Discontinuous games, such as auctions, may require special tie-breaking rules to guarantee equilibrium existence. The best
results available ensure equilibrium existence only in mixed strategy with endogenously defined tie-breaking rules and communication
of private information. We show that an all-pay auction tie-breaking rule is sufficient for the existence of pure strategy
equilibrium in a class of auctions. The rule is explicitly defined and does not require communication of private information.
We also characterize when special tie-breaking rules are really needed.
Keywords Auctions - Pure strategy equilibria - Non-monotonic bidding functions - Tie-breaking rules - Necessary and sufficient conditions for equilibrium - Multidimensional types
JEL Classification Numbers C62 - C72 - D44 - D82