Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-2015
Department 1
Computer Science
Department 2
Mathematics
Abstract
We consider a one-dimensional version of the board game RISK and discuss the problem of how a defending player might choose to distribute his armies along a chain of territories in order to maximize the probability of survival. In particular, we analyze a Markov chain model of this situation and run computer simulations in order to make conjectures as to the optimal strategies. The latter sections of the paper analyze this strategy rigorously and use results on recurrence relations and probability theory in order to prove a related result.
Copyright Note
This is the publisher's version of the work. This publication appears in Gettysburg College's institutional repository by permission of the copyright owner for personal use, not for redistribution.
DOI
10.4169/math.mag.88.3.217
Recommended Citation
Glass, Darren and Todd Neller. "Optimal Defensive Strategies in One-Dimensional RISK." Mathematics Magazine 88.3 (June 2015), 217-230.
Required Publisher's Statement
Original version is available from the publisher at: http://www.maa.org/press/periodicals/mathematics-magazine/mathematics-magazine-june-2015