Bobby Fischer Gives Dick Cavett A Chess Crash Course | The Dick Cavett Show

Ralph Nader and Sandy Duncan help Dick Cavett question American Chess Grandmaster Bobby Fischer who gives everyone a quick crash lesson on how to play chess and demonstrates his winning moves in his previous match against grandmaster Tigran Petrosian.
Date aired - January 4th 1972 - Bobby Fischer, Sandy Duncan and Ralph Nader
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Dick Cavett has been nominated for eleven Emmy awards (the most recent in 2012 for the HBO special, Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again), and won three. Spanning five decades, Dick Cavett’s television career has defined excellence in the interview format. He started at ABC in 1968, and also enjoyed success on PBS, USA, and CNBC.

His most recent television successes were the September 2014 PBS special, Dick Cavett’s Watergate, followed April 2015 by Dick Cavett’s Vietnam. He has appeared in movies, tv specials, tv commercials, and several Broadway plays. He starred in an off-Broadway production ofHellman v. McCarthy in 2014 and reprised the role at Theatre 40 in LA February 2015.

Cavett has published four books beginning with Cavett (1974) and Eye on Cavett (1983), co-authored with Christopher Porterfield. His two recent books -- Talk Show: Confrontations, Pointed Commentary, and Off-Screen Secrets (2010) and Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic moments, and Assorted Hijinks(October 2014) are both collections of his online opinion column, written for The New York Times since 2007. Additionally, he has written for The New Yorker, TV Guide, Vanity Fair, and elsewhere.
#thedickcavettshow #BobbyFischer #chess #RalphNader

[@TheDickCavettShow]

Where, in your opinion, does Bobby Fischer rank among the greatest Chess Grandmasters of all time?

[@djeysonvader2633]

3.

[@rudolphschmidt313]

20

[@yotamshohat9394]

1

[@programmertux225]

1

[@packman5906]

@@rudolphschmidt313 really? You have any idea the pressure Bobby was under to prove the US was better than USSR? He was the best. Greatness is defined UNDER PRESSURE.

[@mccloysong]

He handles the pieces like they owe him money.

[@steve5825]

He does 😂

[@stalkek]

Kind of weirdly aggressive all right!

[@NoPrivateProperty]

they did owe him money. he was sorely under compensated

[@modularmuse]

Lol.

[@mxbishop]

Collecting the rents.

[@chess]

The legend.

[@Deikenity]

Nice Chess.com that was quick.

[@varden3270]

@@seosan9708 Strange that someone looks through recommended on the chess.com account.

[@sirbedivere5670]

The GOAT.

[@patstaysuckafreeboss8006]

The Myth

[@patstaysuckafreeboss8006]

@Climate Change will Kill us All !!! Being antisemitic is a point of pride.

[@ar9v]

Bobby deadass said "I'm built different" lmao

[@basharshami3403]

hahahaha fr tho

[@toniokettner4821]

he said "i'm different" fake news just for internet points

[@stevenhoang387]

Bill Dipperly

[@JoeARedHawk275]

@@toniokettner4821 Lol the fact you use “internet points”

[@Mikeystonet]

@@toniokettner4821 you seem like a really fun guy.

[@ChessNetwork]

“It’s just you and your opponent at the board and you’re trying to prove something.” -Bobby Fischer

[@ResponsibleSnowflake]

Hi Jerry!

[@jameshinton3855]

What are you trying to prove then, Jerry?

[@lewis8200]

Hey, I know you

[@sladewilson9741]

Too bad he was a crazy anti semite. But I guess genius and crazy go hand in hand.

[@judahslion5611]

@@sladewilson9741 He was Jewish so he couldn't have been a true anti semite. I chalk that era of his life up to him going cuckoo. If you watch the documentary of him when he went to live in Iceland it's quite clear he wasn't in his right mind. He'd lost his mind around the time he started saying all those crazy things. He never made racist remarks when he was younger.

[@JammastaJ23]

Dick Cavett in retrospect had far more interesting interviews than a lot of what was on Carson. Getting Bobby Fischer to open up and be friendly like this is an accomplishment.

[@RicardoAGuitar]

Seeing Bobby apparently enjoying himself is nice. If only this version could have taken control of the rest of him.

[@MuhammadAtthur_]

Or maybe bobby is an open man himself

[@ivandaniel08]

Best non-clown. Orson Welles, Marlon Brando, Groucho...

[@RevoltingRudi]

well compared to some late night bums, DC just goes interview 101. especially with intelligent guys this is a good thing to do. ask questions about the interviewers passion/upcoming thing, let him talk until he is, guide the interview so that it don´t slide off (if he monologues to long) and don´t come along with questions that insult or get them in any kind of trouble. for example some dipshits asked mike tyson bluntly about his daughters death. he instantly quitted. because the smart guys see through the bullshit and that can turn out in a nightmare of interview.

[@bcask61]

Fischer actually seems normal here. His weirdness is not yet on display.

[@giggitygoo5623]

"I intend to keep playing for a long time." Breaks one's heart

[@medexamtoolsdotcom]

Well he did, just in secret. Though he didn't live as long as he should have, because he was on the run from stupid governments that didn't honor their *claimed* policies of freedom of speech, and yes, playing a game of chess is an expression of freedom of speech.

