If you could play a game against any professional ....

[DrStraw]

Any professional is so much above my level, so it doesn't really matter. Therefore, I'd choose Shusaku, purely because of: http://senseis.xmp.net/?ShusakuNumber

I already have a Shusaku number

Me too (6), but I'd like to have a smaller one.

Ah, that's the catch. I think it is impossible for me to get a smaller one.

[Matti]

I already have a Shusaku number

Me too (6), but I'd like to have a smaller one.

Ah, that's the catch. I think it is impossible for me to get a smaller one.

Why?

[DrStraw]

Ah, that's the catch. I think it is impossible for me to get a smaller one.

Why?

Because all the people who would give me a lower one are dead.

[Uberdude]

How about a Shusaku number where a link only exists for beating the next up person in an even* game?

*no komi back in the day counts as even.

[DrStraw]

How about a Shusaku number where a link only exists for beating the next up person in an even* game?

*no komi back in the day counts as even.

I've often thought that is what it should be. But then how many who are not pros could claim one? Maybe by some circuituous route were saki was involved.

[HermanHiddema]

How about a Shusaku number where a link only exists for beating the next up person in an even* game?

*no komi back in the day counts as even.

I've often thought that is what it should be. But then how many who are not pros could claim one? Maybe by some circuituous route were saki was involved.

This exists, and is called a Winning Shusaku Number

Furthermore, the number is called "Pure" is the wins happened in chronological order, with each step further away from Shusaku happening later.

Everyone has one, but having one under 8 is rare for non-professionals.

[Tim C Koppang]

Sedol. He seems like a friendly guy. I love his style. Plus, he's old enough to make a chat about the current state of the pro circuit very interesting.

[Matti]

Ah, that's the catch. I think it is impossible for me to get a smaller one.

Why?

Because all the people who would give me a lower one are dead.

If handicap games are allowed, then all are not dead.

[moyoaji]

Kageyama Toshiro, without a doubt.

I would have loved to have met him when he was alive, but sadly he died just before I was born.

[DrStraw]

Because all the people who would give me a lower one are dead.

If handicap games are allowed, then all are not dead.

And who would that be? Who is alive now who played an opponent of Shusaku?

[hyperpape]

Since the question was "past or present", you could just play Shusaku, and therefore get 1, right?

[Matti]

Because all the people who would give me a lower one are dead.

If handicap games are allowed, then all are not dead.

And who would that be? Who is alive now who played an opponent of Shusaku?

Sorry, it seems that I misread earlier:
tj86430 wrote:

DrStraw wrote:

I already have a Shusaku number

Me too (6), but I'd like to have a smaller one.

and I thought you were the one who wanted to have a lower number than 6.

[hyperpape]

I misread in exactly the same way.

[pitirre]

Takemiya masaki

[Kirby]

If this were a realistic opportunity, I'd do the research to find the least skilled pro player - maybe the pro player with the most losses. Or the player who hasn't played the game in the longest amount of time - or maybe some combination of these factors.

Since they're still a pro player, I'd surely lose the game. But maybe I could come closer to winning than against one of the top players in the world.