20 Best Books About Game Theory (2023 Update)

The objective of the third edition of game theory: a nontechnical introduction to the analysis of strategy is to introduce the ideas of game theory in a way that is approachable, intuitive, and interdisciplinary. relying on the karplus learning cycle, the book is intended to teach by example. noncooperative equilibrium concepts such as nash equilibrium play the central role. in this third edition, increased stress is placed on the concept of rationalizable strategies, which has proven in teaching practice to assist students in making the bridge from intuitive to more formal concepts of noncooperative equilibrium.the instructor manual and powerpoint slides for the book are available upon request for all instructors who adopt this book as a course text.

"a lucid and penetrating development of game theory that will appeal to the intuition . . . a most valuable contribution."–douglas r. hofstadter, author of gödel, escher, bachthe foundations of game theory were laid by john von neumann, who in 1928 proved the basic minimax theorem, and with the 1944 publication of the theory of games and economic behavior, the field was established. since then, game theory has become an enormously important discipline because of its novel mathematical properties and its many applications to social, economic, and political problems. game theory has been used to make investment decisions, pick jurors, commit tanks to battle, allocate business expenses equitably–even to measure a senator's power, among many other uses. in this revised edition of his highly regarded work, morton davis begins with an overview of game theory, then discusses the two-person zero-sum game with equilibrium points; the general, two-person zero-sum game; utility theory; the two-person, non-zero-sum game; and the n-person game. a number of problems are posed at the start of each chapter and readers are given a chance to solve them before moving on. (unlike most mathematical problems, many problems in game theory are easily understood by the lay reader.) at the end of the chapter, where solutions are discussed, readers can compare their "common sense" solutions with those of the author. brimming with applications to an enormous variety of everyday situations, this book offers readers a fascinating, accessible introduction to one of the most fruitful and interesting intellectual systems of our time.

Robert gibbons addresses scholars in applied fields within economics who want a serious and thorough discussion of game theory but who may have found other works overly abstract. gibbons emphasizes the economic applications of the theory at least as much as the pure theory itself; formal arguments about abstract games play a minor role. the applications illustrate the process of model building–of translating an informal description of a multi-person decision situation into a formal game-theoretic problem to be analyzed. also, the variety of applications shows that similar issues arise in different areas of economics, and that the same game-theoretic tools can be applied in each setting. in order to emphasize the broad potential scope of the theory, conventional applications from industrial organization have been largely replaced by applications from labor, macro, and other applied fields in economics. the book covers four classes of games, and four corresponding notions of equilibrium: static games of complete information and nash equilibrium, dynamic games of complete information and subgame-perfect nash equilibrium, static games of incomplete information and bayesian nash equilibrium, and dynamic games of incomplete information and perfect bayesian equilibrium.

Game theory is the science of interaction. this textbook, derived from courses taught by the author and developed over several years, is a comprehensive, straightforward introduction to the mathematics of non-cooperative games. it teaches what every game theorist should know: the important ideas and results on strategies, game trees, utility theory, imperfect information, and nash equilibrium. the proofs of these results, in particular existence of an equilibrium via fixed points, and an elegant direct proof of the minimax theorem for zero-sum games, are presented in a self-contained, accessible way. this is complemented by chapters on combinatorial games like go; and, it has introductions to algorithmic game theory, traffic games, and the geometry of two-player games. this detailed and lively text requires minimal mathematical background and includes many examples, exercises, and pictures. it is suitable for self-study or introductory courses in mathematics, computer science, or economics departments.

The perfect balance of readability and formalism. joel watson has refined his successful text to make it even more student-friendly. a number of sections have been added, and numerous chapters have been substantially revised. dozens of new exercises have been added, along with solutions to selected exercises. chapters are short and focused, with just the right amount of mathematical content and end-of-chapter exercises. new passages walk students through tricky topics.

Discusses theories and concepts applicable to nearly every variation of the game, including five-card draw (high), seven-card stud, hold 'em, lowball draw, and razz (seven-card lowball stud). this book introduces you to the fundamental theorem of poker, its implications, and how it should affect your play. other chapters discuss the value of deception, bluffing, raising, the slow-play, the value of position, psychology, heads-up play, game theory, implied odds, the free card, and semibluffing. many of today's top poker players will tell you that this is the book that really made a difference in their play. that is, these are the ideas that separate the experts from the typical players. those who read and study this book will literally leave behind those who don't, and most serious players wear the covers off their copies. this is the best book ever written on poker.