[@imaginarychip4916]

@@medexamtoolsdotcom What? Are u making stuff up?

[@LandersWorkshop]

@@imaginarychip4916 He's not really, kinda a bit stretchy, but basically the truth.

[@rgsethtrsthsfhtjfdty7134]

@@imaginarychip4916 it’s rumoured that he played Nigel short in a secret online match and he won all 8 games even playing openings where he ran his king up the board, you can probably find it on agadmator’s channel somewhere

[@JohnS-il1dr]

@@rgsethtrsthsfhtjfdty7134 Fischer vehemently denied that rumor, and futher analysis with computers showed that someone cheated with a chess playing software.

[@ImmortalWazir]

"I don't believe in psychology, I believe in good moves" - Bobby Fischer 🔥

[@magicmause7846]

But still he got beaten by Tal

[@ssik9460]

@@magicmause7846 losing to Tal was a Tal move

[@zdravkogalesev7715]

Za sve je kriv bobi fiser , to je naslov u intervjuu za novi list koji sam dao misi cvijanovicu za novi list prije tridesetak godina

[@joshuasolomon1112]

Tal's smile

[@stringmaker77]

I love this quote

[@WILLIAM1690WALES]

No one handled Bobby better than Dick, Dick had this ability with eccentric sometimes genius of individuals with his quirky sense of humour and is supreme intelligence

[@jadezee6316]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN HANDLED? you people kill me...there is nothing strange or weird about bobby here...99% of people called genius are not...Fischer was part of the 1 % that was.

[@WILLIAM1690WALES]

@@jadezee6316 Bobby was a highly stung individual that in later years cause his mental decline, dick later said if Bobby could’ve contacted him he may have helped him with this mental condition unfortunately for people like Bobby paranoia was always the danger?

[@johnt7630]

@Stuart Paul, it's almost impossible not to like Dick Cavett.

[@mgd8867]

Wouldn't say Dick had supreme intelligence calm down

[@krisjill5918]

He's very humble too, which immediately disarms such types. All this and more makes Cavett the best in the biz... even to this day. Actually I think talk shows have descended into the mire, for the most part. Just mindless pap.

[@Musicrafter12]

Bobby: "I intend to be real good for a long time" Also Bobby: Wins title, retires immediately

[@mehdimehdikhani5899]

i am sure that was his intention at the time. he just changed his mind after winning.

[@DieFlabbergast]

He was still "real good," he just didn't have a title recognised by anyone other than himself. In the real world, it's not enough just to be the best: you also have to put yourself to the test in a public arena. It's the same in all competitive activities. He was a genius, and also a madman.

[@tkokesh]

He didn’t retire immediately. While he didn’t play another official game until 1992, he intended to defend his title in 1975. However, FIDE (the international chess federation) refused to bend to his demand that the match be to ten wins, with his challenger having to win by two games. Given that the next WC match in 1978 dragged on to 32 games, when Karpov finally broke through for his required sixth win, FIDE definitely made the right decision.

[@gromaxlewitch704]

@@tkokesh and Karpov's snd Kasparov's 1985 match is still being played.

[@edwardshowden5511]

@@tkokesh Pretty stupid demands don't you think?

[@henryseidel5469]

"I am still under the shock of this loss for the world of chess. Bobby Fischer was the most honest person in chess history. He never made any politics. He was a very pure personality. He could be tough from outside, but inside of him he was like a crystal. Very pure !" (Boris Spasski, 2009)

[@DirectX3]

Ayrton Senna: Pure racing.

[@mustuploadtoo7543]

no politics? he was antisemitic and denied the holocaust

[@Nocturne33]

​@@mustuploadtoo7543 same

[@Welderborea]

@@Nocturne33 LOL

[@henryseidel5469]

@@mustuploadtoo7543 Indeed he gave his views but never became active for or against any religion or belief. It was his personal opinion. He just said what he liked and what he didn't like ! Must have been a reason for that.

[@johnhunter7386]

There will never be another Dick Cavett. He was insightful, extremely intelligent and had a great sense of humor. He didn't take himself to seriously and was often the butt of his own jokes. He was a class act.

[@abdalla6732]

Exactly, class !

[@octopusmime]

Cavett is such an important figure in cultural history. I love the show so much and have so much respect for him.

[@johnhunter7386]

@@octopusmime One of my favorite memories is watching his show with my dad.

[@josephpeeler5434]

He actually interviewed his guest. He got passed the superficial. Check out his interview with Janis Joplin.

[@aztecwarrior9729]

What he said about plates word, Scrabble championship nowadays would be his.

[@jaironunez7196]

4:40 "I intend to keep playing for a long time..." 😭😭😭 **My heart just broke...

[@howard5992]

@Axel Ave After the 1972 World Chess Championship, Fischer did not play a competitive game in public for nearly 20 years

[@wavetech_]

@@howard5992 so the same year this interview was aired? That's crazy! And sad...

[@flacsmada]

@Axel Ave you must not know very much about fischer. they have a movie called "searching for bobby fischer". you may want to watch before talking anymore

[@andreraymond6860]

That's the one that got me too. 'How old are you now?' 'I'm 28'. (he retired at 29).

