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Main Authors: Yuan, Xiaopeng, Zhang, Xingjian, Xu, Ke, Xu, Yifan, Yu, Lijun, Wang, Jindong, Dong, Yushun, Wang, Haohan
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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Online Access:https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.12012
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author Yuan, Xiaopeng
Zhang, Xingjian
Xu, Ke
Xu, Yifan
Yu, Lijun
Wang, Jindong
Dong, Yushun
Wang, Haohan
author_facet Yuan, Xiaopeng
Zhang, Xingjian
Xu, Ke
Xu, Yifan
Yu, Lijun
Wang, Jindong
Dong, Yushun
Wang, Haohan
contents Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used for tasks that require complex reasoning. Most benchmarks focus on final outcomes but overlook the intermediate reasoning steps - such as planning, revision, and decision making under resource constraints. We argue that measuring these internal processes is essential for understanding model behavior and improving reliability. We propose using strategic games as a natural evaluation environment: closed, rule-based systems with clear states, limited resources, and automatic feedback. We introduce a framework that evaluates LLMs along three core dimensions: planning, revision, and resource-constrained decision making. To operationalize this, we define metrics beyond win rate, including overcorrection risk rate, correction success rate, improvement slope, and over-budget ratio. In 4320 adversarial rounds across 12 leading models, ChatGPT-o3-mini achieves the top composite score, with a win rate of 74.7 percent, a correction success rate of 78.6 percent, and an improvement slope of 0.041. By contrast, Qwen-Plus, despite an overcorrection risk rate of 81.6 percent, wins only 25.6 percent of its matches - primarily due to excessive resource use. We also observe a negative correlation between overcorrection risk rate and correction success rate (Pearson r = -0.51, p = 0.093), suggesting that more frequent edits do not always improve outcomes. Our findings highlight the value of assessing not only what LLMs decide but how they arrive at those decisions
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_12012
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Tracing LLM Reasoning Processes with Strategic Games: A Framework for Planning, Revision, and Resource-Constrained Decision Making
Yuan, Xiaopeng
Zhang, Xingjian
Xu, Ke
Xu, Yifan
Yu, Lijun
Wang, Jindong
Dong, Yushun
Wang, Haohan
Artificial Intelligence
Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used for tasks that require complex reasoning. Most benchmarks focus on final outcomes but overlook the intermediate reasoning steps - such as planning, revision, and decision making under resource constraints. We argue that measuring these internal processes is essential for understanding model behavior and improving reliability. We propose using strategic games as a natural evaluation environment: closed, rule-based systems with clear states, limited resources, and automatic feedback. We introduce a framework that evaluates LLMs along three core dimensions: planning, revision, and resource-constrained decision making. To operationalize this, we define metrics beyond win rate, including overcorrection risk rate, correction success rate, improvement slope, and over-budget ratio. In 4320 adversarial rounds across 12 leading models, ChatGPT-o3-mini achieves the top composite score, with a win rate of 74.7 percent, a correction success rate of 78.6 percent, and an improvement slope of 0.041. By contrast, Qwen-Plus, despite an overcorrection risk rate of 81.6 percent, wins only 25.6 percent of its matches - primarily due to excessive resource use. We also observe a negative correlation between overcorrection risk rate and correction success rate (Pearson r = -0.51, p = 0.093), suggesting that more frequent edits do not always improve outcomes. Our findings highlight the value of assessing not only what LLMs decide but how they arrive at those decisions
title Tracing LLM Reasoning Processes with Strategic Games: A Framework for Planning, Revision, and Resource-Constrained Decision Making
topic Artificial Intelligence
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.12012