This is the classic work upon which modern-day game theory is based. what began more than sixty years ago as a modest proposal that a mathematician and an economist write a short paper together blossomed, in 1944, when princeton university press published theory of games and economic behavior. in it, john von neumann and oskar morgenstern conceived a groundbreaking mathematical theory of economic and social organization, based on a theory of games of strategy. not only would this revolutionize economics, but the entirely new field of scientific inquiry it yielded–game theory–has since been widely used to analyze a host of real-world phenomena from arms races to optimal policy choices of presidential candidates, from vaccination policy to major league baseball salary negotiations. and it is today established throughout both the social sciences and a wide range of other sciences. this sixtieth anniversary edition includes not only the original text but also an introduction by harold kuhn, an afterword by ariel rubinstein, and reviews and articles on the book that appeared at the time of its original publication in the new york times, tthe american economic review, and a variety of other publications. together, these writings provide readers a matchless opportunity to more fully appreciate a work whose influence will yet resound for generations to come.

Master strategic thinking and gain competitive advantage. have you ever wondered how to make better decisions and solve problems with more ease? learn game theory shares the well-hidden secrets of great decision-makers. – use logic and reason to manage uncertainty. – life is full of uncertainty. you don't know what lies ahead. but you can learn to control the controllable by using logic and reason. with the help of this book, you'll discover new ways to think about – and solve – problems more efficiently than ever before. discover how strategic games model real-life behavior. you would be surprised how many game theory concepts affect your life. – game theory is a management device that helps rational decision-making. – game theory is a branch of mathematics dedicated to the study of rational, strategic decision-making. you can apply it in many different fields, from psychology, economics, and politics to military strategy, business, and even retail pricing! it focuses on conflict and cooperation between intelligent, rational players, analyzing how to optimize one's decisions, taking into account others' actions. – this book won't just give you theoretical knowledge. it will teach you practical life skills! the logical deductions used in game theory can help you learn superior decision-making skills based on strategic analysis. – become confident in your decision-making skills. – albert rutherford is an internationally bestselling author and a retired corporate executive. his books draw on various sources, from corporate system building, strategic analysis, scientific research, and his life experience. he has been building and improving systems his whole adult life and brings his proven advice to you. predict the future with more accuracy. – what's the best way to ask for a raise? how to choose a date spot with your partner avoiding friction? how do top athletes choose their best moves? how do companies like nike or adidas optimize their sales strategy? extraordinary decisions will lead to outstanding success. use the principles of game theory to have more confidence in your choices. learn game theory is written in a casual, easy-to-follow way, with an abundance of relevant examples. it will help you get shrewd by applying strategic thinking and make better decisions based on logic and analysis. learn game theory and make better business decisions, improve your relationships, understand people around you, and get out of sticky situations more effectively!

Game theory has become increasingly popular among undergraduate aswell as business school students. this text is the first to provideboth a complete theoretical treatment of the subject and a variety ofreal-world applications, primarily in economics, but also in business,political science, and the law.game theory has become increasingly popular among undergraduate as well as business school students. this text is the first to provide both a complete theoretical treatment of the subject and a variety of real-world applications, primarily in economics, but also in business, political science, and the law. strategies and games grew out of prajit dutta's experience teaching a course in game theory over the last six years at columbia university.the book is divided into three parts: strategic form games and their applications, extensive form games and their applications, and asymmetric information games and their applications. the theoretical topics include dominance solutions, nash equilibrium, backward induction, subgame perfect equilibrium, repeated games, dynamic games, bayes-nash equilibrium, mechanism design, auction theory, and signaling. an appendix presents a thorough discussion of single-agent decision theory, as well as the optimization and probability theory required for the course.every chapter that introduces a new theoretical concept opens with examples and ends with a case study. case studies include global warming and the internet, poison pills, treasury bill auctions, and final jeopardy. each part of the book also contains several chapter-length applications including bankruptcy law, the nasdaq market, opec, and the commons problem. this is also the first text to provide a detailed analysis of dynamic strategic interaction.

