Extensive Form, Subgame Perfection, and Backward Induction

In real life, players do not always make moves simultaneously. We now shift to games in which players take turns moving and reacting to each other. We also introduce a refinement of Nash equilibrium--subgame perfection--and a common method for solving these games, backward induction.

  1. Selten's Game and Subgame Perfect Equilibrium
  2. Matrices versus Game Trees 
  3. Backward Induction
    1. How NOT to Write a Subgame Perfect Equilibrium 
    2. Pirates!
    3. Nim
    4. Application: How to Fly on a Plane with an Empty Seat Next to You for Free
    5. Application: Words with Friends/Scrabble 
  4. Extrapolation 
    1. Converting Extensive Form to Strategic Form
  5. Commitment Problems 
  6. Tying Hands 
  7. The Centipede Game 
    1. Problems with Backward Induction