A man has a match, a candle, and a fireplace.
What does he light first?
The answer is the match.
Before he can light either the candle or the fireplace, he first needs a flame. The match is what provides that flame.
The riddle is designed to distract you with the two larger things that can be lit. Most people immediately start choosing between the candle and the fireplace.
But neither can be lit until the match itself is struck and burning.
The key is to think about the sequence of events rather than simply selecting one of the obvious objects named in the question.
First the match is lit. Then that flame can be used to light the candle or start the fireplace.
Answer: The match.
