26 Game Theory Lessons for Kids & Teens 📚

Every great strategist starts somewhere. Pick a puzzle and start thinking — 7 lessons are free forever, no signup needed.

How old is the learner?

The Prisoner's Dilemma

Two suspects must decide: betray your partner or stay silent? Discover why cooperation is harder than it seems.

Sharing the Cake

How do you split something so everyone feels it's fair? Learn the 'I cut, you choose' strategy!

Beyond Rock-Paper-Scissors

There's real strategy hidden in this simple game. Learn mixed strategies and how to be unpredictable.

The Game of Chicken

Two cars race toward each other — who swerves first? Explore bravery, bluffing, and brinkmanship.

Nash Equilibrium

When nobody can improve by changing their move alone, you've found a Nash Equilibrium. Mind = blown!

Tragedy of the Commons

A shared lake, a forest, the planet — why do people overuse shared resources, and how can we stop it?

Auction Strategies

Should you bid high or low? Learn about winner's curse and why the smartest bid isn't always the biggest.

The simplest strategy that wins tournaments: start nice, then mirror your opponent. Kindness pays off!

Dominant Strategy

Sometimes one choice is best no matter what others do. Learn to spot the obvious winning move.

Matching Pennies

One player wants to match, the other wants to mismatch. A perfect intro to zero-sum thinking!

Hunt a big stag together or catch a small rabbit alone? Trust and teamwork vs. playing it safe.

The Ultimatum Game

You get $100 to split — but if the other player rejects your offer, nobody gets anything!

Zero-Sum vs Win-Win

Some games have a fixed pie; others grow it. Learn to tell them apart before you pick a strategy.

Backward Induction

Start at the end and work backwards. The secret trick chess players and negotiators both use.

Signals & Bluffs

How do you prove you're telling the truth? Costly signals separate the real from the fake.

Which Side of the Road?

No conflict, just coordination. Everyone wins if you match — but which choice do you both pick?

The Public Goods Game

Everyone chips into a pot that grows and gets shared. Do you contribute — or free-ride?

Send money to a stranger, it triples — will they send any back? The economics of trust.

The Voting Paradox

A beats B, B beats C, and C beats A. Why group preferences can go in circles.

The Coordination Clash

You both want to be together, but you want different plans. Who gives in — and how do you decide?

The Centipede Game

The pot doubles every round — but whoever grabs first takes the bigger share. When do you stop?

Fight for the prize or share it peacefully? Evolution's answer to conflict, played out in animals.

The Monty Hall Problem

Three doors, one prize. After a door opens, should you switch? The answer surprises almost everyone.

Guess 2/3 of the Average

Pick a number and outthink everyone else — but they're trying to outthink you too. Levels of thinking!

The Shadow of the Future

Playing once vs. playing forever changes everything. Why repeat business makes people nicer.

Commitment & Credible Threats

Burning your own bridges can win the battle. Why limiting your options makes you stronger.