How to Play Out of Equilibrium: Beating the Play

Abstract

Beating the play is a novel method for how to play a simultaneous move game without conjectures about how others play the game. A strategy beats the play if its payoff is higher than when playing like others play the game, regardless of how they play the game. Only Nash equilibrium strategies of the hypothetical game in which you play against copies of yourself can beat the play. It is possible to beat the play in numerous games. Many extensions are presented and a close connection to evolutionary game theory is uncovered.