The idea of playing the best strategy can stand on its own, it doesn’t need to be justified by precommitment. I’d say the idea of myopically choosing the next move needs justification more.
For example, when you’re dealt a weak hand in poker, the temptation to fold is strong. But all good players know you must play aggressively on your weakest hands, because if you fold, you might as well light up a neon sign saying “I have a strong hand” whenever you do play aggressively, allowing your opponent to fold and cut their losses. In this case it’s clear that playing the best strategy is right, and myopically choosing the next move is wrong. You don’t need precommitment to figure it out. Sure, it’s a repeated game where your opponent can learn about you, but Newcomb’s Problem has a predictor which amounts to the same thing.
The idea of playing the best strategy can stand on its own, it doesn’t need to be justified by precommitment. I’d say the idea of myopically choosing the next move needs justification more.
For example, when you’re dealt a weak hand in poker, the temptation to fold is strong. But all good players know you must play aggressively on your weakest hands, because if you fold, you might as well light up a neon sign saying “I have a strong hand” whenever you do play aggressively, allowing your opponent to fold and cut their losses. In this case it’s clear that playing the best strategy is right, and myopically choosing the next move is wrong. You don’t need precommitment to figure it out. Sure, it’s a repeated game where your opponent can learn about you, but Newcomb’s Problem has a predictor which amounts to the same thing.