Free choosability of the cycle

Abstract

A graph $G$ is free $(a,b)$-choosable if for any vertex $v$ with $b$ colors assigned and for any list of colors of size $a$ associated with each vertex $u\ne v$, the coloring can be completed by choosing for $u$ a subset of $b$ colors such that adjacent vertices are colored with disjoint color sets. In this note, a necessary and sufficient condition for a cycle to be free $(a,b)$-choosable is given. As a corollary, some choosability results are derived for graphs in which cycles are connected by a tree structure.