News

Game theory in the popular press.

 

News stories about the theory of games

August 17, 2006 BBC News, All is fair in love, war and poker
Game theory can be used to become the world champion of poker and to understand the commitment power of engagement rings. (by Tim Harford)
July 19, 2006 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, CMU deals a winning hand for Texas Hold 'em
Computer scientists use game theory to create poker-playing computers. (by David Templeton)
July 19, 2006 PokerMag, WSOP Update - Day 22
William Chen, a PhD mathematician, uses game theory and mathematics to win at the World Series of Poker. (by Ryan McLane)
June 7, 2006 ABC News, Judge rules dispute to be settled by 'rock, paper, scissors' match
Lawyers will face off, with the assistance of paralegals. Perhaps mixed strategy equilibria will be a required topic in law schools. (by Matt Sokoloff)
May 5, 2006 Financial Times, The Poker Machine
A lengthy discussion of the game-theoretic aspects of poker (by Tim Harford)
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May 18, 2005 CBS News, Listen to the children
Major auction houses forced to play rock-paper-scissors over rights to auction eccentric millionaire's art. "Sotheby's decided to leave its decision to chance, and had no particular strategy." (by Lloyd Garver)
May 14, 2005 The Washington Post, Read 'em and weep: Mags cash in on poker craze
Brief reference to professional poker player Chris Ferguson, who is known as "Jesus" and wishes to become a professor of game theory. (by Peter Carlson)
May 2, 2005 CFRA News, Ottawa, Teen loses game of chicken with train
Not a good idea. (by Josh Pringle)
April 29, 2005 New York Times, Rock, Paper, Payoff: Child's Play Wins Auction House an Art Sale
Major auction houses forced to play rock-paper-scissors over rights to auction eccentric millionaire's art. "Sotheby's decided to leave its decision to chance, and had no particular strategy." (by Carol Vogel)
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October 15, 2004 Wall Street Journal, Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord -- But scientists differ [pdf]
What happens when people play public contribution games during a brain scan? We discover that people like punishing defectors even at a cost to themselves.
October 13, 2004 Wired News, New tack wins Prisoner's Dilemma
A modern updating of Axelrod's tournament finds a strategy that beats tit for tat in the prisoner's dilemma, but only by sacrificing team mates.
February 24, 2004 NPR, The Not So Random Coin Toss
Coins are more likely to end up facing the same way they started the coin toss, calling into question their use as a method of resolving disputes.
November 1, 2003 Business 2.0, The card sharks from Silicon Valley
The new champions of poker include those skilled in probability and game theory (by Paul Keegan)
October 28, 2003 Montreal Gazette, Paper covers rock, hype lures media
The World Championships of Rock, Paper, Scissors take mixed strategies a bit too far but guarantee fun for all.
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July 10, 2003 Herald Tribune, The new card shark
Poker professionals are studying up online and by using simulation software which uses game theory to determine optimal strategies.
January 13, 2003 Gambling Magazine, Game and probability theories may suggest different strategies
A perverse (and incorrect) application of the minimax notion of mixed strategies to poker.
December 24, 2002 Reality News Online, Is the key to Survivor in 'non-cooperative games'?
Discusses how the reality TV show's many strategic challenges can be analyzed with game theory.
November 18, 2002 Toronto Star, Why paper and scissors rock
Hundreds of competitors at the World Rock Paper Scissors Society add a heuristic approach to mixed strategies.
November 4, 2002 Poker Mag, The truth about poker players
Short commentary argues most poker players decide on a whim, not optimal mixed strategies.
October 31, 2002 Economist, NP or not NP?
Tetris, the addictive computer game, is not only hard, it is NP-complete.
October 20, 2002 Gambling Magazine, Game and probability theories may suggest different strategies
Applies minimax solution concepts to zero-sum casino games.
August 1, 2002 New York Times, In an Ancient Game, Computing's Future
The game of Go is deceptively simple to learn but challenging for even a computer to play.
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January 4, 2002 New Scientist, Euro coin accused of unfair flipping
Lack of uniformity across European Euro coins leads to different odds of heads and tails in different countries. (by Debora MacKenzie)
2001 The Games Journal, Aggression in multi-player games
Early aggression may lead to retribution in strategy board games.
April 10, 2000 Lou Krieger, A little game theory
Optimal bluffing in poker requires understanding mixed strategies
January 25, 2000 New York Times, Paradox in Game Theory: Losing Strategy That Wins
Alternating between two losing gambles can lead to winning
December 23, 1999 Nature, Good news for losers
Alternating between two losing gambles can lead to winning
December 19, 1997 New Statesman, How about some Christmas brain-teasers with a twist?
Suggests Shubik's dollar auction as a fun family activity (though offers no disclaimer to the likely feud that will result).
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April 1996 Fast Company, Seven Card Stud
A winning poker player shares his formula for success, which apparently includes a flawed, rudimentary understanding of game theory. (by Alan Deutschman)