On-line Chain Partitions of Up-growing Semi-orders

Abstract

On-line chain partition is a two-player game between Spoiler and Algorithm. Spoiler presents a partially ordered set, point by point. Algorithm assigns incoming points (immediately and irrevocably) to the chains which constitute a chain partition of the order. The value of the game for orders of width $w$ is a minimum number $\fVal(w)$ such that Algorithm has a strategy using at most $\fVal(w)$ chains on orders of width at most $w$. We analyze the chain partition game for up-growing semi-orders. Surprisingly, the golden ratio comes into play and the value of the game is $\lfloor\frac{1+\sqrt{5}}{2}\; w \rfloor$.