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skills/game-theory-tit-for-tat/SKILL.md

game-theory-tit-for-tat

Use Tit for Tat to manage repeated interactions with reciprocity, cooperation, and boundaries. Use for workplace dynamics, partnerships, negotiations, conflicts, vendor relationships, or product systems with observable reciprocal behavior; avoid one-shot or zero-sum situations, severe abuse or safety issues, hidden actions where reciprocity cannot be observed, and unethical or illegal retaliation.

npx skills add https://github.com/flpbalada/fb-skills --skill game-theory-tit-for-tat
GitHub

Skill Docs

Cooperate first. Then mirror their last move. Forgive when cooperation returns.

Goal

  • Encourage mutual cooperation.
  • Avoid exploitation.
  • Keep response clear and proportionate.
  • Recover quickly after cooperation returns.

Rules

  • Be nice: never defect first.
  • Be clear: make actions easy to understand.
  • Be retaliatory: respond to defection once.
  • Be forgiving: return to cooperation immediately after they do.
  • Handle noise: clarify ambiguous actions before responding.
  • Set exit boundary for repeated defection.

Flow

  1. Confirm interaction repeats.
  2. Identify their last move.
  3. Check if defection was intentional or noise.
  4. Choose cooperate, clarify, retaliate once, or exit.
  5. Communicate response and recovery path.

Decision guide

  • New relationship: cooperate.
  • They cooperated: cooperate.
  • They defected clearly: defect once, proportionately.
  • Intent unclear: ask before retaliating.
  • They return to cooperation: forgive.
  • Defection repeats: keep boundary or disengage.

Variants

  • Generous TFT: forgive occasional defection in noisy environments.
  • Tit for Two Tats: retaliate after two defections.
  • Gradual TFT: escalate response for repeat offenders.

Resources

Output

## Tit for Tat Analysis

Situation: [brief]

## Assessment
- Repeated interaction: [yes/no]
- History: [cooperative/mixed/adversarial]
- Their last move: [cooperate/defect/unclear]
- Noise risk: [low/medium/high]

## Recommendation
- Action: [cooperate/clarify/retaliate once/exit]
- Reason: [TFT rule]

## Message
- [clear communication]

## Exit Condition
- [when to stop engaging]