Learning Two-Player Markov Games: Neural Function Approximation and Correlated Equilibrium
Chris Junchi Li, Dongruo Zhou, Quanquan Gu, Michael I. Jordan
Abstract
We consider learning Nash equilibria in two-player zero-sum Markov Games with nonlinear function approximation, where the action-value function is approximated by a function in a Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS). The key challenge is how to do exploration in the high-dimensional function space. We propose a novel online learning algorithm to find a Nash equilibrium by minimizing the duality gap. At the core of our algorithms are upper and lower confidence bounds that are derived based on the principle of optimism in the face of uncertainty. We prove that our algorithm is able to attain an O( √ T ) regret with polynomial computational complexity, under very mild assumptions on the reward function and the underlying dynamic of the Markov Games. We also propose several extensions of our algorithm, including an algorithm with a Bernstein-type bonus that can achieve a tighter regret bound, and another algorithm for model misspecification that can be applied to neural network function approximation.
Ask about this paper
Your agent reads all of it.
Lune indexed this paper to the last equation, along with the top-tier papers that cite it. Ask a question and the answer quotes them.
Your agent calls
Luneget_paper_fulltext
Free to start. No credit card required.
Terminal
Install the CLIlune papers fulltext 6bf02ccc-a8e3-408d-b713-bce25282dc98Cited by top-tier papers3
- Achieving Fairness in Multi-Agent MDP Using Reinforcement LearningPeizhong Ju, Arnob Ghosh, Ness B. ShroffICLR 2024 · 8 citations
- Near-Optimal Reinforcement Learning with Self-Play under Adaptivity ConstraintsDan Qiao, Yu-Xiang WangICML 2024 · 5 citations
- Solving Neural Min-Max Games: The Role of Architecture, Initialization & DynamicsDeep Patel, Emmanouil-Vasileios Vlatakis-GkaragkounisNeurIPS 2025 · 1 citation
Builds on14
- Neural Contextual Bandits with UCB-based ExplorationDongruo Zhou, Lihong Li, Quanquan GuICML 2020 · 329 citations
- Model-Based Reinforcement Learning with Value-Targeted RegressionAlex Ayoub, Zeyu Jia, Csaba Szepesvári, Mengdi Wang et al.ICML 2020 · 324 citations
- Reinforcement Learning in Feature Space: Matrix Bandit, Kernels, and Regret BoundLin Yang, Mengdi WangICML 2020 · 308 citations
- Bellman Eluder Dimension: New Rich Classes of RL Problems, and Sample-Efficient AlgorithmsChi Jin, Qinghua Liu, Sobhan MiryoosefiNeurIPS 2021 · 264 citations
- Learning Near Optimal Policies with Low Inherent Bellman ErrorAndrea Zanette, Alessandro Lazaric, Mykel J. Kochenderfer, Emma BrunskillICML 2020 · 238 citations
Related papers
- The Power of Exploiter: Provable Multi-Agent RL in Large State SpacesChi Jin, Qinghua Liu, Tiancheng YuICML 2022 · 59 citations
- Minimax-Optimal Multi-Agent RL in Markov Games With a Generative ModelGen Li, Yuejie Chi, Yuting Wei, Yuxin ChenNeurIPS 2022 · 23 citations
- O(T-1 Convergence of Optimistic-Follow-the-Regularized-Leader in Two-Player Zero-Sum Markov GamesYuepeng Yang, Cong MaICLR 2023 · 1 citation
- A Self-Play Posterior Sampling Algorithm for Zero-Sum Markov GamesWei Xiong, Han Zhong, Chengshuai Shi, Cong Shen et al.ICML 2022 · 24 citations
- On Reward-Free RL with Kernel and Neural Function Approximations: Single-Agent MDP and Markov GameShuang Qiu, Jieping Ye, Zhaoran Wang, Zhuoran YangICML 2021 · 27 citations
