Statistical Modeling to Inform Optimal Game Strategy: Markov Plays H-O-R-S-E

We illustrate practical uses of logistic regression and Markov chains by applying these concepts to the problem of developing optimal strategy in the popular basketball game of H-O-R-S-E. Based on data collected by the authors, we estimate model parameters for each author, describe strategies of optimizing each author.s probability of winning, and calculate the stationary distribution of a Markov chain that arises from the game.