What defines a dominant strategy in game theory?

A dominant strategy in game theory is defined as a player's best course of action regardless of what strategies other players choose. This means that no matter what the other participants do, a player with a dominant strategy will always achieve the highest payoff by selecting that strategy.

For instance, if you consider a two-player game where one player consistently benefits from a specific strategy irrespective of the actions taken by the other player, that strategy is classified as dominant. It simplifies decision-making because the player can confidently select this strategy without the need to predict or adapt to the other player's choices.

In contrast, a strategy that is optimal only if the other player cooperates implies dependency on the actions of others, which does not qualify as dominant. Additionally, a strategy that depends on the competitor's actions indicates that it is not guaranteed to yield the best outcome in all scenarios – a key characteristic of a dominant strategy. Lastly, while some may think a strategy that always leads to a win defines domination, winning is not a necessary condition for dominance; rather, it is about achieving the highest relative payoff consistently.