THE STUDY OF GAME THEORY ---- Only 7 replies so far ??

[Alan Millhone]

Hello Forum Readers:

Question for discussion:

"People do not study game theory to help them in their game playing" ?

Your comments most welcome:-)

Sincerely:
Alan Millhone, President
American Checker Federation
" AN AVERAGE CHECKER/DRAUGHTS PLAYER "
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Checkers--- " THE MENTAL SPORT ALTERNATIVE TO VIDEO GAMES "
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[Michael Holmes]

Alan, it does not seem like you were asking a question. However, I think if you were asking if checker players study theory to improve their game then the World Champion could probably give us some tips on this. As for me, I have read a lot of books that talk about the different points of an opening, midgame, and endgame. I also have a lot of discussion with my friends about what idea is correct during a situation on the board. I usually disagree with my good friend Freeman but in any case I really feel like the overall knowledge of theory helps a person be able to see more moves ahead. This is sort of like knowing a lot of endings or midgames. If you know what to look for it is easier to find it! It only helps your game and is certainly not meant to replace knowing or studying midgames or endings.
Michael

[Ingo_Zachos]

Learning a game like checkers (or chess) is like learning a language:
The squares r the letters, a move is a word and a combination is a sentence (actually the patterns r very much handled by the brain and memory like words and proverbs!).
A game is like a story, and a tournament is like a collection of stories or like a novel, depending on the style of the player.
(That is why a stranger to this game does not understand when two checker players talk about a game or a position)

And just like a language can be learnt by reading in a textbook or by practicing with people that already speak it fluently, you can lean checkers either by reading books or by playing and talking with other players in tournaments or matches.

Both ways can be used and both ways can (and should?) be combined.

In Germany, I have only some weak checker players to play with in my former chess club (only one of them is strong enough to reach 1500 + on yahoo), and with one strong player that is working here in Dortmund (though he is not a master or master candidate either), so I had no choice but mainly to stick to the books!
It is different, for instance, in the Czech Republic, as there players r much more "players" then "readers", but this is because they have more competions to enter ;-(

So I guess it depends on your "socialisation" as checker player and your personal preference, which way you prefer, or how you combine them.

Greetinx from Dortmund, Germany

In go Zachos

[liam stephens]

A major area for the development of game theory was to define nuclear strategies. These were developed by the military in USA and Russia during the Cold War era and theories like the Domino Effect became popular.

DEFINITION Dominant Strategy: Let an individual player in a game evaluate separately each of the strategy combinations he may face, and, for each combination, choose from his own strategies the one that gives the best payoff. If the same strategy is chosen for each of the different combinations of strategies the player might face, that strategy is called a "dominant strategy" for that player in that game.

DEFINITION Dominant Strategy Equilibrium: If, in a game, each player has a dominant strategy, and each player plays the dominant strategy, then that combination of (dominant) strategies and the corresponding payoffs are said to constitute the dominant strategy equilibrium for that game.

Game theory has also entered popular culture and was featured in the film War Games.
Game theorist, John Nash , who won a Nobel Prize, was the subject of the film A Beautiful Mind.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

"People do not study game theory ... " ?

Mr. Millhone, the answer on your question is - YES. I am talking about the tendency. Indeed few players (like Michael and couple other) are study intensively, but his is a great exception.

I already said one time - until people don't study the published play for improvement and don't try to improve their crossboard skills - my title is secured.

I saw several young players who think they are a good crossboard players, because they don't have enough knoweldges of published play But crossboard skills also can be developed and improved !

Quote: home preparation greatly help to play cross aboard !

Alex

[Alan Millhone]

Hello Everyone:

Mr. Zacho's excellent posting on game theory was deemed important enough by Mr. Niederhoffer to be published this morning on his award winning web site Daily Speculations

The use of his article was done wiht Mr. Zacho's permission. Congratulations to Mr. Zachos for 'hitting the mark' with Mr. Niederhoffer.

Sincerely:
Alan Millhone, President
American Checker Federation
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Checkers--- '' THE MENTAL SPORT ALTERNATIVE TO VIDEO GAMES "

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[john reade]

There seems to be some confusion here between game theory which is a branch of mathematics, and theory of the game of draughts. Which did you mean Alan?

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Which did you mean Alan?

John, in Russian language the word "theory" means published play and I considered it that way when responded to Alan.

Alex

[mday]

The best way to improve at home is to play online.

[jimloy]

Game theory is a branch of mathematics created by John Von Neumann. The main idea is that many decisions outside of games can be made as if a game were being played. Economics and politics are major areas of interest in game theory, and game theory is probably considered a branch of economics by some people. Game theory has gotten ideas from various actual games. But, game theory doesn't seem to help a game player much, except for a few general insights.