The solution to an open problem for a caching game

Abstract

In a caching game introduced by Alpern et al., a Hider who can dig to a total fixed depth normalized to $1$ buries a fixed number of objects among $n$ discrete locations. A Searcher who can dig to a total depth of $h$ searches the locations with the aim of finding all of the hidden objects. If he does so, he wins, otherwise the Hider wins. This zero-sum game is complicated to analyze even for small values of its parameters, and for the case of $2$ hidden objects has been completely solved only when the game is played in up to $3$ locations. For some values of $h$ the solution of the game with $2$ objects hidden in $4$ locations is known, but the solution in the remaining cases was an open question recently highlighted by Fokkink et al. Here we solve the remaining cases of the game with $2$ objects hidden in $4$ locations. We also give some more general results for the game, in particular using a geometrical argument to show that when there are $2$ objects hidden in $n$ locations and $n \rightarrow \infty$, the value of the game is asymptotically equal to $h/n$ for $h \ge n/2$.