[@TheBeanis8]

@Axel Ave Time to hush now

[@carlsaischa]

Dick : "Like the onset of schizophrenia" A small part of Fischer's brain: "ha..ha... *sweats*"

[@StephenDoty84]

Imagine if Fischer shot back, "Many a true word is said in jest."

[@derekfelton8287]

the price of true genius is high. Fischer was a giant. I think he took it all the way

[@centralprocessingunit2564]

he was not schezephrenic

[@Ckdude100]

@@centralprocessingunit2564 he was

[@StephenDoty84]

@@centralprocessingunit2564 Fischer had all the signs of paranoia, though, and is considered to have suffered from it, whether formally diagnosed or not... "He had a lifelong history of disputes, conflicts and controversy. He believed he was the victim of conspiracies. Fischer showed symptoms of the mental illness paranoia, similar to Morphy."

[@kingscrusher]

"It just takes just this much ... to miscalculate one little thing in your mind you know" - Bobby Fischer

[@meriemmariana7722]

Bobby fischer is unique, and kingscrusher is the best chess channel for all times.

[@1AirStreamDriver1]

When he was practicing or doing a demonstration like this, Bobby always slammed down the pieces. In tournaments he was much more graceful.

[@OtesOtesOtes]

I reckon he could contain himself and save the intimidation for winning moves.

[@carlo_cali]

I noticed that too in all the clips I've watched online. It's peculiar. I wonder why he always did that. On 60 minutes they showed him practicing and he did it. On Bobby Fischer Against the World he did it too.

[@RaniaIsAwesome]

@@carlo_cali I believe Kasparov does it as well when analyzing. I think it's just a sort of instinct good chess players develop for when they want to be emphatic, as if to say - "there, now look at that".

[@vibovitold]

​@@RaniaIsAwesome Kasparov didn't refrain from some ungentlemanly behavior at the board as well though, like slamming the clock full force when frustrated (or denying having touched a piece, for that matter). Fischer could have been a very difficult person throwing tantrums when it was about negotiating conditions etc. BUT once he was sitting at the table, he was 100% sportsmanlike and exemplary.

[@robertx1603]

"Will a chess match ever be on network television?" Even at this point they underestimated the chess mania that Fischer playing Spassky would cause....

[@ojsojs6004]

Many chess tournaments have been on network television.

[@mastermind8047]

@@ojsojs6004 not until that point tho..

[@zapkvr]

I'd rather watch paint dry

[@divinesleeper]

and Fischer suggests if they change the time limit which they did, blitz games are more popular now to audiences

[@playitsafe20]

When Fisher spoke about chess, he was correct 100.0% of the time. His contributions never did get the respect warranted, and I'm sure that bothered him somewhat. He was clearly the most dominant player ever. What he did between 1968 and 1972, crushing the Soviet machine basically on his own will never be equaled. And if his same self at 28 were to be around today he would dominate today's game as well. If FIDE had found the 2 votes necessary to approve his proposal, he most certainly would win again in 1975 and who knows what would have happened next.

[@aunch3]

What’s interesting is the audience thinks he trying to be funny a lot of the time, but he’s dead serious about everything he’s saying. The Fischer biography is fascinating

[@atthesunrise]

Which biography are you referring to?

[@EGarrett01]

Yeah, it's good though because he didn't mind the audience's laughing.

[@BinaryRex18]

He hit 2780 Elo in 1972, which is insane. True, there have been 20 players since then who have surpassed him. But his relative peak is beaten only by morphy.

[@vibovitold]

back in Morphy's times chess was a hobby activity though. they didn't even use time control / clocks. it's really hard to compare.

[@BinaryRex18]

@@vibovitold that's where relativity to the time comes in. You could argue that chess in fischer's time was also way more amateur than now as there were no strong chess computers and elite chess resources were less accessible to the common man.

[@Joshualbm]

He seemed friendly and pretty down to earth and goofy in his way.

[@ELVIS1975T]

Friendly yes but down to earth?

[@Joshualbm]

@@ELVIS1975T Well, he seems like a normal guy in his manner, speech and ability to respond pretty straightforwardly to questions. More like a street smart kid than intellectual. By down-to-earth I mean he's unpretentious. Of course he knows he's great but he's also doesn't seem to be full of himself. At least as far as this interview is concerned.

[@orionp.9476]

@@ELVIS1975T No. No, he was not friendly at all. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@Joshualbm]

@Axel Ave I didn't know him personally, therefor I can only use presumptive language. Sad;y, the ones who possess this kind of tactical mind are pursued by the warlords and kings to do their bloody bidding and pernicious mischief.

[@sirmixalot7372]

@@Joshualbm He seems pretty full of himself to me

[@ronak212]

I absolutely love Bobby Fischer. "I won't let him draw". This is the kind of confidence I need

[@ronak212]

@Nitish Kumar chess.com and lichess.org both. Though I like lichess more.

[@Noelito40]

Wow he has huge hands! and the way he slaps down those pieces with dominance.

[@cucaracha6365]

Big dick aura big dick bobby

[@LandersWorkshop]

I know, incredibly accurate too.

[@prozmystery]

Bobby was much ahead of his time.

