Originally written to define the relation between the theories of transfinite numbers and mathematical games, the resulting work is a mathematically sophisticated but eminently enjoyable guide to game theory. By defining numbers as the strengths of positions in certain games, the author arrives at a new class that includes both real numbers and ordinal numbers: surreal numbers. The second edition presents developments in mathematical game theory, focusing on surreal numbers and the additive theory of partizan games.

John H. Conway- John von Neumann Professor of Mathematics, Princeton University

Prologue, Preface, Zeroth Part . . . On Numbers Chapter 0: All Numbers Great and Small Chapter 1: The Class No is a Field Chapter 2: The Real and Ordinal Numbers Chapter 3: The Structure of the General Surreal Number Chapter 4: Algebra and Analysis of Numbers Chapter 5: Number Theory in the Land of Oz Chapter 6: The Curious Field On2 First Part... and Games Chapter 7: Playing Several Games at Once Chapter 8: Some Games are Already Numbers Chapter 9: On Games and Numbers Chapter 10: Simplifying Games Chapter 11: Impartial Games and the Game of Nim Chapter 12: How to Lose when you Must Chapter 13: Animating Functions, Welter's Game and Hackenbush Unrestrained Chapter 14: How to Play Several Games at Once in a Dozen Different Ways Chapter 15: Ups, Downs and Bynumbers Chapter 16: The Long and the Short and the Small. Epilogue