Generative Gamer: Learning Equilibrium Strategy by LLM-driven Dynamic Deduction
TL;DR
GenGamer is introduced, a framework that trains LLMs to reason like an expert player, and proposes the Deduction Tree Reward (DTR), a process-oriented mechanism that provides step-by-step feedback on the quality of the reasoning process, rather than relying solely on the final game outcome.
Abstract
Large Language Models (LLMs) have demonstrated remarkable general capabilities, yet they falter in domains requiring deep strategic reasoning. A primary obstacle is the need to navigate a game tree that grows exponentially with search depth, a task for which their generative nature is ill-suited. To address this, we introduce Generative Gamer (GenGamer), a framework that trains LLMs to reason like an expert player. Instead of attempting an exhaustive search, GenGamer learns to generate a compact, pruned reasoning trajectory termed as a Dynamic Deduction. This is achieved by integrating three key strategies: action pruning based on policy confidence, state pruning via value estimation, and branch pruning inspired by alpha-beta principles. Furthermore, to train the model effectively, we propose the Deduction Tree Reward (DTR), a process-oriented mechanism that provides step-by-step feedback on the quality of the reasoning process, rather than relying solely on the final game outcome. Experiments on complex games such as Tic-Tac-Toe and Leduc Poker demonstrate that GenGamer significantly enhances the strategic capabilities of LLMs, enabling them to achieve performance that surpasses current state-of-the-art language models.