"game theory is an intellectual x-ray. it reveals the skeletal structure of those systems where decisions interact, and it reveals, therefore, the essential structure of both conflict and cooperation." — kenneth boulding – this fascinating and provocative book presents the fundamentals of two-person game theory, a mathematical approach to understanding human behavior and decision-making, developed from analysis of games of strategy such as chess, checkers, and go, game theory has dramatic applications to the entire realm of human events, from politics, economics, and war, to environmental issues, business, social relationships, and even "the game of love." typically, game theory deals with decisions in conflict situations. – written by a noted expert in the field, this clear, non-technical volume introduces the theory of games in a way which brings the essentials into focus and keeps them there. in addition to lucid discussions of such standard topics as utilities, strategy, the game tree, and the game matrix, dominating strategy and minimax, negotiated and nonnegotiable games, and solving the two-person zero-sum game, the author includes a discussion of gaming theory, an important link between abstract game theory and an experimentally oriented behavioral science. specific applications to social science have not been stressed, but the methodological relations between game theory, decision theory, and social science are emphasized throughout. – although game theory employs a mathematical approach to conflict resolution, the present volume avoids all but the minimum of mathematical notation. moreover, the reader will find only the mathematics of high school algebra and of very elementary analytic geometry, except for an occasional derivative. the result is an accessible, easy-to-follow treatment that will be welcomed by mathematicians and non-mathematicians alike. – unabridged dover (1999) republication of the work published by the university of michigan press, ann arbor, michigan, 1970.

An introduction to game theory that offers not only theoretical tools but also the intuition and behavioral insights to apply these tools to real-world situations. – this introductory text on game theory provides students with both the theoretical tools to analyze situations through the logic of game theory and the intuition and behavioral insights to apply these tools to real-world situations. it is unique among game theory texts in offering a clear, formal introduction to standard game theory while incorporating evidence from experimental data and introducing recent behavioral models. students will not only learn about incentives, how to represent situations as games, and what agents “should” do in these situations, but they will also be presented with evidence that either confirms the theoretical assumptions or suggests a way in which the theory might be updated. – features:each chapter begins with a motivating example that can be run as an experiment and ends with a discussion of the behavior in the example. – parts i–iv cover the fundamental “nuts and bolts” of any introductory game theory course, including the theory of games, simple games with simultaneous decision making by players, sequential move games, and incomplete information in simultaneous and sequential move games. – parts v–vii apply the tools developed in previous sections to bargaining, cooperative game theory, market design, social dilemmas, and social choice and voting. – part viii offers a more in-depth discussion of behavioral game theory models including evolutionary and psychological game theory. – supplemental material on the book’s website include solutions to end-of-chapter exercises, a manual for running each chapter’s experimental games using pencil and paper, and the o – tree codes for running the games online.

Since the origins in its modern form, due to the seminal works of von neumann and nash, game theory has most often been considered for its applications to economic and social sciences. however, its mathematical roots are more general, and its set of analytical tools that can be used to predict the outcome of interactive decision situations can be very relevant for many other scientific fields, especially including information and industrial engineering, where it has recently become a common curricular subject in university programs. to train the "brain muscles" to solve problems in a game theoretic way, students may find it useful to practice on concrete examples. for this reason, this book presents a collection of exercises that can be suitable for any entry-level course on game theory. while there is no specific major for which such a practical activity can be useful, the book is conceived with an engineering spirit, and a general regard for modeling and optimization (from technological scenarios to childish gameplay). still, some useful considerations can also be derived for other fields such as social psychology, biology, or humanities. rather than in-depth speculative discussions, the book covers mostly practical cases, however providing a preliminary theoretical justification for the solution methods. covered topics include static games of complete information, zero-sum games and minimax problems, lotteries, sequential games, multistage games, bayesian games. this may also encourage the reader to approach more advanced topics, with a solid methodological background and a full-rounded appreciation of the subject.

