Life In 19x19

Invincible is one of the books I really want to delve into (I have 2 books I need to get through first, but as soon as those are done!). Many months back I tried to read through the book before, but it was rather unsatisfying trying to sift through the kifu to see what the commentary was saying about the game and where the variations came into play. I searched for SGF files of the games to make it easy but couldn't find anything. So I took a bunch of time to make SGF files out of the games myself.

SGF files are only the games. None of the commentary and none of the variations. My goal isn't to distribute Incvincible, but to make it easier to read through.

http://www.tucsongo.org/2012/02/invincible-sgf-pack/

Nice. All of the games are also in GoGoD (and many other databases)--I also like to follow along that way, and it is easier to use an sgf even when you're placing stones on a real board.

EDIT: A quick comment on your blog entry--I would say that Shusaku is inarguably one of the greatest go players of all time, and is arguably the greatest go player of all time (not that he is arguably one of them).

Shusaku fans who have an iPad (or other iOS device) will have a new way to enjoy these games soon…

judicata wrote:Nice. All of the games are also in GoGoD (and many other databases)--I also like to follow along that way, and it is easier to use an sgf even when you're placing stones on a real board.

EDIT: A quick comment on your blog entry--I would say that Shusaku is inarguably one of the greatest go players of all time, and is arguably the greatest go player of all time (not that he is arguably one of them).

i would add that Shusaku is arguably one of the most overestimated players of all time

or, to be fair, his strength is hard to evaluate because he died young and thus had played majority of his games with an advantage of having black (being under-ranked). if he had lived longer, he could have proved his superiority better

Laman wrote:i would add that Shusaku is arguably one of the most overestimated players of all time

or, to be fair, his strength is hard to evaluate because he died young and thus had played majority of his games with an advantage of having black (being under-ranked). if he had lived longer, he could have proved his superiority better

Overestimated? Maybe, but not because he won more games thenthe others.
It's because of his playing style, almost all japanese professionals have studied his games because of that style and not because he won games.

You should know that winning is not the only way to display strenght

Laman wrote:

judicata wrote:Nice. All of the games are also in GoGoD (and many other databases)--I also like to follow along that way, and it is easier to use an sgf even when you're placing stones on a real board.

EDIT: A quick comment on your blog entry--I would say that Shusaku is inarguably one of the greatest go players of all time, and is arguably the greatest go player of all time (not that he is arguably one of them).

i would add that Shusaku is arguably one of the most overestimated players of all time

or, to be fair, his strength is hard to evaluate because he died young and thus had played majority of his games with an advantage of having black (being under-ranked). if he had lived longer, he could have proved his superiority better

I don't think he's overestimated, I think he just suffers from an overabundance of publicity. Pros agree that he's among the strongest along with Go Seigen/Huang Longshi/Dosaku/Lee Changho.

And he really had quite a lot of games. (The Jubangos with Ota Yuzo obviously). It's not just the 20 or so Castle games...

Laman wrote:

judicata wrote:Nice. All of the games are also in GoGoD (and many other databases)--I also like to follow along that way, and it is easier to use an sgf even when you're placing stones on a real board.

EDIT: A quick comment on your blog entry--I would say that Shusaku is inarguably one of the greatest go players of all time, and is arguably the greatest go player of all time (not that he is arguably one of them).

i would add that Shusaku is arguably one of the most overestimated players of all time

or, to be fair, his strength is hard to evaluate because he died young and thus had played majority of his games with an advantage of having black (being under-ranked). if he had lived longer, he could have proved his superiority better

Is your argument that, because his strength is hard to evaluate, it must be overestimated? There is something missing from this syllogism.

Many people would disagree that his strength is difficult to evaluate. Could Shusaku have beaten Lee Changho 10 years ago if he came back from the dead? Perhaps not. I would even accept "probably not." But could have beaten Lee Changho if he had been born in 1980 and been exposed to modern go theory and teachings? Maybe, maybe not, but then it wouldn't really be Shusaku would it? Someone can only be evaluated in his/her own time.

My point still stands. Aside from a few naysayers (many of whom disagree for the sake of it), it is a given that he is among the greatest of all time.

Unfortunately for you, the "few" nay-sayers include many of the top professionals of the last hundred years, most of whom would post Shuei as higher. Personally, I would choose Go Seigen as the greatest.

Best wishes.

shapenaji wrote:I don't think he's overestimated, I think he just suffers from an overabundance of publicity. Pros agree that he's among the strongest along with Go Seigen/Huang Longshi/Dosaku/Lee Changho.

Better list Shuei, since you have professionals on record saying he was better than Shusaku. Oh, and what ever happened to the whole Jowa/Shusaku comparison?

If you're saying that Shusaku is near the very top, you'll have no argument from me. But exactly where he falls relative to the others is quite tough.

Scooped by TMark.

Ah, but if Shusaku knew modern joseki....

About how many people could we say "one of the strongest of all time"? I think there have been several 20th century players who, in their prime could compete with Shusaku in his prime. Are we safe in saying Shusaku was one of the top 25? I'm not completely sure even about that.

TMark wrote:Unfortunately for you, the "few" nay-sayers include many of the top professionals of the last hundred years, most of whom would post Shuei as higher. Personally, I would choose Go Seigen as the greatest.

Best wishes.

I appreciate the insight, and that is indeed somewhat unfortunate for my position . But do many top pros not consider Shusaku among the greatest? And if so, don't most consider him among the greatest. I'm not arguing Shusaku was the greatest--I have no idea. Because Go Seigen seems to have more intercultural recognition (correct me if I'm wrong here--I admit I'm out of my element), I would just as readily accept him as the greatest.

Exologist wrote:........ None of the commentary and none of the variations. My goal isn't to distribute Incvincible, but to make it easier to read through.

http://www.tucsongo.org/2012/02/invincible-sgf-pack/

I sgf'ed some games, comments included. I am willing to exchange on the condition you also own the book. See here

So are we all going to end this thread by posing in front of a mirror with a copy of invincible in one hand, and a paper reading "L19x19, Feb 28th 2012" in the other, so everyone knows that we really own the book?

So my article stands or doesn't stand? Oh, the debating humanity!

Yeah, I don't have nearly enough time to write down all the comments and put in the variations even if I wanted to bother getting permission. It is what it is.