has led an unusual life. Last year she was knocked out in the quarterfinals.

She attributed her success to switching to a new coach after last year’s defeat, Rafe Furst (a former Rock, Paper, Scissors world champion and another super-nice guy).

Unortunately my RA Bill didn’t fare as well. Despite beating Norm McDonald (a world class Rock, Paper, Scissors player, former Saturday Night Live cast member, and yet another nice guy — he even laughed at one of my jokes) the day before, under the pressure of the camera lights Bill was eliminated in the first round.

I’ve got him working with Rafe Furst and I think by next year he will be a champion.

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7 Comments

  1. 1. July 26, 2006 11:59 pm Link

    Sounds like it was a lot of fun.

    Normally when I play Rock, Paper, Scissors
    I don’t have the chance of winning 10,000 dollars…

    — no way out
  2. 2. July 27, 2006 11:42 am Link

    Bill does suck at rock, paper, scissors.

    — Flynn
  3. 3. July 27, 2006 11:50 am Link

    I heard that Norm McDonald let Bill win? Was there any thumb wrestling involved?

    — jbrandon
  4. 4. July 27, 2006 2:14 pm Link

    Last year Duke used the dollar-bill-randomizing strategy, any word if she abandoned that this year?

    — peterlevy
  5. 5. July 27, 2006 5:43 pm Link

    Was Norm wearing a nametag that said “Turd Ferguson?”

    And did Bill invite Norm to go sailing on the Jersey Shore?

    — freakon-awesome
  6. 6. July 28, 2006 10:30 am Link

    Was this a scientific experiment? Can you tell us what you’re looking for?

    — 110phil
  7. 7. May 3, 2007 10:08 am Link

    HOW TO WIN (and cheat) AT ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS:
    http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/2032

    Excerpt:

    1 - Rock is for Rookies

    In RPS circles a common mantra is “Rock is for Rookies” because males have a tendency to lead with Rock on their opening throw. It has a lot to do with idea that Rock is perceived as “strong” and forceful”, so guys tend to fall back on it. Use this knowledge to take an easy first win by playing Paper. This tactic is best done in pedestrian matches against someone who doesn’t play that much and generally won’t work in tournament play.

    2 - Scissors on First

    The second step in the ‘Rock is for Rookies’ line of thinking is to play scissors as your opening move against a more experienced player. Since you know they won’t come out with rock (since it is too obvious), scissors is your obvious safe move to win against paper or stalemate to itself.

    — aclogg

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