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Combinatorial game theory. (English) Zbl 1288.91003

Graduate Studies in Mathematics 146. Providence, RI: American Mathematical Society (AMS) (ISBN 978-0-8218-5190-6/hbk). xiv, 523 p. (2013).
More than thirty years after the pioneer [E. R. Berlekamp et al., Winning ways for your mathematical plays. Vol. 1: Games in general. Vol. 2: Games in particular. London etc.: Academic Press (1982; Zbl 0485.00025)], this comprehensive book introduces the reader to combinatorial game theory and the analysis of combinatorial games. It greatly benefits from a rigorous presentation. The book is self-contained (one can find all the necessary mathematical prerequisites such as partial order and ordinals in an appendix). The reader should also appreciate the clear exposition and the formal presentation of the subject. Note that the book is intended to serve at the first- or second-year graduate level. Let us present the different chapters briefly.
Chapter 1 introduces, through examples, basic notions and results in combinatorial game theory. Chapter 2 is about short games, which have finitely many subpositions and are loop-free (no infinite run). The set \(G\) of values of short games is a partially ordered abelian group. Then some classes of games are introduced: numbers and infinitesimals. The notion of temperature quantifies the urgency of a move. Finally, reduced canonical form and automatic weights are two other invariants that are discussed. Chapter 3 studies the abstract structure of the group \(G\) itself. Chapter 4 is about impartial games (same moves for both players in contrast with partizan games). Using the Sprague-Grundy theorem, a Nim value is associated with every impartial game. Heap games and Wythoff-type games are also discussed in this chapter.
In the first four chapters, the normal-play convention, i.e., the player who makes the last move wins, was assumed. Chapter 5 is about misère-convention games, i.e., the last move loses. In this context, the situation is often more complicated, and one cannot simply replicate normal-play theory. The reader is introduced to misère Nim and tame games, misère canonical form and quotient, and generalization to partizan games (distinct moves for each player). In contrast with short games, Chapter 6 discusses loopy games, where repetitions are allowed. In particular, the class of stopper-sided games are studied.
The last two chapters of the book under review cover more advanced material such as generalized temperature theory, transfinite games, surreal numbers and their structure, and transfinite arithmetic.
This up-to-date presentation also includes a list of open problems, and the description and analysis of approximatively 60 games. The reader will also enjoy some historical perspectives about combinatorial game theory.

MSC:

91-01 Introductory exposition (textbooks, tutorial papers, etc.) pertaining to game theory, economics, and finance
91A46 Combinatorial games
91A05 2-person games
91A43 Games involving graphs

Citations:

Zbl 0485.00025
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