Chapter 3:game Theory: 3.1optimal Decision in Games
Chapter 3:game Theory: 3.1optimal Decision in Games
Chapter 3:game Theory: 3.1optimal Decision in Games
Initial call:
Minimax(node, 3, true)
Step-1: In the first step, the algorithm generates the entire game-tree and apply the
utility function to get the utility values for the terminal states.
In the below tree diagram, let's take A is the initial state of the tree. Suppose
maximizer takes first turn which has worst-case initial value =- infinity, and
minimizer will take next turn which has worst-case initial value = +infinity.
Step 2: Now, first we find the utilities value for the Maximizer, its initial value is -
∞, so we will compare each value in terminal state with initial value of Maximizer
and determines the higher nodes values. It will find the maximum among the all.
o For node D max(-1,- -∞) => max(-1,4)= 4
o For Node E max(2, -∞) => max(2, 6)= 6
o For Node F max(-3, -∞) => max(-3,-5) = -3
o For node G max(0, -∞) = max(0, 7) = 7
Step 3: In the next step, it's a turn for minimizer, so it will compare all nodes value
with +∞, and will find the 3rd layer node values.
The main drawback of the minimax algorithm is that it gets really slow for complex
games such as Chess, go, etc. This type of games has a huge branching factor, and
the player has lots of choices to decide. This limitation of the minimax algorithm
can be improved from alpha-beta pruning which we have discussed in the next
topic.
1. α>=β
Step 1: At the first step the, Max player will start first move from node A where α=
-∞ and β= +∞, these value of alpha and beta passed down to node B where again α=
-∞ and β= +∞, and Node B passes the same value to its child D.
Step 2: At Node D, the value of α will be calculated as its turn for Max. The value
of α is compared with firstly 2 and then 3, and the max (2, 3) = 3 will be the value
of α at node D and node value will also 3.
Step 3: Now algorithm backtrack to node B, where the value of β will change as
this is a turn of Min, Now β= +∞, will compare with the available subsequent nodes
value, i.e. min (∞, 3) = 3, hence at node B now α= -∞, and β= 3.
In the next step, algorithm traverse the next successor of Node B which is node E,
and the values of α= -∞, and β= 3 will also be passed.
Step 4: At node E, Max will take its turn, and the value of alpha will change. The
current value of alpha will be compared with 5, so max (-∞, 5) = 5, hence at node E
α= 5 and β= 3, where α>=β, so the right successor of E will be pruned, and
algorithm will not traverse it, and the value at node E will be 5.
Step 5: At next step, algorithm again backtrack the tree, from node B to node A. At
node A, the value of alpha will be changed the maximum available value is 3 as
max (-∞, 3)= 3, and β= +∞, these two values now passes to right successor of A
which is Node C.
At node C, α=3 and β= +∞, and the same values will be passed on to node F.
Step 6: At node F, again the value of α will be compared with left child which is 0,
and max(3,0)= 3, and then compared with right child which is 1, and max(3,1)= 3
still α remains 3, but the node value of F will become 1.
Step 7: Node F returns the node value 1 to node C, at C α= 3 and β= +∞, here the
value of beta will be changed, it will compare with 1 so min (∞, 1) = 1. Now at C,
α=3 and β= 1, and again it satisfies the condition α>=β, so the next child of C
which is G will be pruned, and the algorithm will not compute the entire sub-tree G.
Step 8: C now returns the value of 1 to A here the best value for A is max (3, 1) =
3. Following is the final game tree which is the showing the nodes which are
computed and nodes which has never computed. Hence the optimal value for the
maximizer is 3 for this example.
Move Ordering in Alpha-Beta pruning:
o Worst ordering: In some cases, alpha-beta pruning algorithm does not prune
any of the leaves of the tree, and works exactly as minimax algorithm. In this
case, it also consumes more time because of alpha-beta factors, such a move
of pruning is called worst ordering. In this case, the best move occurs on the
right side of the tree. The time complexity for such an order is O(bm).
o Ideal ordering: The ideal ordering for alpha-beta pruning occurs when lots of
pruning happens in the tree, and best moves occur at the left side of the tree.
We apply DFS hence it first search left of the tree and go deep twice as
minimax algorithm in the same amount of time. Complexity in ideal ordering
is O(bm/2).