On the Constructor-Blocker Game

Abstract

In the Constructor-Blocker game, two players, Constructor and Blocker, alternatively claim unclaimed edges of the complete graph $K_n$. For given graphs $F$ and $H$, Constructor can only claim edges that leave her graph $F$-free, while Blocker has no restrictions. Constructor's goal is to build as many copies of $H$ as she can, while Blocker attempts to stop this. The game ends once there are no more edges that Constructor can claim. The score $g(n,H,F)$ of the game is the number of copies of $H$ in Constructor's graph at the end of the game, when both players play optimally and Constructor plays first. In this paper, we extend results of Patk\'os, Stojakovi\'c and Vizer on $g(n, H, F)$ to many pairs of $H$ and $F$: We determine $g(n, H, F)$ when $H=K_r$ and $\chi(F)>r$, also when both $H$ and $F$ are odd cycles, using Szemer\'edi's Regularity Lemma. We also obtain bounds of $g(n, H, F)$ when $H=K_3$ and $F=K_{2,2}$.