I think it's whether or not the prisoner's cooperate in the sentence they have, and if they kind of rat out the other person, then they can have less; but if both rat out, then they like end up losing large scale.

我记得是,两个囚犯面对审判的时候有如下选择,如果他们中有人供出了对方,他它会减刑,要是他们都供出了对方就要受重刑

耶鲁公开课 - 博弈论课程节选

If you rat someone out in jail, someone puts a contract out on you.

如果你坦白了,你是在自找麻烦

耶鲁公开课 - 博弈论课程节选

They don't always rat each other out and some firms manage to collude?

为什么他们不总把对方招供出来,有些企业也能串通好呢

耶鲁公开课 - 博弈论课程节选

If they both rat each other out, they'll end up in jail for two years, But if you rat the other guy out and he doesn't rat you out, then you will go home free and he'll go to jail for five years.

要是都坦白了,两人都要坐两年牢,要是你坦白而他不坦白,你无罪释放而他坐五年牢

耶鲁公开课 - 博弈论课程节选