Chinese chess competition strategy analysis based on the zero-sum game

Abstract

As a desktop game with a long history, Chinese chess has been widely circulated. In recent years, Chinese chess championships have become increasingly popular. During the competition, in addition to the individual abilities of the participants, the use of different strategies in the competition also become another major factor affecting the outcome of the competition. Based on the fixed ability values of the contestants, this research focuses on discussing the selection of strategies. This paper will adopt points-based match rules in common competitions and quantify the player's ability values for making a data analysis about nine different strategies. Due to the use of a point system in the competition, this research could use zero-sum game for analysis. According to zero-sum game and Nash equilibrium, the payoff matrix could be obtained. Furthermore, a precise linear program model is built. After the calculation, this research presents a result about which strategies should be used in the competition and provide an analytical explanation.