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CO 456Introduction to Game Theory

Units
0.50
Faculty
Mathematics
Subject
Combinatorics and Optimization

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

A broad introduction to game theory and its applications to the modelling of competition and co-operation in business, economics, and society. Two-person games in strategic form and Nash equilibria. Extensive form games, including multi-stage games. Coalition games and the core. Bayesian games, mechanism design, and auctions.

Prerequisites

  • Complete all of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • CO227 - Introduction to Optimization (Non-Specialist Level) (0.50)
      • CO250 - Introduction to Optimization (0.50)
      • CO255 - Introduction to Optimization (Advanced Level) (0.50)
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • MATH229 - Introduction to Combinatorics (Non-Specialist Level) (0.50)
      • MATH239 - Introduction to Combinatorics (0.50)
      • MATH249 - Introduction to Combinatorics (Advanced Level) (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001612896 / 96TTh 13:00–14:20

Resources

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Reviewed on UW Flow

91% liked it43% easy78% useful

From 45 ratings and 14 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Interesting course that covers the basics of game theory at an introductory level. The course with Martin Pei was divided into 3.5 parts: combinatorial games, strategic games, cooperative games, and mechanism design (0.5). Strategic games are the classic game theory of games like Prisoner's Dilemma and the such, this section has the most focus. There were 2 term tests (the first was a bit too easy and the second a bit too hard) and a final group project. The project was just to conduct further readings into more advanced topics and to present them in a paper.

    Nov 2023 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The assignments were pretty much cut and paste from the lectures. We also had the choice between a final exam and a final project. The final project was to build a bot for a chess variation. It was super fun, and there's a giant class tournament at the end.

    Dec 2022 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Took it with David Jao. There was heavy emphasis on the mathematical theories which made the course seem not immediately useful, but the theories made the concepts more memorable. You would learn enough basics of game theory to learn more on your own. Final project was writing an AI for a variant of chess game, and mark was given based on standings (zero/constant sum game!). Assignments were short and exams were fair imo. But concepts were tough.

    Jan 2017 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This course gives an interesting and theoretic treatment on, surprise surprise, games! The different units aren't really related so if you miss a couple of classes, the next unit shouldn't be that hard to pick up. That being said, the units do get more difficult so you should definitely stay caught up.
    There are bi-weekly assignments, a midterm and a final project. Assignments and midterms are nothing special. For my term, the final project was a programming assignment where you write up the code for a player of a game, for which the TAs run a tournament. You mark for it is based partially on your standing at the end, and fairly short writeup.

    Oct 2015 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Generous marking and generous grading scheme with 20% x 2 quizzes based (word-for-word subset) entirely on the homework (not for marks) and very fair midterm. Project was fun as well. Lectures were fairly theoretical but clear and engaging.

    Jan 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

112 posts and comments in 77 threads mention CO 456, December 2011 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2024

Easiest Faculty of Mathematics Course for Engineering AI option 5 points, 7 comments

u/Agishan: “Out of these what is the best option CO367 \- Nonlinear Optimization (0.50) CO456 \- Introduction to Game Theory (0.50) CO463 \- Convex Optimization and Analysis (0.50) CO466 \- Continuous Optimization (0.50) CS452 \- Real-Time Programming (0.50) CS479 \- Neural Networks (0.50) …”

u/OkRevolution1962: “341 is pretty easy but boring and annoying as hell. Pretty sure CS 479 isn’t hard and a little more interesting and applicable. CO 456 I’ve heard is also really fun and not too bad if you’re decent at math”

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CO342 2 points, 2 comments

u/SpiritedTie9025: “Hi guys, I am having a heavy course load this term, (CS246 + CS245 + CO456 + CO342), and I find that I don't have too much time on CO342. I wonder if this course really need time to comprehend and practice (since it's been only 2 weeks on this course so I can't really feel it). …”

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Spring 2024

CO 456 and CO 367 or CO 351 6 points, 4 comments

u/LazeLace1603: “As the title suggests how doable would it be for me to do CO 456 along with CO 367 or CO 351? And can anyone give me a rundown on the difficulty between these 3? I'm desperate for any help at all 😭😭😭😭😭😭”

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2A math courses selection how doable is five major courses? 10 points, 13 comments

“Honours Math, for 2A courses selection I'm choosing between the following two plans Plan A: Math 237 Stat 230 CO 250 CS246 + CLAS104 Plan B: Math 237 Stat 230 CO 250 CS246 + Math235 given that i'm …”

u/KLWG-: “I do CO330/431/456/450/442 and ECON102 in my 3B. I suggest to try how far you can go and drop some if you feel burned out.”

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Fall 2023

Spring 2023

Most Recommended CO Courses? 22 points, 21 comments

“What are your most recommended CO courses regardless of hardness? :D Thank you\”

u/S3132: “I planned to take CO 367 but seems like no one recommends it lol? Anyone took this course before? 👀”

u/harmonyIn3rdsNot4ths: “CO 367 is an excellent course, although I've enjoyed every CO course I've taken. CO 367/456/481/487 are all fun!”

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Winter 2023

Martin pei, you deserve better students. 608 points, 47 comments

“Man, he shows up every lecture excited to teach, and only like a 10th of the class shows up. There was 9 of us today in a class of like 70 ish students or something, and same on Monday. …”

u/HawkGrove: “I had Martin Pei for CO 351, MATH 239, and CO 456 - I'm so disappointed that all of those courses ended up being online only and I never actually got to have him as a prof in person. His video lectures were top tier and I can only imagine how good his in person lectures are.”

u/-Void-: “He is the best! I had him for CO 456 and CO 342, and his lectures were always on point and he was always super helpful and friendly during office hours. He also gives great advice :3”

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CO454 vs CO367 vs CO353 2 points, 8 comments

u/OrangeMint1-2: “I need to decide on one more CO course to meet my degree requirement; so far, I have done CO 351, 370 and 456. I also plan to take CO 342 in the future, which seems to be the least challenging course among my options. …”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

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