Chopsticks is a fun, simple hand game that’s perfect for entertaining friends or passing time during a long commute. It can be played with just two players and doesn’t require any equipment other than your hands. Here’s how to play chopsticks in 13 easy steps:

1. Start with open hands: Each player holds out both of their hands with all five fingers extended.

2. Begin with a handshake: Players lightly tap their hands together to acknowledge the start of the game.

3. First move: One player starts by touching one of their fingers to an opposing hand’s finger.

4. Add the fingers: The touched finger on the opponent’s hand now adds the number of fingers used to touch it by the first player.

5. Alternate turns: The other player now repeats step 3 with their choice of fingers and corresponding opponent’s hand.

6. Turns continue to alternate: Players keep taking turns touching hands and adding up the fingers as described in steps 3 through 5.

7. Rules for splitting: If a player has an even number of fingers on one hand, they can choose to split them evenly between both of their hands during their turn instead of touching their opponent’s hand.

8. No combining allowed: Players are not allowed to combine or transfer fingers from one hand to another (apart from splitting).

9. Hands are immune when ‘closed’: If a hand ends up with five (or more) fingers extended after adding, it is considered ‘closed’ and cannot be touched by the opponent until it reopens.

10. Reopening a closed hand: A closed hand reopens when its owner splits an even number of fingers onto it from their other hand.

11. Learn various strategies: Getting familiar with offensive and defensive strategies can help you become a better chopsticks player – try maximizing hitting chances while limiting your opponent’s options.

12. Win the game: The goal is to force your opponent to close both of their hands. Once a player’s both hands are closed, they lose, and the other player wins.

13. Keep practicing: Chopsticks is a relatively simple game to learn, but with practice, you can improve your skills and learn new strategies to defeat your opponents.

Now that you know how to play chopsticks in 13 steps, grab a friend and start playing this entertaining hand game!