Any gain by the winner must harm the loser?

This statement reflects the concept of zero-sum games, where one participant's gain is exactly balanced by the losses of another participant. In such scenariOS, the total resources or benefits are fixed, meaning any advantage gained by one party directly results in a disadvantage for the other. This idea is often applied in competitive environments, such as sports or certain economic transactions, where the interests of the participants are directly opposed. However, not all situations are zero-sum; in many cases, cooperation can lead to mutual benefits.