The most rational choice to maximize your own gains when playing the prisoner's dilemma is to defect.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Defecting (choosing to betray the other player) often results in a better payoff than cooperating (choosing to cooperate with the other player). However, in a repeated prisoner's dilemma game, it may be more beneficial to cooperate in order to build trust and maintain a mutually beneficial relationship with the other player.

The Most Rational Choice to Maximize Your Own Gains When