Game Theory Foundations

What Game Theory Foundations covers

Not a glossary of GTO terms — a strategy lab. Manipulate strategies, exploit mistakes, trigger counter-adjustments, and derive equilibrium and MDF yourself from the underlying EV logic.

Understand what it means to build a strategy that cannot be easily exploited.

Learning objectives

• Explain why a strategy's value depends on how opponents respond to it, and trace the opponent-strategy → best-response → counter-response feedback loop that produces equilibrium
• Derive the Indifference Principle and Minimum Defense Frequency from explicit EV logic in a toy game — not memorize them as formulas
• Recognize what Nash equilibrium actually means (no player can improve by unilaterally changing strategy) and where MDF's simplifying assumptions stop applying

Lessons in this module

Your Move Changes Mine

A strategy is never good in isolation — only against a specific opponent.

The Exploit Has a Cost

Your edge only lasts as long as the mistake does.

The Strategy Loop

Push, respond, adjust, respond again — where does it end?

When Neither Player Can Improve

Nash equilibrium, tested by hand — not defined by decree.

Make Them Indifferent

Your opponent's strategy is what makes your mix correct.

The Clairvoyance Game

The Clairvoyance Game — this is the centerpiece.

How Much Must You Defend?

Deriving Alpha and MDF instead of memorizing them.

MDF Is Not a Commandment

A benchmark from a simplified model — not a universal rule.

Equilibrium Lab

The full reasoning chain, in one sitting.

Key takeaway

Game Theory Foundations is 9 lessons and roughly 94 minutes of interactive work. Not a glossary of GTO terms — a strategy lab. Manipulate strategies, exploit mistakes, trigger counter-adjustments, and derive equilibrium and MDF yourself from the underlying EV logic.