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Super-Nash Performance

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  • Mehmet S. Ismail

Abstract

In this paper, I introduce a novel benchmark in games, super-Nash performance, and a solution concept, optimin, whereby players maximize their minimal payoff under unilateral profitable deviations by other players. Optimin achieves super-Nash performance in that, for every Nash equilibrium, there exists an optimin where each player not only receives but also guarantees super-Nash payoffs under unilateral profitable deviations by others. Further, optimin generalizes Nash equilibrium in n-person constant-sum games and coincides with it when n=2. Finally, optimin is consistent with the direction of non-Nash deviations in games in which cooperation has been extensively studied.

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  • Mehmet S. Ismail, 2019. "Super-Nash Performance," Papers 1912.00211, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2025.
    • Handle: RePEc:arx:papers:1912.00211
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mehmet S. Ismail, 2022. "Exploring the Constraints on Artificial General Intelligence: A Game-Theoretic No-Go Theorem," Papers 2209.12346, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2023.
    2. Mehmet Mars Seven, 2023. "Game Intelligence: Theory and Computation," Papers 2302.13937, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2025.
    3. Mehmet S. Ismail, 2022. "Optimin achieves super-Nash performance," Papers 2210.00625, arXiv.org.

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