[Math] Optimal Mixed Strategies

game theory

I'm trying to understand how I would find the optimal mixed strategies in zero sum games. For example… given the following zero sum game in standard strategic form…

\begin{array}{r|r|}
+8 & -2 \\
-4 & +20\\
\end{array}

How would I find the optimal mixed strategy for the given player?

Best Answer

Suppose hero chooses first strategy (payoffs +8/-2) with probability $p$. We want to have the same expectation independent of which strategy the other player chooses. So

$$ 8p -4(1-p) = -2p + 20(1-p) \Rightarrow p = \frac{12}{17}.$$

gives the optimal mixed strategy.

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