[@mrm4xim4m]

Absolutely agree.. quite sad to see his decline he was so charismatic and had the xfactor along with his game playing genius similar to Magnus and other sport genius’ like Ronnie O’Sullivan imo.

[@barracuda7018]

Far ahead of anyone....

[@TheErasec]

And underestimated

[@solderbuff]

Ahead in what?

[@barracuda7018]

@@solderbuff What did he play.? Who crashed the strongest players of the world one after the other effortlessly . Taimanov, Larsen,Petrossian and Spasski Nobody has ever came close to that kind performance level in the whole history.

[@somethingyousaid5059]

Imagine the contempt that he must have had for checkers.

[@mccloysong]

spit-take!

[@kentclark6420]

He was probably an expert at that, too.

[@garylizard]

The more I try to get better at chess the more I love checkers

[@Liwet.]

@Dan D Fischer random was renamed to Chess960 (the amount of possible starting positions).

[@lawrenceehrbar8667]

I have read that chess is more a game of intellect and checkers a game of skill.

[@cordellsenior9935]

I didn't know Bobby was such a big guy.

[@frankiegee6135]

Bobby was a tall commanding individual and not even remotely close to Toby’s portrayal of him. That movie was a total smear campaign! Bobby was a very laid back man.

[@varishnakov]

for you

[@PaulieStamets]

@@frankiegee6135 Just saw that movie a few weeks ago, and I would have said the same thing as Cordell's. makes you think huh

[@RossMoore777]

He was over 6 foot. One of the reasons he was difficult to play against was his size made him physically intimidating

[@raoulhery]

That's why casting Tobey McGuire was total blunder

[@leadnitrate2194]

2:00 everyone laughed, but Fischer was dead serious. That confidence, that was Bobby at his best.

[@jaswerner419]

@ Lead Nitrate Agree 👍💯 percent %%%

[@adriannngp2012]

its funny how he seems like a person from the current generation talking to really old people about questions with logical answers

[@RainOnline]

riiiiight? strange

[@howard5992]

Fischer was mostly self-taught in chess and dropped out of High School at age 16. He did bot seem that interested in academic subjects. He was obviously fiercely competitive and focused on chess. So he comes across as sort of brazen and rough. He has an honesty and a directness but he's also not very adept in terms of interpersonal skills.

[@jasperhalsey8574]

@@vincentbahro9055 yeah but even the other 2 guests seem like old people

[@jasperhalsey8574]

the Beatles have the same vibe in old interviews

[@adrian72300]

@@howard5992 Most people with the ability to think "outside the box" don't focus on mundane things, their mind moves very fast, and talk only when necessary, and mainly on things that will stimulate and enlighten their outlook on everything.

[@Tore5Chess]

0:52 WOW! FISCHER PLAYED THE BONGCLOUD!

[@Hybridman7]

XD

[@donkbonktj5773]

@Tore5 Chess nice catch! hahahaha

[@its_muu3493]

He played it in an online match against Nigel short

[@HazeAero]

I had never really seen video of Bobby Fischer, but his demenour is nothing like I imagined. He caries himself so well, just oozes confidence, very cool.

[@bhgtree]

If time travel is ever possible, I'd go back to see Bobby play his greatest games and matches. RIP Bobby Fischer The Legend.

[@davidwilliamson9333]

THEY MAY BE ON KZbin, SOME OF HIS GAMES ANYWAY

[@gilbertrios5283]

That would he incredible!

[@carloeduardodelacruz9237]

I didn’t know Dirk Nowitzki was a chess player as well.

[@someperson9052]

Oh my god the resemblance... I had never heard of him until now

[@sloaner404]

Knows standard theory and has a killer fadeaway

[@sensei0184]

German jesus out here teaching them the blitzkrieg manouver

[@eyeofhorus1301]

How dare you compare him to derp nowitzski

[@TransparentEclipse]

@@eyeofhorus1301 derp? Carried the mavs to a championship. Imagine if the mavs didn’t have dirk. Maybe the worst franchise all time. Now luka might do the same thing again

[@robjohnson8214]

Fascinating interview. Love how Fisher just slams down pieces as he's demonstrating...as though he is communicating his complete dominance and ownership over the game itself.

[@solidaritytime3650]

Cavett is my all time favorite interviewer. The speed and grace with which he executes his wry sense of humor tickles me every time.

[@samirv3716]

I love his casual approach to conversation, almost as if you were not speaking with the biggest chess giant that ever lived, yet some everyday person.

[@ianbauer4703]

Never seen this vid before, might be the best I've seen all year -- terribly interesting.

[@wespaul9345]

It really is. He's fascinating.

[@kierancoughlan1378]

The full video is here kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHqoZHZ8g9WNa7s would love to see the interview in 1972 after he became world champion, can anyone help us out?

[@denisdooley1540]

It is interesting to see some interviews when he wasn't sporting a ratty beard and ranting paranoid conspiracies.

[@josephyearwood1179]

@@denisdooley1540 psychopaths hate the truth

[@mikelombard21]

I love how hard he places the pieces. Such conviction and force its fun to watch.

