minimax
Worst-case decision strategy
Minimax is a decision-making strategy that minimizes the maximum possible loss.
In game theory and computer science, minimax algorithms evaluate moves by assuming your opponent will always play optimally against you: The chess engine uses minimax to calculate the best move.
The approach applies broadly to any situation where you want to limit your worst-case outcome.
Balanced gains and losses
- adversarialCharacterized by conflict
- two-playerDesigned for paired participation
- worst-caseMost unfavorable outcome imaginable
- equilibriumState of balance
Cutting vegetation for health
- recursiveDefined in terms of itself
- depth-firstExhausts branches before siblings
- branchingSplitting into separate directions
- backtrackingReversing to find alternatives
heuristic · cutoff · quiescence · ply · lookahead · propagation
Strategic board game
- checkersDiagonal jumping board game
- tic-tac-toeThree-in-a-row grid game
- goMove from here
- shogiJapanese tactical board game
xiangqi · draughts · backgammon · turn-based · two-player · endgame · AlphaGo
Most unfavorable outcome imaginable
- trade-offExchange requiring sacrifice
- boundedConfined within limits
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
- min-maxOptimal play against adversity
State of awaiting something
Sample-based inference rule
- admissibilityQuality of being permitted
- robustnessResistance to failure
zero-sum
Balanced gains and losses
- adversarialCharacterized by conflict
- two-playerDesigned for paired participation
- worst-caseMost unfavorable outcome imaginable
pruning
Cutting vegetation for health
- recursiveDefined in terms of itself
- depth-firstExhausts branches before siblings
- branchingSplitting into separate directions
backtracking · heuristic · cutoff · quiescence · ply · lookahead · propagation
chess
Strategic board game
- checkersDiagonal jumping board game
- tic-tac-toeThree-in-a-row grid game
- goMove from here
shogi · xiangqi · draughts · backgammon · turn-based · two-player · endgame · AlphaGo
worst-case
Most unfavorable outcome imaginable
- trade-offExchange requiring sacrifice
- boundedConfined within limits
- constraintLimiting condition or rule
anticipation
State of awaiting something
estimator
Sample-based inference rule
- admissibilityQuality of being permitted
- robustnessResistance to failure
- game theoryzero-sum game, prisoners dilemma, payoff, equilibrium, cooperative games
- graphsgraph, bar graph, line graph, pie chart, scatter plot
- algorithmsalgorithm, algorithms, DFS, binary search, A star
- game AIchess engine, search algorithm, game bot, pruning, decision trees
- strategy gameschess, strategy, checkers, go, Go
- votingballot, vote, voters, ballots, voter
- bare minimumSmallest acceptable quantity
- minimum wageLowest lawful hourly rate
- minimum paymentLowest acceptable installment amount
- minimum ageYoungest permitted threshold
- minimum securityLeast restrictive custody level
- minimum balanceLeast funds needed
minimal, minimum, minimize, minimalist, minimalism, minimizes, minimization, minimizing, minimalistic