A note on the relationship between the Szlenk and $w^*$-dentability indices of arbitrary $w^*$-compact sets

Abstract: We prove the optimal estimate between the Szlenk and $w^*$-dentability indices of an arbitrary $w^*$-compact subset of the dual of a Banach space. For a given $w^*$-compact, convex subset $K$ of the dual of a Banach space, we introduce a two player game the winning strategies of which determine the Szlenk index of $K$. We give applications to the $w^*$-dentability index of a Banach space and of an operator.