[@BillyLapTop]

I recall that window in time when Bobby Fischer was constantly in the news with his win over Boris Spasky. All the networks featured him and there was an incredible new interest in chess. In fact, there was a chess fever that lasted a few years afterwards. Also, there was incredible American pride evident when he won the championship, as the Russians (Soviets) were seen as the best of the best at chess in the world. A later equivalent would be the U.S. beating the Soviets in ice hockey at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

[@stephenreeds3672]

Like everything else, the Americans have to prove that they're the best. Deeply insecure.

[@joewagner4593]

@@stephenreeds3672 We don't have to prove it, we just do.

[@arkos1179]

@@joewagner4593 temporarily

[@mwong987]

@@arkos1179 Yes, these are good examples of cold war victories over the Soviets. Another one was Van Cliburn, an American pianist who was voted best by Russian judges in 1958 during the international tchkaivsky competition.

[@RE4LW4LL4CE]

And now theyre the most hated country im the world. Whats your point again?

[@harrywilde2178]

Dick Cavett was a master at his game!, his interview with Fischer was masterful!

[@ucctgg]

He just read the notes written down by his staff.

[@TomHuston43]

@@ucctgg The adlibbing made the show and the staff couldn't prepare for that. Anyway, Cavett's problem was that he was always too hip for the room.

[@ucctgg]

@@TomHuston43 No, Cavett's problem, was that he always Thought he was too hip for the room.

[@paulevans6403]

@@TomHuston43 That bit with the anagrams obviously wasn't an ad lib and came off as very smarmy. This was the kind of crap that people didn't like about Cavett. Fischer played along but eventually had had enough and just off-handedly put him down with the I don't really care about that kind of stuff remark.

[@noelyking400]

Dick cavett rated him as a decent human being. Most people hated bobby

[@juannunez5767]

There are urban legends about Bobby Fischer playing chess online in the late 90s and 2000s. Allegedly he would play some very high level blitz games. For all we know, he did stay sharp for the next 30 years after this interview.

[@jadezee6316]

bobby fischer NEVER played chess online....you all can stop that nonsense.....

[@pauldavies5611]

@@jadezee6316 How do you know?

[@grantmiller4775]

@@jadezee6316 Bobby Fischer against Nigel Short in 2000. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bXOcoWWGp9h-jbs 0:56-1:14 Nigel Short says that he didn't know if it was Bobby Fischer, but he said that whoever it was was better than Garry Kasparov, the current World Champion. So these stories are not really nonsense. Actually, watch up to 2:09. There's more. And Short said he was 99% sure it was Fischer.

[@kasparov9]

@@grantmiller4775 It wasn't Fischer, it was a guy using an engine, pretending to be. All Nigel Short did was mention a name, and the player Replied Siegen 1970, that was enough to convince Short it was Fischer?? :) Any Fischer fantical fan could pull that off, or is he had chessbase next to him and it told him the event where Fischer played that guy Short mentioned. Chessbase debunked this a long time ago.

[@grantmiller4775]

@@kasparov9 No, that wasn't enough. As I said, Short also said that whoever it was was better than Kasparov, who was the current World Champion. That's a pretty interesting comment. If you have some evidence, let's hear it.

[@musical_lolu4811]

Gosh he's like a virtuoso pianist the way he handles those pieces.

[@KF1]

Dramatic but uncontrolled.

[@DrQuizzler]

I was thinking the same thing. With the combination of quirkyness and bravado, the name Glenn Gould comes to mind.

[@JohnnyMac2237]

I never realized how New Yorkey Fishcher was.Perfect Brooklynese.

[@dealerovski82]

wow, its really amazing to see this old chess player sitting in the same room as the guy who can rearrange letters of words in his head whit little to no effort. Amazing. What a lucky guy he and the audience was to live through such a show and time.

[@rokanza2293]

Lol i agree that was cringy and stupid of him to talk about that

[@kencur9690]

No it wasn’t. He’s talking about anagrams, and just because you guys are too stupid to know what they are, doesn’t mean it was silly for him to mention it. It’s not something that everybody can do, and it’s definitely not something that everybody can do in the same amount of time. We’re not talking about words like “now” either. Solving anagrams can be a spectacular talent indeed.

[@bk1147]

Dick Cavett is massively underrated

[@bcask61]

I have noticed a recurring theme in comments sections where a commenter claims that somebody is “underrated.” I actually read a comment recently that claimed John Bonham was an “underrated” drummer. I have concluded that those who claim that someone who is justly thought of as very accomplished in his field is “underrated” probably does not know enough to be taken seriously. It’s a device that the commenter uses to imply that his opinion is more informed or more valid than others. I reject it.

[@doctoreggman21]

bcask61 Reddit moment

[@user-vs3lw6xs7n]

@@bcask61 solid comment

[@dukeofhaas]

@@bcask61 Good observation.

[@rons5319]

I think he was rated at just the right level.

[@schizoframia4874]

I love the way this guy moves the peices

[@user-ho9hw1td4y]

Bobby is one of a generation. A different animal, the boss himself

[@vibovitold]

more than that. "one in a generation" should produce roughly 4 Fischers per century. hasn't happened in the 20th. haven't seen one in the 21st yet. such meteoric rise and dominance hasn't been seen before, and hasn't been seen since. Fischer was one of a kind.

[@NYisconstipated]

Love the way he throws the pieces around

[@honkyxadonis]

Can’t see Jimmie Fallon doing this somehow..........

