A '''mixed strategy''' is used in Game_theory Economics to describe a strategy comprising possible moves and a probability distribution which corresponds to how frequently each move is chosen. A '''totally mixed strategy''' is a mixed strategy in which the player assigns strictly positive probability to every Pure_strategy. (Totally mixed strategies are important for the Equilibrium_refinement Trembling_hand_perfect_equilibrium.) A mixed strategy should be understood in contrast to a pure strategy where a player plays a single strategy with probability 1. == Illustration == {| align=right border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 1em; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" |+ align=bottom |''A game'' | !A !B |- !A |1, 1 |0, 0 |- !B |0, 0 |1, 1 |} Suppose the Payoff_matrix pictured to the right (known as a Coordination_game). Here one player chooses the row and the other chooses a column. The row player receives the first payoff, the column the second. If row opts to play '''A''' with probability 1 (i.e. play '''A''' for sure), then he is said to be playing a pure strategy. If column opts to flip a coin and play '''A''' if the coin lands heads and '''B''' if the coin lands tails, then she is said to be playing a mixed strategy not a pure strategy. == Significance == In his famous paper John_Forbes_Nash proved that there is a Nash_equilibrium (not his term) for every finite game. One can divide Nash equilbria into two types. ''Pure strategy Nash equilibria'' are Nash equilibria where all players are playing pure strategies. ''Mixed strategy Nash equilibria'' are equilibria where at least one player is playing a mixed strategy. While Nash proved that every finite game has a Nash equilibria, not all have pure strategy Nash equilibria. For an example of a game that does not have a Nash equilibrium in pure strategies see Rock_paper_scissors. == See also == * Pure_strategy * Nash_equilibrium * Trembling_hand_perfect_equilibrium {{Game theory}} Category:Game_theory Pl:Strategia_mieszanaFr:Stratégie_mixte