DETERMINING THE OPTIMAL STRATEGIES FOR PLAYING ŠIJAVICA BY USING GAME THEORY

Game theory is a mathematical discipline which by modeling real-life situations as games and analyzing the conflicts that occur in these games allows determining of optimal strategies for dealing with modeled situations. Game theory can be applied in various scientific fields, from mathematics, through the economy, to politics. The paper defines the basic concepts related to game theory and matrix games, showing the modeling of old game šijavica as a matrix game. Optimal strategies for playing the game are determined. Among the 25 possible strategies for each player, there are only five strategies to be chosen and they have to be chosen with equal probabilities. Also is verified that the game is fair, i.e. that the players are equal in the game. Knowing the optimal strategy for playing a game allows the player to achieve a better result, in accordance with established rules of the game, and regardless of the strategies chosen by the opponent.