zerosummängudes

Zerosummängudes, often translated as zero-sum games, are a class of games in game theory where the total gains of the participants are exactly balanced by the total losses of the participants. In simpler terms, for any given outcome of the game, the amount of value won by one player is precisely equal to the amount of value lost by the other player(s). This means that the net change in wealth or utility across all players is always zero.

The concept of a zero-sum game is fundamental to understanding many strategic interactions. In such games, there is no possibility for all players to simultaneously improve their situation. Any advantage gained by one player comes at a direct cost to another. This is in contrast to non-zero-sum games, where it is possible for all players to benefit or for all players to suffer.

Examples of zero-sum games include many forms of gambling, such as poker or blackjack, where the money wagered by the losers is distributed among the winners. Chess and Go are also classic examples, as one player wins and the other loses; there is no scenario where both players win or both players lose. In a two-player zero-sum game, the sum of payoffs for player one and player two is always zero. If there are more than two players, the sum of all payoffs is zero. The strict nature of wealth distribution in zero-sum games makes them a simplified but powerful model for analyzing competitive situations.