CS639: Algorithmic Game Theory & Learning

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Spring 2026

Lecture Notes

Course overview, Slides.
Chapter 1: General sum games (4-6 lectures), Slides.
Chapter 2: Zero sum games (1-2 lectures), Slides.
Chapter 3: Solving games via linear programming (1-2 lectures).
Chapter 4: Online learning (1-2 lectures).
Chapter 5: Learning in games (3-4 lectures).
Chapter 6: Mechanism design without money (4-6 lectures).
Chapter 7: Mechanism design with money (3-5 lectures).
Chapter 8: Cooperative game theory (2-3 lectures).

Date	Topics	Reading	Announcements
Tue. 1/20	Course overview and logistics, Begin Ch0, normal form games, dominant strategy equilibria	KP Chapter 4	Homework 0 released
Thu. 1/22	Safe strategies, Nash equilibria, indifference principle	KP Chapter 4
Tue. 1/27
Thu. 1/29			Homework 0 due on 1/30
Tue. 2/3
Thu. 2/5
Tue. 2/10
Thu. 2/12			Homework 1 due on 2/13
Tue. 2/17
Thu. 2/19
Tue. 2/24
Thu. 2/26			Homework 2 due on 2/27
Tue. 3/3
Thu. 3/5
Tue. 3/10
Thu. 3/12			Homework 3 due on 3/13
Tue. 3/17
Thu. 3/19
Tue. 3/24
Thu. 3/26			Homework 4 due on 3/27
Tue. 3/31	Spring break
Thu. 4/2	Spring break
Tue. 4/7
Thu. 4/9
Tue. 4/14
Thu. 4/16			Homework 5 due on 4/17
Tue. 4/21
Thu. 4/23
Tue. 4/28
Thu. 4/30			Homework 6 due on 5/01
Wed. 5/06	Final exam, 12.25 PM – 2.25 PM