Introduction

The area of strategic game playing has been studied in computer science for almost as long as computer science itself. Games raise the question of whether computers can make good decisions based on the evaluation of present situations and prediction of possible future situations. They also provide a suitable platform for the experimentation of different areas in not only computer science, but also areas such as cognitive thinking, economics and mathematics.

Games generally have a clearly defined set of rules and a specific goal, and these properties are highly desirable for research in computer science. Most games of skill feature simple logistics but require complex strategies to be successful, allowing many interesting experiments to be undertaken. In addition, the development of a program to play a strategic game often involves the application of theoretical concepts to practical situations. Programs that implement different theories can compete against one another to provide a comparison of the effectiveness of these theories in a practical setting.