Games without Chance: Combinatorial Game Theory

Grow your skills with Coursera Plus for $239/year (usually $399). Save now.

Games without Chance: Combinatorial Game Theory

Name: Games without Chance: Combinatorial Game Theory
Rating: 4.327014218009479 (211 reviews)

Instructor: Dr. Tom Morley

20,466 already enrolled

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

211 reviews

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

211 reviews

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

9 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business

logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

There are 8 modules in this course

This course will cover the mathematical theory and analysis of simple games without chance moves.

Hello and welcome to Games Without Chance: Combinatorial Game Theory! The topic for this first week is Let's play a game: Students will learn what a combinatorial game is, and play simple games.

What's included

4 videos10 readings

4 videos Total 19 minutes

Introduction to Two Players Left and Right 8 minutes
What is a Combinatorial Game? 5 minutes
Example Problem 1 minute
Example Problem Solution 4 minutes

10 readings Total 100 minutes

Start Here 10 minutes
Consent Form 10 minutes
Syllabus 10 minutes
Course Logistics 10 minutes
About The Instructor 10 minutes
Get More From Georgia Tech 10 minutes
Start Here (Week 1) 10 minutes
Game Rules 10 minutes
Week 1 Lecture Slides 10 minutes
Extra Problems 10 minutes

The topics for this second week is Playing several games at once, adding games, the negative of a game. Student will be able to add simple games and analyze them.

What's included

5 videos5 readings2 assignments

5 videos Total 26 minutes

Cutcake and Adding Games 10 minutes
The 0 Game 7 minutes
Adding Games 6 minutes
Quiz Problems 2 minutes
Week 2 Quiz Review 2 minutes

5 readings Total 50 minutes

Start Here (Week 2) 10 minutes
Game Rules 10 minutes
Week 2 Lecture Slides 10 minutes
Earn a Georgia Tech Badge/Certificate/CEUs 10 minutes
Extra Problems 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Mid-Course Survey 1 30 minutes
Quiz Week 2 30 minutes

The topics for this third week is Comparing games. Students will determine the outcome of simple sums of games using inequalities.

What's included

6 videos5 readings1 assignment

6 videos Total 25 minutes

Ordering Games 5 minutes
Example and a Problem 5 minutes
Problem Solution 1 minute
Ski Jumps 7 minutes
Games That Are Not Numbers 4 minutes
Proof and Quiz 3 minutes

5 readings Total 50 minutes

Start Here (Week 3) 10 minutes
Game Rules 10 minutes
Week 3 Lecture Slides 10 minutes
Week 3 Quiz Solutions 10 minutes
Extra Problems 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz Week 3 30 minutes

The topics for this fourth week is Simplicity and numbers. How to play win numbers. Students will be able to determine which games are numbers and if so what numbers they are.

What's included

5 videos5 readings2 assignments

5 videos Total 25 minutes

Some Numbers Are Games 6 minutes
Some Games Are Numbers 7 minutes
Simplicity 5 minutes
More Numbers 5 minutes
Quiz Preview 2 minutes

5 readings Total 50 minutes

Start Here (Week 4) 10 minutes
Game Rules 10 minutes
Week 4 Lecture Slides 10 minutes
Week 4 Quiz Solutions 10 minutes
Extra Problems 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Mid-Course Survey 2 30 minutes
Quiz 4 30 minutes

The topics for this fifth week is Simplifying games: Dominating moves, reversible moves. Students will be able to simplify simple games.

What's included

4 videos5 readings1 assignment

4 videos Total 33 minutes

New Ways of Simplifying Games 8 minutes
Examples From Nim 4 minutes
General Reversible 10 minutes
Toads and Frogs 12 minutes

5 readings Total 50 minutes

Start Here (Week 5) 10 minutes
Game Rules 10 minutes
Week 5 Lecture Slides 10 minutes
Week 5 Quiz Solutions 10 minutes
Extra Problems 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz 5 30 minutes

The topics for this sixth week is Nim: Students will be able to play and analyze impartial games.

What's included

4 videos5 readings1 assignment

4 videos Total 25 minutes

Nim and How to Win 7 minutes
Impartial Games, Reversible Moves 5 minutes
Examples, Mex 5 minutes
All Impartial Games Are Equivalent to Nim 8 minutes

5 readings Total 50 minutes

Start Here (Week 6) 10 minutes
Game Rules 10 minutes
Week 6 Lecture Slides 10 minutes
Week 6 Quiz Solutions 10 minutes
Extra Problems 10 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

Quiz 6 30 minutes

The topic for this seventh and final week is Where to go from here.

What's included

4 videos4 readings2 assignments

4 videos Total 15 minutes

Infinite Games 2 minutes
Loopy Games 3 minutes
Mean Values, Hot, Cold, Sente, Gote 4 minutes
Atomic Weights 5 minutes

4 readings Total 40 minutes

Start Here (Week 7) 10 minutes
Game Rules 10 minutes
Week 7 Lecture Slides 10 minutes
Week 7 Quiz Solutions 10 minutes

2 assignments Total 60 minutes

Final Week Survey 30 minutes
Bonus Quiz 30 minutes

What's included

1 reading

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(24 ratings)

Dr. Tom Morley

Georgia Institute of Technology

1 Course 20,466 learners

Offered by

Georgia Institute of Technology

Explore more from Math and Logic

Stanford University
Game Theory II: Advanced Applications
Course
The University of Tokyo
Welcome to Game Theory
Course
Stanford University
Game Theory
Course
Coursera
Game-Theoretic Solution Concept with Spreadsheets
Guided Project

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

5 stars
58.29%
4 stars
24.64%
3 stars
11.37%
2 stars
2.84%
1 star
2.84%

Showing 3 of 211

Reviewed on Oct 27, 2016

I like it, but as a math undergraduate I wish we have gone through some of the exciting research trend in combinatorial game theory.

Reviewed on May 1, 2023

Thank you, our Teacher, Professor / instructor and all members in this course as well as Coursera team.I do thank.

Reviewed on Feb 2, 2017

Great course. I will try now the optional exercises and try having a deeper understanding on this.

View more reviews

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Learn more

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Explore degrees

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.