The Master of Go Game

[Aidoneus]

On page 49 of the hardcover First American Edition, Knopf copyright 1972, Black 101 seems to be given as R-13. (With the only other reasonable move being given as R-12.) Even assuming that the letter "i" is not skipped over, this does not match the game record that I downloaded from BiGo which gives Black 101 at S7. (BiGo was mentioned at Senseis, I believe, where I was reading some background.) Would someone please clarify this apparent discrepancy.

[EdLee]

Hi Aidoneous, it's been over a decade since the only time I read it.
I don't remember: did he keep the real name or substitute a fictitious name ?
Are there actual Go diagrams in the book ?

[Aidoneus]

Hi Aidoneous, it's been over a decade since the only time I read it.
I don't remember: did he keep the real name or substitute a fictitious name ?
Are there actual Go diagrams in the book ?

This is Kitani Minoru (name change in book to Otake) vs Shusai in the latter's retirement match. I should have checked at the back of the book, because move 101 was at S7 in a full diagram. I still don't understand the comment in the text about playing R-12 or R-13, though.

[HermanHiddema]

This is Kitani Minoru (name change in book to Otake) vs Shusai in the latter's retirement match. I should have checked at the back of the book, because move 101 was at S7 in a full diagram. I still don't understand the comment in the text about playing R-12 or R-13, though.

Could be a coordinate translation mistake?

AFAIK, Japanese diagrams use coordinates which count from the upper left, with the vertical axis using Japanese numerals and the horizontal axis using arabic numerals. S7 is on the 18th column from the left, 13th rank. And R is the 18th letter in the alphabet. So someone unfamiliar with the missing I in western coordinates could have ended up with R-13, I guess?

[EdLee]

Herman's theory sounds good.

[John Fairbairn]

The Japanese coordinate system here starts in the top right and uses Japanese いろは　letters across and Japanese numerals down. The points referred to here (in Chapter 32) are ろ十三 and　ろ十二, or to us S7 and S8 (omitting I).

The original book does not give inline diagrams but the game is given in full at the end, but of course the original newspaper bulletins did carry the moves.

This is far from the only mistake in the translation and far from the most serious. My Slate & Shell book The Meijin's Retirement Game gives a full commentary on the game but also has a very long appendix correcting the translation and explaining the omissions, but also giving details about obscure cultural references.

[Aidoneus]

The original book does not give inline diagrams but the game is given in full at the end, but of course the original newspaper bulletins did carry the moves.

Interestingly enough, the First American Printing by Knopf has inline diagrams after move 2, move 12, move 63, move 83, move 90, move 100, move 108, move 121, move 130, move 145, and move 237. But the text refers to R12/R-13 (instead of the actual S7) choice on page 49 and again on page 135.

[Bill Spight]

Interestingly enough, the First American Printing by Knopf has inline diagrams after move 2, move 12, move 63, move 83, move 90, move 100, move 108, move 121, move 130, move 145, and move 237. But the text refers to R12/R-13 (instead of the actual S7) choice on page 49 and again on page 135.

I expect, like Herman, that the text R12 is S-08 in BiGo coordinates and R13 is S-07, the actual move.

[Aidoneus]

I expect, like Herman, that the text R12 is S-08 in BiGo coordinates and R13 is S-07, the actual move.

Yeah, but it is odd that the diagrams in this book use Western notation and order (A to T).

BTW, this book reminds me of the biography of Cicero by Anthony Everitt, which ostensibly is meant to be sympathetic but confirmed my negative opinion of Cicero as a "wannabe" member of the optimates. I think that HBO got his character spot on in the TV series Rome.

[Bill Spight]

I expect, like Herman, that the text R12 is S-08 in BiGo coordinates and R13 is S-07, the actual move.

Yeah, but it is odd that the diagrams in this book use Western notation and order (A to T).

BTW, this book reminds me of the biography of Cicero by Anthony Everitt, which ostensibly is meant to be sympathetic but confirmed my negative opinion of Cicero as a "wannabe" member of the optimates. I think that HBO got his character spot on in the TV series Rome.

You dare sully Tully?