Combinatorial game theory

Combinatorial game theory is a branch of mathematics and theoretical computer science that typically studies sequential games with perfect information. Research in this field has primarily focused on two-player games in which a position evolves through alternating moves, each governed by well-defined rules, with the aim of achieving a specific winning condition. Unlike economic game theory, combinatorial game theory generally avoids the study of games of chance or games involving imperfect information, preferring instead games in which the current state and the full set of available moves are always known to both players.

However, as mathematical techniques develop, the scope of analyzable games expands, and the boundaries of the field continue to evolve.
Authors typically define the term "game" at the outset of academic papers, with definitions tailored to the specific game under analysis rather than reflecting the field’s full scope.

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