zero-sum game
/ˈzɪəroʊ sʌm ˌɡeɪm/
a situation where one player's gain equals another's loss
zero-sum game in a sentence
“Chess is a zero-sum game; one player wins, the other loses.”
Origin of zero-sum game
From zero + sum, referring to total payoffs equaling zero
Related Words
positive-sum game
a situation where all players can benefit simultaneously
prisoner's dilemma
a game where rational self-interest leads to worse collective outcomes
minimax
a strategy minimizing the maximum possible loss
mixed strategy
a strategy involving randomization among possible moves
information asymmetry
a situation where some players have more information than others
game theory
the study of mathematical models of strategic interaction