On-line Ramsey numbers

Consider the following game between two players, Builder and Painter. Builder draws edges one at a time and Painter colours them, in either red or blue, as each appears. Builder's aim is to force Painter to draw a monochromatic copy of a fixed graph G. The minimum number of edges which Builder must draw, regardless of Painter's strategy, in order to guarantee that this happens is known as the on-line Ramsey number \tilde{r}(G) of G. Our main result, relating to the conjecture that \tilde{r}(K_t) = o(\binom{r(t)}{2}), is that there exists a constant c > 1 such that \tilde{r}(K_t) \leq c^{-t} \binom{r(t)}{2} for infinitely many values of t. We also prove a more specific upper bound for this number, showing that there exists a constant c such that \tilde{r}(K_t) \leq t^{-c \frac{\log t}{\log \log t}} 4^t. Finally, we prove a new upper bound for the on-line Ramsey number of the complete bipartite graph K_{t,t}.Comment: 11 page

On-line Ramsey numbers for paths and stars

Graphs and Algorithm

On-line Ramsey numbers of paths and cycles

Consider a game played on the edge set of the infinite clique by two players, Builder and Painter. In each round, Builder chooses an edge and Painter colours it red or blue. Builder wins by creating either a red copy of $G$ or a blue copy of $H$ for some fixed graphs $G$ and $H$. The minimum number of rounds within which Builder can win, assuming both players play perfectly, is the on-line Ramsey number $\tilde{r}(G,H)$. In this paper, we consider the case where $G$ is a path $P_k$. We prove that $\tilde{r}(P_3, P_{\ell+1}) = \lceil 5\ell/4 \rceil = \tilde{r}(P_3, C_\ell)$ for all $\ell \ge 5$, and determine $\tilde{r}(P_4, P_{\ell+1}$) up to an additive constant for all $\ell \ge 3$. We also prove some general lower bounds for on-line Ramsey numbers of the form $\tilde{r}(P_{k+1},H)$.Comment: Preprin

Online Ramsey theory for a triangle on FF-free graphs

Given a class $\mathcal{C}$ of graphs and a fixed graph $H$, the online Ramsey game for $H$ on $\mathcal C$ is a game between two players Builder and Painter as follows: an unbounded set of vertices is given as an initial state, and on each turn Builder introduces a new edge with the constraint that the resulting graph must be in $\mathcal C$, and Painter colors the new edge either red or blue. Builder wins the game if Painter is forced to make a monochromatic copy of $H$ at some point in the game. Otherwise, Painter can avoid creating a monochromatic copy of $H$ forever, and we say Painter wins the game. We initiate the study of characterizing the graphs $F$ such that for a given graph $H$, Painter wins the online Ramsey game for $H$ on $F$-free graphs. We characterize all graphs $F$ such that Painter wins the online Ramsey game for $C_3$ on the class of $F$-free graphs, except when $F$ is one particular graph. We also show that Painter wins the online Ramsey game for $C_3$ on the class of $K_4$-minor-free graphs, extending a result by Grytczuk, Ha{\l}uszczak, and Kierstead.Comment: 20 pages, 10 page

Packings and coverings with Hamilton cycles and on-line Ramsey theory

A major theme in modern graph theory is the exploration of maximal packings and minimal covers of graphs with subgraphs in some given family. We focus on packings and coverings with Hamilton cycles, and prove the following results in the area. • Let ε > 0, and let $G$ be a large graph on n vertices with minimum degree at least (1=2+ ε)n. We give a tight lower bound on the size of a maximal packing of $G$ with edge-disjoint Hamilton cycles. • Let $T$ be a strongly k-connected tournament. We give an almost tight lower bound on the size of a maximal packing of $T$ with edge-disjoint Hamilton cycles. • Let log $^1$$^1$$^7$ $n$/$n$≤$p$≤1-$n$$^-$$^1$$^/$$^8$. We prove that $G$$_n$$_,$$_p$ may a.a.s be covered by a set of ⌈Δ($G$$_n$$_,$$_p$)/2⌉ Hamilton cycles, which is clearly best possible. In addition, we consider some problems in on-line Ramsey theory. Let r($G$,$H$) denote the on-line Ramsey number of $G$ and $H$. We conjecture the exact values of r ($P$$_k$,$P$$_ℓ$) for all $k$≤ℓ. We prove this conjecture for $k$=2, prove it to within an additive error of 10 for $k$=3, and prove an asymptotically tight lower bound for $k$=4. We also determine r($P$$_3$,$C$$_ℓ$ exactly for all ℓ