English

Win rates at first-passage times for biased simple random walks

Probability 2025-12-29 v2

Abstract

We study the win rate RNd/NdR_{N_d}/N_d of a biased simple random walk SnS_n on Z\mathbb{Z} at the first-passage time Nd=inf{n0:Sn=d}N_d=\inf\{n\ge 0:S_n=d\}, with p=P[X1=+1][1/2,1)p=P[X_1=+1]\in[1/2,1). Using generating-function techniques and integral representations, we derive explicit formulas for the expectation and variance of RNd/NdR_{N_d}/N_d along with monotonicity properties in the threshold dd and the bias pp. We also provide closed-form expressions and use them to design unbiased coin-flipping estimators of π\pi based on first-passage sampling; the resulting schemes illustrate how biasing the coin can dramatically improve both approximation accuracy and computational cost.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2512.21254,
  title  = {Win rates at first-passage times for biased simple random walks},
  author = {F. Thomas Bruss and Davy Paindaveine},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2512.21254},
  year   = {2025}
}

Comments

12 pages, 2 figures