In economics, most noncooperative game theory has focused on equilibrium in games, especially nash equilibrium and its refinements. the traditional explanation for when and why equilibrium arises is that it results from analysis and introspection by the players in a situation where the rules of the game, the rationality of the players, and the players' payoff functions are all common knowledge. both conceptually and empirically, this theory has many problems.in the theory of learning in games drew fudenberg and david levine develop an alternative explanation that equilibrium arises as the long-run outcome of a process in which less than fully rational players grope for optimality over time. the models they explore provide a foundation for equilibrium theory and suggest useful ways for economists to evaluate and modify traditional equilibrium concepts.

Think game theory is abstract and incomprehensible? think again! play optimal poker shatters the myth that game theory is only for elite poker players. renowned poker pro and coach andrew brokos takes you step-by-step through the fundamentals, explaining core game theory principles and how to apply them in real poker situations. whether you play small stakes or high stakes, cash games or tournaments, play optimal poker provides powerful new tools to help you navigate tricky situations, hold your own against the toughest competition, and exploit common mistakes. once you understand the fundamentals of game theory, you'll approach the poker table with the confidence to handle anything the game can throw at you. you will learn how to: use powerful game theory concepts like equilibrium and indifference apply game theory principles to everyday poker decisions build polarized and condensed ranges profit from both aggression and passivity manipulate your ranges to exploit common mistakes hold your own against world-class opponents andrew brokos has been a professional poker player for more than fifteen years, with hundreds of thousands in cash game winnings, final tables in major online tournament series, and three top 100 finishes in the world series of poker main event. as a coach and host of the popular thinking poker podcast, andrew is widely regarded for his ability to explain complex concepts in terms anyone can understand. "working with andrew instantly leveled up my game, but more importantly it gave me a great foundation on which to build my skills over time by learning to think about the game in the right way. i'm already starting to think… ok, every hand that i play, i need to be thinking about what hands out of my range am i bluffing here?" -eric l., lawyer and "serious amateur" poker player

This book is a selection of the best articles from game theory tuesdays, a column from the blog mind your decisions. game theory is a beautiful subject and this book will teach you how to understand the theory and practically implement solutions through a series of stories and the aid of over 30 illustrations.this book has two primary objectives.( 1) to help you recognize strategic games, like the prisoner's dilemma, bertrand duopoly, hotelling's game, the game of chicken, and mutually assured destruction.( 2) to show you how to make better decisions and change the game, a powerful concept that can transform no-win situations into mutually beneficial outcomes. you'll learn how to negotiate better by making your threats credible, sometimes limiting options or burning bridges, and thinking about new ways to create better outcomes.as these goals indicate, game theory is about more than board games and gambling. it all seems so simple, and yet that definition belies the complexity of game theory. while it may only take seconds to get a sense of game theory, it takes a lifetime to appreciate and master it. this book will get you started.

Gain some insight into the game of life… game theory means rigorous strategic thinking. it is based on the idea that everyone acts competitively and in his own best interest. with the help of mathematical models, it is possible to anticipate the actions of others in nearly all life's enterprises. this book includes down-to- earth examples and solutions, as well as charts and illustrations designed to help teach the concept. rosenthal makes it easy to understand game theory with insights into: the history of the disciple made popular by john nash, the mathematician dramatized in the film a beautiful mind the role of social behavior and psychology in this amazing discipline how important game theory has become in our society and why

Game-theoretic reasoning pervades economic theory and is used widely in other social and behavioral sciences. osborne, presents the main principles of game theory and shows how they can be used to understand economic, social, political, and biological phenomena. the book introduces in an accessible manner the main ideas behind the theory rather than their mathematical expression. all concepts are defined precisely, and logical reasoning is used throughout. the book requires an understanding of basic mathematics but assumes no specific knowledge of economics, political science, or other social or behavioral sciences. coverage includes the fundamental concepts of strategic games, extensive games with perfect information, and coalitional games; the more advanced subjects of bayesian games and extensive games with imperfect information; and the topics of repeated games, bargaining theory, evolutionary equilibrium, rationalizability, and maxminimization. the book offers a wide variety of illustrations from the social and behavioral sciences and more than 280 exercises. each topic features examples that highlight theoretical points and illustrations that demonstrate how the theory may be used. explaining the key concepts of game theory as simply as possible while maintaining complete precision, an introduction to game theory is ideal for undergraduate and introductory graduate courses in game theory.