[@DCPete27]

He doesn’t have the attention span.

[@Niznuts123]

Jimmy: so...haha...you seem to like chess hahaha Crowd: roars in laughter.

[@leadnitrate2194]

@@Niznuts123 slaps desk

[@tecnochitlan4388]

I can’t watch jimmy Fallon cause he fakes so much I know his job to do that so I don’t hate the guy but I hate the show cause the guy host it

[@DaveLH]

Dick Cavett was always about who he was interviewing, and listening and learning from them. He wasn't the kind of interviewer like so many nowadays who always have to put in their own self-aggrandizing oar.

[@onelostalien]

"i'm different" you were... Legend.

[@BijanIzadi]

Wow, was this level of intellectualism truly on tv back then?! That’s amazing

[@borrioboy6272]

4:40 “I’m just built different”

[@ezioauditoreste]

"I want to play for another 30 years" he said, but actually the one with Spassky would have been his last match...

[@matteopriotto5131]

He actually played another match with Spassky 20 years after their World Championship match but yeah, that's true.

[@leadnitrate2194]

Still a pity that he didn't face Karpov. Or Kasparov.

[@Diffusion8]

The one in 1992

[@isaacjacob3590]

yeah that part was so saddening for me...

[@its_muu3493]

@@leadnitrate2194 he once played against Kasparov but Kasparov was only 20/21

[@noonecares514]

The way he moves pieces is just so flawless.

[@axelbaker8737]

I didn’t realize Fischer was such a big guy.

[@MrRonfrank]

I never thought of Bobby Fisher quite this way. Weird.....but kind of normal.

[@maskcollector6949]

Strange how his tournament changed him into a recluse after this. Don't meet your heroes, lol. The more I study the less I like the person.

[@iforth64]

I wouldn't say weird. Maybe his social manner was far ahead of the time, or he would have fitted better in, say, Europe. At least in this interview, the other two guests were far more awkward and self-conscious than Bobby.

[@E.Johansson]

Not only was he a world class player but he also was a great thinker. He knew what and who was responsible for the societal decay, even back then.

[@GH-oi2jf]

No, he was not. He knew nothing, really, except chess. He was not othwise influential at all.

[@michaeljames4904]

These uploads are absolutely gems getting widely shared round our way!

[@Primitarian]

What an amazing interview! Cavett asked just the sort of questions I have always wondered about. And here I think you see the nature of a true prodigy: It is largely a gift. Work your hardest, practice all you want, but if you lack the in-born talent, you cannot become Bobby Fischer.

[@FS4SS]

Yeah but then you hear Hikaru Nakamura or Magnus Carlsen talking about it (who are unquestionably stronger players *now* than Fischer was *then* ), and they downplay the idea of chess players as geniuses. I was never super fantastic or anything back when I was a teen (USCF of 1700, Lichess and Chess.com at around 2000), but looking back on it ... it was a lot like getting good at a competitive online video game. Learning chess took a lot of the same skills, logic, and creativity. Not everyone can be the best in the world at something like Fischer or Magnus, that's for sure. There's something genetic. But I'm not sure they're mental geniuses/freaks of nature (like how my dad always talked about Chess GMs when I was growing up).

[@Primitarian]

@@FS4SS Not everyone can be like Fischer or Magnus even if one worked as hard. But Fischer did say in another interview that someone without talent can nevetheless make himself very good, and that many people he played in competition did not strike him as talented, just hard working. As for me, I am not talented at chess, but that doesn't prevent me from enjoying it, much as one might enjoy a great work of art. In a position that would leave me filled with disinterest, Fischer sees a possibility for an amazing victory. I don't need to be Fischer, it is enough for me that he shines the light.

[@orionp.9476]

Except Bobby was not THAT much of a chess prodigy, or gifted, he wasn't particularly amazing at blindfolds, but he was EXTREMELY obsessed with chess, to this date nobody has ever been so obsessed with chess than him, he literally was 24/7, 365 days talking, thinking about chess, other GMs who told anecdotes about how creeped out they were because they've never met a guy so absolutely ill-obsessed with the game as Bobby, people really need to watch his documentaries and quotes to understand how insane the guy really was, he was a bit NPD + OCD + Psychotic idk pull up the DSM-5 criteria book. Guy was very delusional and actually didn't have a life outside chess, nor did he have friends. And this wasnt "nerdy type of I don' have friends" this was a "I will lock myself up in a room and only read chess positions all day every day away from human beings" type of not having friends.

[@carlo_cali]

"I don't really care about those things." He was great.

[@pnutbutrncrackers]

I've never been a Dick Cavett fan at all, but must say that this is actually one of the best interview pieces with the enigmatic Bobby Fischer on film.

[@michaellupu2080]

Beautiful Dubrovnik Chess set! Legendary!

[@zhouystr]

That's Ralph Nader asking the question lol

[@Alchemistic88]

High level chess is not easy to understand for most people. That's why it's never going regularly be in mainstream media. Shows like Queens Gambit on Netflix made a big impact because of the show itself, the chess was most likely understood by only the chess community. In that way, it's very different from every other sport or game. The barrier for enjoyment of it requires quite a deep knowledge and, at least, an intermediate to advanced proficiency of the game.

