Game Theory

Game theory uses mathematical tools to study situations involving both conflict and cooperation. The players in a game choose from a list of options (or courses of action). These courses of action are called strategies. The strategies chosen by players lead to outcomes, which describe the consequences of their choices.

In our applet below a game is presented as a matrix, in which rows represent choices to be made by one player, and columns correspond to the choices of the second player. The intersection of a row and column is the payoff. Positive payoffs are awarded to the row player, negative payoffs to the column player.

In our game you will be the row player and I will be the column player. To start a game select the probabilities of choosing row 1 and column 1 by either selecting Optimal play or entering a probability. Enter the number of games to play and click the Play button. The New game button will load a new game matrix.

- click to continue -

Probabilities must be between 0 and 1. Please enter a new value

Optimal play
Probability row 1

Optimal play
Probability column 1

games to play Play New Game

Show game parameters