Game-theoretic reasoning pervades economic theory and is used widely in other social and behavioral sciences. osborne, presents the main principles of game theory and shows how they can be used to understand economic, social, political, and biological phenomena. the book introduces in an accessible manner the main ideas behind the theory rather than their mathematical expression. all concepts are defined precisely, and logical reasoning is used throughout. the book requires an understanding of basic mathematics but assumes no specific knowledge of economics, political science, or other social or behavioral sciences. coverage includes the fundamental concepts of strategic games, extensive games with perfect information, and coalitional games; the more advanced subjects of bayesian games and extensive games with imperfect information; and the topics of repeated games, bargaining theory, evolutionary equilibrium, rationalizability, and maxminimization. the book offers a wide variety of illustrations from the social and behavioral sciences and more than 280 exercises. each topic features examples that highlight theoretical points and illustrations that demonstrate how the theory may be used. explaining the key concepts of game theory as simply as possible while maintaining complete precision, an introduction to game theory is ideal for undergraduate and introductory graduate courses in game theory.

Is a book designed for poker players looking to gain a deeper understanding of poker strategy as well as mastering game theory optimal, both of which are vital for winning any game of poker!. these two books focus on understanding the mindset you need in order to be effective in the long term as well as breaking down probability, pot odds, equity, expected value, combinatorics and more in a step by step fashion to ensure you win every hand! if you're someone feeling lost at the tables, are trying to make sense of the current poker landscape, or are just ready to get an edge at the tables, this book is for you. drawing on over 14 years of experience, and over a million hands played, this book spends time breaking down the fundamentals, while helping you determine which style poker game is right for you. inside these two amazing books you will find -inside you will find -a primer on probability and why you should be thinking about it every time you pick up a deck of cards. -the two most common ways to determine pot odds and card odds as well as what exactly they mean to you. -how to determine the right course of action for any hand at any time through the magic of equity. -the best ways to maximize your expected value with every play and why it is so important to do so. -cbetting, double barreling, 3betting, 3betting light and squeeze play strategies that anyone can master. -and much more… -how to use gto to determine the best strategy to ensure you won't be pushed around at any table, no matter the skills of your opponents. -how range and equity work together and why you can't utilize one without thinking about the other. -the most effective way to determine your own range in order to keep the opposition guessing. -how to bring minimum defense frequencies into play to ensure that your game remains unexploitable. -the importance of fold equity and why you need to consider it more often. -and more… if you're ready to turn your hobby into a career, or just want to see positive gains in your bankroll, these three books were written for you.

Is a book designed for poker players looking to gain a deeper understanding of poker strategy as well as mastering game theory optimal, both of which are vital for winning any game of poker!. these two books focus on understanding the mindset you need in order to be effective in the long term as well as breaking down probability, pot odds, equity, expected value, combinatorics and more in a step by step fashion to ensure you win every hand! if you're someone feeling lost at the tables, are trying to make sense of the current poker landscape, or are just ready to get an edge at the tables, this book is for you. drawing on over 14 years of experience, and over a million hands played, this book spends time breaking down the fundamentals, while helping you determine which style poker game is right for you. inside these two amazing books you will find -inside you will find -a primer on probability and why you should be thinking about it every time you pick up a deck of cards. -the two most common ways to determine pot odds and card odds as well as what exactly they mean to you. -how to determine the right course of action for any hand at any time through the magic of equity. -the best ways to maximize your expected value with every play and why it is so important to do so. -cbetting, double barreling, 3betting, 3betting light and squeeze play strategies that anyone can master. -and much more… -how to use gto to determine the best strategy to ensure you won't be pushed around at any table, no matter the skills of your opponents. -how range and equity work together and why you can't utilize one without thinking about the other. -the most effective way to determine your own range in order to keep the opposition guessing. -how to bring minimum defense frequencies into play to ensure that your game remains unexploitable. -the importance of fold equity and why you need to consider it more often. -and more… if you're ready to turn your hobby into a career, or just want to see positive gains in your bankroll, these three books were written for you.