Game Theory: Boxing

Boxing is a fighting sport where the goal is to harm your opponent to achieve a higher score. Boxers have to condition their body on a regular basis to increase their fighting skills in speed, power and technique. If you have watched any professional boxing match, you would know how intense the fights can get. In most matches, the boxers’ faces would have taken so much damage they start bleeding.

Given this situation, the way to win is to land as much punches to their opponent’s face and body. However, if the opponent knows this, he will choose to avoid damage and try to deal damage of his own. In the boxing ring, a boxer can do one of the four actions: attack, defend, maneuver or observe. These choices apply Game Theory and is an instance of the Zero Sum situation.

When a boxer attacks, he can be nullified by a block. The attacker will lose some energy while the blocker sustain much lesser to no damage. Attacks can also be negated by a maneuver, making the attacker waste energy, balance and sight.

When a boxer defends, he will prepare for an attack but would reduce his sight.

When a boxer observes, he is looking for a perfect opportunity to attack, increasing his accuracy and critical hit chance.

Boxer A and Boxer B strategies.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/16/sports/olympics/pro-boxers-at-the-olympics.html

Mutual Friends as an effective tool for making new connections



In today’s society, people make connections with others from all kinds of backgrounds. Whether it be for business or hobbies, having a connection to share with will provide an individual with extra insight and empowerment. Therefore, it is imperative to learn effective networking skills to expand their social circle. What Does “Mutual Friend” Mean? and Psychological tricks to make people like you immediately are articles that explores the advantages of having mutual friends to establish friendship.


These article lists out 4 areas where mutual friends help in making connections: Identification, Social Networks, Dating and Mutual Friend’s Companions. To summarize, all areas make use of mutual friends to assure the new connection that you have similar traits as your mutual friends and provide a possibility of repeated encounters.

Image result for introducing a friend


For example, Charlie has known Bob for a long time and talks to Alice on the daily. at some point in time, Charlie will have overlapped time spent with them both. Normally, 2 strangers do not engage in conversation but since Alice and Bob have a mutual friend, they both assume that the other have likable traits and begin to put effort in getting to know each other.

Image result for triadic closure friends


Interestingly, this relates to Social Network’s Triadic closure. Since your mutual friend knows both you and the new connection well, you both are very likely to have a weak or strong connection.

Relevant Links:
Psychological tricks to make people like you immediately
https://dailytimes.com.pk/46941/psychological-tricks-to-make-people-like-you-immediately/

What Does “Mutual Friend” Mean?
https://oureverydaylife.com/mutual-friend-mean-10031289.html