Poker is a strategy and skill game, but also one of deception. It can be difficult to distinguish between bluffing a player who knows the game, and taking advantage of a player who doesn’t. This is especially true in high-pressure situations. This is why many players use bluffing tactics to gain an edge.
This article presents an evolutionary game model that describes the evolution of overconfidence and bluffing in a population. The model shows that when players’ real capabilities are limited, they will use overconfidence and lying to compete for a limited resource. Overconfidence and bluffing are a powerful strategy to collect a limited resource because they help competitors convince rivals that the competitor is more competent than she really is. However, overconfidence may also lead to an increase in the risk of conflict. The model shows that topological features of the network play a critical role in the evolution of overconfidence. Increased network heterogeneity is known to boost bluffing while facilitating punishment against overconfidence.
The results indicate that the evolution of bluffing and overconfidence depends on both the payoff structure in the game and the network size. Large d