2015-02-05
Explanation
The Joke
A child complains to his father that he does not want to play tic-tac-toe because it always ends in a tie. Rather than acknowledging this valid observation, the father threatens to ground the child if he does not start on a side square -- which is actually the worst opening move in tic-tac-toe. The caption reads: "There is no such thing as a 'solved game.'"
The Humor
The humor works on multiple levels. First, the child is entirely correct: tic-tac-toe is a "solved game," meaning that with optimal play from both sides, it will always end in a draw. This is well-established in game theory. The father, however, refuses to accept this, and his denial is compounded by the fact that he insists on what is actually the worst possible strategy -- starting on a side square (not a corner, not the center) is the weakest opening move. The caption sarcastically states there is no such thing as a solved game, mocking people who stubbornly refuse to accept established facts while simultaneously demonstrating their own incompetence in the very domain they claim expertise. The joke captures a universal parent-child dynamic where the parent uses authority ("you're grounded") rather than reason.
References
In game theory, a "solved game" is one where the outcome can be determined from any position given optimal play by all players. Tic-tac-toe was one of the first games to be computationally solved. The optimal opening moves are the center or a corner; a side/edge square is the weakest opening.