# A Drifting-Games Analysis for Online Learning and Applications to Boosting

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/1406.1856 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/1406.1856/

## Key facts

- Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 7 Jun 2014.

## Built on by (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [Optimal Prediction Using Expert Advice and Randomized Littlestone Dimension](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.13849/) (2023)
- [Minimax Optimal Quantile and Semi-Adversarial Regret via Root-Logarithmic Regularizers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.14804/) (2021)
- [A New Approach to Drifting Games, Based on Asymptotically Optimal Potentials](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2207.11405/) (2022)
- [Bandit Sampling for Multiplex Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2202.03621/) (2022)
- [Learning to maximize global influence from local observations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.11909/) (2021)

## Abstract (arXiv)

We provide a general mechanism to design online learning algorithms based on a minimax analysis within a drifting-games framework. Different online learning settings (Hedge, multi-armed bandit problems and online convex optimization) are studied by converting into various kinds of drifting games. The original minimax analysis for drifting games is then used and generalized by applying a series of relaxations, starting from choosing a convex surrogate of the 0-1 loss function. With different choices of surrogates, we not only recover existing algorithms, but also propose new algorithms that are totally parameter-free and enjoy other useful properties. Moreover, our drifting-games framework naturally allows us to study high probability bounds without resorting to any concentration results, and also a generalized notion of regret that measures how good the algorithm is compared to all but the top small fraction of candidates. Finally, we translate our new Hedge algorithm into a new adaptive boosting algorithm that is computationally faster as shown in experiments, since it ignores a large number of examples on each round.