[@ktoth29]

I don't know, soccer is popular and to most people its just a bunch of dribbling the ball back and forth; but soccer aficionados will pretend its very intense and psychological. Same thing goes for baseball or cricket; boring as heck to people from cultures that didn't grow up with them.

[@derekmcdaniel6029]

6:25 Bobby fisher: "We'll change the time limit. I'm reasonable." Lol

[@haeleth7218]

Fischer himself liked a quote from a Grand Master from the 1920's called Capablanca which was, "I see only one move ahead but it's always the correct one" 🙂

[@tww2002]

So much intellect and wit.

[@TheDickCavettShow]

Want to see more of Bobby Fischer on the Dick Cavett Show? Here he discusses gender equality within the chess community! kzbin.info/www/bejne/baDPaoJna9-cfZo

[@reviewsbyyou7231]

@Lupi Vylka wahh wahh cry cry

[@shyne5238]

@Lupi Vylka he’s better than you’ll ever be lmao

[@vincevirtua]

@Lupi Vylka see a shrink.. you are a deeply unhappy person.

[@franktheawaken7169]

Bobby Fisher is to chess what Arnold Schwarzenegger is to Bodybuilding, and Gary Kasparov is to chess what Ronnie Coleman is to Bodybuilding.

[@llig3364]

@Lupi Vylka and you're a good human being? By criticizing a genius and an inspiration to many chess players nowadays? And you're saying he's a nerd? At least he's recognized by people unlike you. Lmao.

[@vinnyvincent2862]

R.I.P. Bobby Fischer. 🙏

[@arvidprutina48]

I didn't know he passed away..........great guy........RIP... master..............

[@astropgn]

For the comments saying you cannot find an interviewer like Dick Cavett anymore, or that Jimmy Fallow is very bad... Realize that it is not that you don't have people like Dick Cavett interested in doing interviews with this level of quality. At any giving time, there are always interesting and intelligent people in the world. What you don't have anymore is an audience that would sit and watch it like there was back then.

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

Seeing how popular Dick's videos are, you are proven wrong, my friend. People WANT to see it.

[@astropgn]

@@KRAFTWERK2K6 how does this prove anything? There are tons of views, for example, for Jimmy Kimmel as well. Does it mean he is better than Dick Cavett?

[@KRAFTWERK2K6]

@@astropgn well of course because he's a corporate-pushed channel that is being fed to most people on YT. Especially those who aren't logged in with a channel. Have you ever seen the KZbin frontpage without being logged in with your account? It's FILLED with crap like Kimmel & Co. Doesn't mean people actually WANT to see it. Especially compared to other content that doesn't have the benefit of getting pushed by youtube this aggressively. I still stand correct.

[@astropgn]

@@KRAFTWERK2K6 So, this means that youtube views aren't a good measurement of what is really good, right? Also, I didn't saw Dick was bad (I do enjoy to watch him, for example), just that there are good people nowadays as well and we cannot think that what is most popular is representative.

[@norm1286]

"You handle them beautifully" "Thank you"

[@magikarp653]

What a genius. The true pride and sorrow of chess.

[@krumzakon633]

This guy... "Look, I am different, not like the rest..." Much respect!

[@LucidEyes17]

Bobby Fischer was a good guy.

[@aayanansari700]

I wanna hold and moves pieces around like Bobby does...

[@cristianmicu]

learn and practice 8 hours a day for years and you will. when i was into chess i was moving pieces like him , without seeing him in this video(you tube wasnt around back then

[@edwissing7212]

Never would have thought I'd see Nader sneak interview questions in on Fischer on the Dick Cavett Show.

[@flumpyhumpy]

When you're as egocentric as Nader it's hard not to drag the focus back to you every five minutes

[@medexamtoolsdotcom]

I like how he does everything efficiently and doesn't waste time. Very useful characteristic for being on television where they're trying to fit it into a timeslot. When his hands are moving the pieces around to show you how they move, you better keep your hands out of his way or you might lose them.

[@kabir0229]

Look how his hands moving on the board! Majestic!

[@MrEdwardCollins]

The basketball player Fischer mentioned near the end of the clip, with ability to effortlessly anagram, was Jerry Lucas. Jerry's ability is well documented in the wonderful book, "The Memory Book" written by Harry Lorayne and Jerry Lucas.

[@DWilliam1]

I remember when he played Spassky. It was huge.

[@oliversitt]

Bobby was quite a charming guy in interviews

[@scottwesley5018]

Man why is he so normal and graceful and charming and funny in this video, then so batshit nuts crazy just a couple decades later

[@user-cc5wu3lh1n]

Maybe because he wasn’t, but the media was coerced to report on him being whacky for political reasons

[@christophermcdougall8811]

I've never seen this before, despite having watched and read biographies of Bobby for decades. This is so cool. Great video, thanks for uploading!

[@seansingh8862]

Arguably chess's GOAT. He overcame fatherlessness, severe mental illness, and a huge lack of chess resources to single-handedly destroy an institution that had utterly and completely dominated chess since WWII and would continue to dominate world chess for decades after his abdication. No other chess player and arguably no other competitor in any field has done anything of this magnitude against such huge headwinds.

