Two-person zero-sum games without expected utility preferences: a proposal

A solution concept for two-person zero-sum games is proposed with only the Independence axiom assumed of players' preferences. We do not assume Continuity which is critical for many fixed-point theorems. Each player is shown to admit a set of "admissible" strategies assuring minimum guarantees. Rationality requires agents to reject non-admissible strategies in further considerations. Knowledge assumptions imply iterated elimination of non-admissible strategies resulting in surviving sets whose cross product are "consideration equilibria". Consideration equilibria always exist and include Nash equilibria if any. Consideration equilibria and Nash equilibria (or, minimax strategies) coincide if preferences are also Continuous. Further, consideration equilibria of a game are contained in the set of minimax strategies of the continuous approximation of the given game. Three applications of the solution concept are presented.

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Publication Details

Journal
International Journal of Game Theory
Published
2026-08-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00182-026-01006-z
Primary Topic
Game Theory and Applications
Type
article
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article

Two-person zero-sum games without expected utility preferences: a proposal

Siddharth G. Chatterjee
International Journal of Game Theory
Game Theory and Applications
article

Two-person zero-sum games without expected utility preferences: a proposal

Siddharth G. Chatterjee
article en

Abstract

A solution concept for two-person zero-sum games is proposed with only the Independence axiom assumed of players' preferences. We do not assume Continuity which is critical for many fixed-point theorems. Each player is shown to admit a set of "admissible" strategies assuring minimum guarantees. Rationality requires agents to reject non-admissible strategies in further considerations. Knowledge assumptions imply iterated elimination of non-admissible strategies resulting in surviving sets whose cross product are "consideration equilibria". Consideration equilibria always exist and include Nash equilibria if any. Consideration equilibria and Nash equilibria (or, minimax strategies) coincide if preferences are also Continuous. Further, consideration equilibria of a game are contained in the set of minimax strategies of the continuous approximation of the given game. Three applications of the solution concept are presented.

International Journal of Game TheoryVol. 55(2)
University of Essex (GB), Indian Statistical Institute (IN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 100%
Game Theory and Applications
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Two-person zero-sum games without expected utility preferences: a proposal — Siddharth G. Chatterjee · International Journal of Game Theory (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS