Lessons in Play : An Introduction to Combinatorial Game Theory

Combinatorial games are games of pure strategy involving two players, with perfect information and no element of chance. Starting from the very basics of gameplay and strategy, the authors cover a wide range of topics, from game algebra to special classes of games. Classic techniques are introduced and applied in novel ways to analyze both old and new games, several appearing for the first time in this book. "Starting from the very basics of gameplay and strategy, the authors cover a wide range of topics, from game algebra and surreal numbers to special classes of games. Classic techniques are Introduced and applied in novel ways to analyze both old and new games, several appearing for the first time in this book. This book makes an excellent guide for undergraduates or for self-study by the enterprising reader, with a generous collection of exercises and problems scattered throughout the book."--Jacket Lessons in Play is the authoritative book on combinatorial game theory. As the perfect complement to Winning Ways, it is a formal, yet playful introduction to the subject and covers all the core concepts needed to understand and play combinatorial games. Topics covered include symmetry and strategy stealing, the algebra of games, impartial, hot, and all-small games, and the partial order of games