[@seansingh8862]

@Greg Goulet I have never read the Wikipedia page. I'm a 2100 rated chess player.

[@GH-oi2jf]

hyperbole

[@vibovitold]

he was never diagnosed with a mental illness, much less a severe one. he clearly had a disturbed mind, but it could have been some sort of a personality disorder. i don't see a reason to assume he had severe mental illness, not to mention that whatever troubled him, he didn't really overcome it (sadly). you are entirely correct regarding the rest in my view. Fischer's accomplishment was unprecedented. and something like this can't really happen again, because in the era of internet, chess engines, databases etc. chess has globalized and the playing field is levelled. that's why now we can have top players from countries that haven't really cultivated strong chess culture, like Norway or China, and noone is surprised about it. for this reason it may be hard to imagine the advantage that the Soviets had, if someone is from a generation young enough to kind of take modern technology for granted. USSR was the only country in the world where chess was a fully professional discipline (since the end of WW2). the rest of the world played it like scrabble: yes, there were tournaments and everything, but the organization level was amateur.

[@NxDoyle]

This is Bobby Fischer at his best. Sadly, the difference between Bobby at his best and his worst was considerable.

[@Wtahc]

@Literally Hitler cringe

[@errorsofmodernism9715]

@Literally Hitler Oy Vey!

[@Lytton333]

@Rip Torn All these conspiracy theorists at large these days. I reckon it's a conspiracy.

[@davitsurguladze6643]

That's what makes Magnus the greatest. He is the best, even in his woray

[@mossad_agent946]

How weird, that the greatest minds of the last centuries were „antisemites“. I wonder what that means for us?

[@thechesssavage6400]

bringing back the classics. RIP GOAT Bobby Fisher

[@Andy-kw5nw]

Every time I think I’ve seen the most interesting video on KZbin, there they go sending me another one that’s even better! I ❤️it.

[@asdfghjkllkjhgfdsa8725]

3:22. “Do you think you know before he did” No dude he knew he was lost but he played on until he was completely sure there was no possible draw.

[@9Ballr]

"I intend to keep playing for a long time." The best laid plans of mice, and chess men.

[@Scrimparmy]

He makes moving chess pieces look so fucking smooth

[@DanMatt-kt4yg]

I've always felt allured by Bobby Fischer's honesty and authenticity, particularly when, such as in this video he speaks about the traditions and etiquette of chess. Despite being a man of few words of whom's true genius has never properly been shown besides on the chess board, his straightforward approach to communication was admirable and refreshing

[@mdaddy775]

I'd never heard him talk before. I was missing out, he's awesome.

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

My parents paid three grand to bring Fischer to dinner at my home when I was seven. He said I was the "next champion" if I wanted to be and give me some very well-typed manuscripts containing some crazy chess ideas (like the Jaenish Gambit 1 c4 b5). I'm thinking there must be a few dozen other "chosen ones" who grew up in NYC whose parents also sponsored Fischer. Mom ran the largest typing service in NYC so he may have been there to pick up the typing but if he wasn't they paid $3,000 for him. Nothing at all like people say, very nice, extremely polite (when paid), said he wasn't going back to chess because no one could beat him and there was no point, plus he was making more money visiting homes like mine for an hour or two. When I finally tried to become world chess champion it was because a woman I loved was sapiosexual and into chessplayers.

[@JaVi-mq3xn]

Very interesting insight . Thanks for sharing. Bobby is a fascinating personality, it's rare to see a "cool genius" that doesn't fear public scrutiny.

[@raygordonteacheschess5501]

@@JaVi-mq3xn What made him fascinating to the world made him very boring to those who met him, as he was very singleminded about chess. If you liked chess, he liked you.

[@joemacinnis1972]

This is the Bobby Fischer we all miss! Simply the best

[@mohmmedaboud274]

Fisher, Tal, capablanca those were natural talents and legends in chess. Computer age grand masters are good too but in memorization of legends legandory games.

[@anthonyromano8565]

The legend himself.

[@walkingin6375]

RIP Bobby, I learned to play when I was 5 years old, as I was growing up, I came to know about you and your games and accolades, I always found it fascinating how even people t hat never played chess knew the name, "Bobby Fischer". When people that know nothing about a field or talent, know exactly who you are, it speaks volumes about the significance with your contribution to the game. The year 2200 and on, I'm sure people will be analyzing his games with computers we can't comprehend, even now.

[@DavidUKesb]

The Spassky v Fischer match in 1972 is the biggest sporting event in history. This match was quite literally front pages news for weeks in almost every country in the world.

[@linusyootasteisking]

i think you're both wrong... it's not an athletic sport, but still a sport. even if you require physicality for a sport they talked, in this video, about the physical requirements needed of chess players and why most retire after 40. people have checked pulse and blood pressure during matches. i think it is comparable to running, for up to 7 hours. that's also a leading hypothesis about why there are so many more males than female in top chess.

[@williamwelshjr.7704]

Cavett know will remember...Bobby was a genius

[@user-nw6qp1ki2n]

The Best Ever Chess Champion 💚❤️💙 Rest in peace Bobby

[@Hands2HealNow]

Wow what a great show the Cavat show was and still is.

[@418cjpaul]

a very good interview!