Alpha-Beta Pruning

Alpha-beta pruning is an optimization technique used in decision-making algorithms like minimax, which evaluate possible moves in a game. It systematically eliminates branches of the decision tree that won't influence the final decision, saving time. By keeping track of the best options already found (alpha) and the worst acceptable outcomes (beta), the algorithm avoids exploring moves that can't improve the outcome. This process speeds up calculations without changing the result, allowing computers to analyze game options more efficiently and make better decisions faster.