Strategic Analysis of the "Great Eight" Gambits
Courtesy Bill Helfer
This is another article written by the late RPS Guru Master Roshambollha
during his famous outreach tour.
A strong opening is key for achieving high-level play. Using the indispensable "Great Eight" gambits ,we may gain a better understanding of the options at our disposal.
PAPER- arguably the strongest opening from a Great Eight perspective, as a player can throw four different gambits off of this opener. None of these have Rock in the second round, which makes Scissors a fine second round throw vs a Paper opening. The most that a Great Eight player can do is tie, and may just lose, if attempting Bureaucrat. If one is wise enough to throw Scissors after a Paper opening, one will still have three possible gambits open (Scissor Sandwich, Paper Dolls, Crescendo.) Also, opening with Paper immediately eliminates the majority of RPS players who will come out
rock-first.
ROCK-Rock fares better than scissors as an opening throw, as there are three gambits that begin with Rock. Of these three, two of the gambits end in paper (Fistful & Denoument). Therefore, when an opponent opens with Rock, you may advantageously throw Scissors in the third round. This will be dangerous if your opponent is Avalanching, but you should have ample warning. Note: the three gambits with a rock opening each have a different second round throw. Even though Paper has more possible gambits, it does not offer this degree of second-round fluidity.
SCISSORS-The least common opening, and with good reason: the strength of scissors is in the second round. The only gambit that opens with scissors is the ToolBox, therefore Rock often decimates such an opponent in short order. Throw Rock in the second and third rounds vs a Scissors opening.
But how to proceed past the Opening throw? Again, the gambits are our guide. Round 2 is where Scissors shine, as five of the Great Eight gambits have Scissors as the second throw. The penultimate Round 2 throw, scissors dispatch the rank amateur who emulates "the throw what beat his rock." Paper use is highly uncommon in Round 2 (seen only in two gambits) and second round rocks are as rare as four leaf clovers (unless one is attempting to avalanche.) In Round 3 Paper again is the most common throw, used in half of the classic Great Eight. Rock and Scissors are tied at two
gambits each in this position.
This would suggest that the most fluid gambit, and the one with the highest chance of winning, is the humble Scissors Sandwich. It is both a "kiddie killer" (in the sense of taking out newcomers) as well as an "Old Timer Underminer" through deceptive use of the symmetrical Paper in rounds 1&3. Also, after the initial opening of Paper and Scissors, the wise player has the choice of continuing with the Scissors Sandwich, or proceeding to a Fistful o' Dollars or perhaps a classic Crescendo. Fluidity of play is a hallmark of Mastery.
The Master Roshambollha “Super Seven” Sequence Gambit Puzzle
What is the greatest number of unique "Great Eight" gambits that may be employed in seven consecutive throws?
Highlight the text below to reveal the answer.
The correct answer is four. This may be achieved as follows (and possibly in other ways):
RPPPSSS
This sequence contains the following gambits:
RPP-Fistful o' Dollars
PPP-Bureaucrat
PSS-Paper Dolls
SSS-Toolbox
The middle throw, paper, exists only to form the first throw of the Paper Dolls. It does not take part in any other gambit. I consider this sequence as the most ideal of all chained gambit sequences. It combines and concentrates the power of four gambits into the shortest possible sequence. We have all chained together gambits, say, by appending a Scissors Sandwich with a Bureaucrat (PSPPP), but all but three of the throws in the "Super Seven" above are part of two different gambits. This provides superior mobility and optimal efficiency. We can all benefit by putting this "Chain Gang" to work for us."
