Lab 1Back Brief

02 April 2014

LTC Joseph Snel-USAR

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Purpose

• To analyze the individual strategies and thought processes of opposing players in the following games:

– Tic-tac-toe– Checkers– Chess– Battleship

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Agenda

• Approach and questions of interest• Game background and rules• Results• Summary

Questions of Interest

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• Would Blue side like to go first?• What is each sides objective for their first

turn?• How do each sides objectives change

throughout the game?• Does attrition matter or influence strategy?• Based on the results, what would each side

due differently?

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Game 1: Tic-Tac-Toe

• The game:– Players alternate turns, placing either an X or O in

a 3X3 matrix• Game objectives and ending conditions:

– To place 3 X’s or O’s in a row in either a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal pattern

– Once the victory condition is met or all 9 matrix blocks are filled

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Game 1: Tic-Tac-Toe (Cont’d)

• Constraints and Limitations– Open game

• Assumptions– Both players want to win the game– Both players have previous experience playing and

have preconceived strategies.

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Game 1: Tic-Tac-Toe (Cont’d)

• Results– All games resulted in a tie– Strategy dictated each players move after the first turn

• Questions and Analysis  Blue Red

Do you want to start first? Yes: easier to win Yes: Only opportunity to win; guaranteed not to lose

First turn objective? Place first move for a chance to win and not lose center square to not lose

Did objective change? No No

Affects of Attrition? N/A N/A

What would you do differently Nothing Go first if possible

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Game 1: Tic-Tac-Toe (Cont’d)

• Summary– Very simplistic game with limited strategies– First player advantage

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Game 2: Checkers

• The game:– Players alternate turns on an 8X8 board with the

goal of eliminating the other teams pieces (12); which they accomplish by jumping over them.

• Game objectives and ending conditions:– To jump all 12 of the opposing sides pieces.– Once the victory condition or in the event that no

further moves by either side are possible

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Game 2: Checkers (Cont’d)

• Constraints and Limitations– Open game

• Assumptions– Both players want to win the game– Both players have previous experience playing and

have preconceived strategies.

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Game 2: Checkers (Cont’d)

• Results– Red was victorious (25 moves, 12 / 4 killed)

• Questions and Analysis  Blue Red

Do you want to start first? Yes: easier to win No: Wanted the option to initiate the taking of pieces

First turn objective? Have the first attack Keep the center of the board open

Did objective change? Yes, after first attrition switched sides for their attack

No, wanted to keep pieces on the edge of the board and keep pieces in a two deep formation.

Affects of Attrition? Changed strategy N/A

What would you do differently Stay to the sides of the board and move sequential pieces Nothing

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Game 2: Checkers (Cont’d)

• Summary– Interesting that both sides would again want to go

first, and second, respectively.• First or second player advantage?

– Both players agree that staying out of the middle was a priority

– Strategy was the determining outcome in the game… both sides had 3 losses after the 7th move.

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Game 4: Battleship

• The game:– Players alternate turns, on an 10X10 board,

selecting grid coordinates in an attempt to locate and hit the opponent ships.

• Game objectives and ending conditions:– To eliminate the other opponents five (5) ships

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Game 4: Battleship (Cont’d)

• Constraints and Limitations– Closed game

• Assumptions– Both players want to win the game– Both players have previous experience playing and

have preconceived strategies.

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Game 4: Battleship (Cont’d)

• Results (Red wins)– Red takes the advantage early on with the first hit followed

by the sinking of Blues first ship within six (6) turns.– Blue mirrors Red for the first two ships sunk respectively

(4x, 3x) thru turn 15.– Blue takes the advantage by move 21 sinking Red’s 2x.– Red sinks Blues 5x in the 23rd turn.– Red sinks the remaining two ships in turns 27 and 32.– Blue hits Red’s forth ship in turn 31.

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Game 4: Battleship (Cont’d)

• Questions and Analysis  Blue Red

Do you want to start first? Yes: have 1st shot Yes: 1st shot advantage

First turn objective? Diagonal search pattern Random search

Did objective change? Yes, at first hit, zero in for kill then resume

Yes, at first hit, zero in for kill then resume

Affects of Attrition? N/A N/A

What would you do differently Positions ships more as a group

1. Change the number of ships vertical and horizontal

positions.2. Adapt a less random search

pattern.

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Game 4: Battleship (Cont’d)

• Summary– It would appear the random search pattern would

be the winning option early on– It would appear the overall win is in favor of the

structured-pattern searcher– The opponents decided there is a need to change

initial strategies (outcome independent)

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Constraints, Limitations, Assumptions

• Constraints.

• Limitations.• Assumptions.

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Problem Statement and Issues for Analysis

Problem Statement: To...

Issue #1: What ….? %%%%Can include sub-questions if necessary

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Approach

• Words and a diagram or just words.

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Results

• Should be an overall results slide that addresses the top level problem as well as drill down slides for each of the issues for analysis and/or sub-questions – these drill down slides should have the detail and support for your conclusion or --- recommend a figure and words describing the results of the analysis..

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Overall Emerging ResultsIssue 1: What …?

• Summary statement for subordinate q1: • Summary statement for subordinate q1:

Sub-question 1….

Sub-question 2…

Figure supporting

conclusions

Summary

• Few bullets stating the answers to your questions.

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