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Emile comments on A simple game that has no solution - Less Wrong Discussion

10 Post author: James_Miller 20 July 2014 06:36PM

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Comment author: Emile 20 July 2014 09:35:50PM *  11 points [-]

... Let's do that!

Simple model: A plays A, B and C with probabilities a, b, and c, with the constraint that each must be above the trembling probability t (=p/3 using the p above). (Two doesn't tremble for simplicity's sake)

Two picks X with probability x and Y with probability (1-x).

So their expected utilities are:

One: 3a + 2b+6c(1-x)

Two: 2b(1-x) + cx = 2*b + (c - 2b) x

It seems pretty clear that One wants b to be as low as possible (either a or c will always be better), so we can set b=t.

So One's utility is (constant) - 3c+6c -6cx

So One wants c to maximize (1-2x)c, and Two wants x to maximize (c-2t)c

The Nash equilibrium is at 1-2x=0 and c-2t=0, so c=2t and x=0.5

So in other words, if One's hand can tremble than he should also sometimes deliberately pick C to make it twice as likely as B, and Two should flip a coin.

(and as t converges towards 0, we do indeed get One always picking A)

Comment author: James_Miller 20 July 2014 09:57:25PM 1 point [-]

Excellent! This does indeed work given the assumption that Player 1 can not set the probability of himself picking B at zero. But if Player 1 can set the probability of him picking B at zero, the game still has no solution.