# Game Theory on the British game show Golden Balls

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-theory-on-the-british-game-show-golden-balls/619723>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 23, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-theory-on-the-british-game-show-golden-balls/619723 "2012-04-23T18:33:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![brickbacon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@brickbacon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brickbacon)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-theory-on-the-british-game-show-golden-balls/619723/1 "2012-04-23T18:33:36Z")

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Great [video](http://www.businessinsider.com/golden-balls-game-theory-2012-4?utm_so).

> [@](#):
>
> British gameshow called “Golden Balls” invites contestants to play a version of the Prisoner’s Dilemma, wherein the two contestants have to decide whether they’re going to “split” or “steal” a pot of money.
> 
> If they both opt to split, they split the money. If one opts to split, and one opts to steal, the one who steals it gets the whole pot. And if they both opt to steal it, then neither get the money.
> 
> You have to watch this video to appreciate the raw game theory power move that one contestant pulled.

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-theory-on-the-british-game-show-golden-balls/619723/2 "2012-04-23T19:08:26Z")

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There was a show like that in the US for a while, too, called “Friend or Foe”. Two random contestants team up to answer some easy trivia, then do the Prisoner’s Dilemma thing with the total.

Without watching the video, I’m guessing that the “power move” was that he assured the other player that he would steal, and offered a bribe (of less than half of the pot) for the other player to share?

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**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/game-theory-on-the-british-game-show-golden-balls/619723/3 "2012-04-23T19:25:38Z")

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> [@Chronos](#):
>
> Without watching the video, I’m guessing that the “power move” was that he assured the other player that he would steal, and offered a bribe (of less than half of the pot) for the other player to share?

Close.

[spoiler]The guy on the right (Nick) tells the guy on the left (Ibrahim) that he **will** pick “steal” but will **split** the money after the show if the other guy picks “split.” They debate for a while, Ibrahim tells him he’s crazy, questions his logic, says he’s a worthless human being if he lies here, that he’s an idiot, etc., while Nick just nods affably. Ibrahim says he’ll go for it, they pick their options, and one at a time reveal the answers.

Ibrahim does pick “split” - and so does Nick.[/spoiler]