Baby Beats Computer at Chess

Submission 45,007

Part of a series on TheOdd1sOut. [View Related Entries]

About

Baby Beats Computer at Chess refers to a series of memes based on an animated scene of a toddler winning at chess against a computer that has been holding back. Originating from the video "Tabletop Games" by YouTuber TheOdd1sOut, the format gained notable presence as an object labeling meme in March 2020.

Origin

On October 5th, 2018, YouTuber^[1] TheOdd1sOut posted an animated video about tabletop games. In one scene of the video, TheOdd1sOut discusses how computers dominate humans in chess. One part of this scene features a buff anthropomorphic representation of a computer congratulating a toddler on a win against it, illustrating the point that humans can only beat a computer at chess when the chess program is intentionally holding back.

It's game over. We've tried out best, but we've peaked. Whenever you beat a computer in chess, it was going easy on you.

On July 2nd, 2019, Redditor^[2] Kotawolf45455454 posted the earliest known object labeling meme based on the video to /r/MemeEconomy, gaining 14 upvotes (shown below, left); however, the format did not get any traction at that time. The format did not see spread until on March 7th, 2020, Redditor^[3]^[4]^[5] BerryNoiceOG posted a two-panel meme based on the scene to /r/memes and /r/gaming (90 and 270 upvotes), also posting a template to /r/MemeTemplatesOfficial subreddit which received over 100 upvotes (shown below, center and right).

Spread

On March 7th, 2020, Redditor^[6] CartoonOG posted the first viral meme based on the format to /r/memes subreddit, with the post acquiring over 43,800 upvotes in two days (shown below).

Later on March 7th, multiple Redditors posted object-labeling memes utilizing the format. For example, a /r/memes post by Redditor^[7] FabioEGonzales received over 35,600 upvotes in two days (shown below, left). A /r/memes post by Redditor^[8] squidc00kie gained over 26,500 upvotes in the same period (shown below, right).

In the following days, the format saw further spread on Reddit, including posts in /r/memes, /r/dankmemes, /r/HistoryMemes and other subreddits.