Johnny Carson challenged chess legend Bobby Fischer to solve a '15 puzzle' on live TV — and was mindblown

Johnny Carson was one of the most popular talk show hosts in the 70s who spent three decades at "The Tonight Show," setting the standard for late-night television. Over his 30-year run, he welcomed everyone from Hollywood stars to political figures and athletes. One of the most memorable moments came during his conversation with world chess champion Bobby Fischer, which ended in an unexpected challenge. The complete interview is available to watch on YouTube on Carson's channel @johnnycarson.

Fischer, who had defeated Boris Spassky to become the world’s top chess player at that time, joined Carson for an interview that touched on his early years, his rise in the chess world, and how he maintained his competitive edge. The audience learned that Fischer began playing at age six, taught by his sister, and that much of his training involved studying other players’ games rather than constant matches. When asked how far ahead he could see in a game, Fischer answered, "Sometimes, if it’s a simple position. You can see 20 moves ahead. But if your opponent has several replies, you might only be able to see two or three."

As the conversation moved along, Carson asked Fischer if he liked puzzles. Fischer replied, "Yes. That’s how I got interested in chess. I was playing all the other games, and they just were too easy." That’s when he brought out a classic 15 puzzle and asked Fischer how the puzzle worked. Fischer said as he examined the scrambled tiles, "You try and get them all aligned, you know, one, two, three, four, five. There’s little squares in there, and you try to get them." Carson asked if it was a difficult challenge, to which Fischer replied without hesitation, "No, it's very easy. I’m the fastest in the world at this. I don’t like to boast, but I used to do this."

Carson laughed and joked, "Well, we’ll see about that, Bob. I’m pretty good at puzzles myself." He then handed over the puzzle after mixing the numbers. Fischer began solving the puzzle as the audience watched. He even joked that the puzzle was "not very well mixed up." Within 17 seconds, it was done. Carson examined the result, stunned. He said, "That is incredible. I could be here till tomorrow at this time and could not get those things." Originally filmed in 1972, the interview continues to impress viewers to this day, and many took to the comment section to express the same.

@MrT67 shared, "I like how Fischer describes how many moves he looks ahead in a game. If there's only one reply, he can see 20 moves ahead. If there are multiple replies, then maybe two. Well explained." @tomparatube6506 commented, "Great interview. Seeing Fischer's puzzle solving in real time is incredible!" @anthonylong5870 noted, "Fischer was just a stone-cold genius. An incredible mind."

Many praised Carson's extraordinary interview skills. @brihmendiola4347 wrote, "One is a genius with people, and one is a genius with chess. This is a gem." @ipsizm9265 added, "These are incredible questions. Johnny knew who he was dealing with and showed an attunement I have rarely seen when interviewing a particular genius." @GameTime-yj6qv chimed in, "Notice how nervous Bobby was at the beginning, very fidgety. Johnny Carson made him more comfortable with his calm demeanor, and he talked to him. It ended up being a great interview."