American Go E-Journal » Go Quiz

“Go Seigen is my favorite player!” comments Albert Yen on last week’s quiz, which asked who was the only player to defeat Go in a jubango match. Longtime quiz players may recall that your quizmaster considers him the greatest player of all time (though the same group may recall I have a different favorite player). A wonderful 43 of you responded. Six chose the razor-sharp Sakata Eio, perhaps confusing his breaking up the dominance of Takagawa Kaku, whose Honinbo dominance may have confused two of you and a solitary, unidentified responder chose a time-traveling TARDIS possessing Shusaku. An impressive 32 correctly chose Fujisawa Kuranosuke, although several shared Richard Jankowski’s concern that “I hope this person is the same as Fujisawa Hosai.” Putting aside existential questions about whether we really are the same person during different times of our lives, Fujisawa did not adopt the name “Hosai” until much later. However you want to refer to him, Fujisawa beat Go Seigen 6-4 in 1942 (right), although, as many pointed out, he took black in each of the no komi games, and he later lost two jubango to Go, also at handicap. Interestingly, Reinhold Burger suggested that this question would be difficult without special resources, while Roland Crowl felt it was “too easy to find online” While the number of correct responses give the nod to Mr. Crowl, I thought I would take a moment to comment on how we structure quiz question choices. Ideally, we first hope to be interesting and topical. After that, your quizmaster personally believes clever, difficult questions will always be appreciated by those interested in this clever and difficult game. However, even if folks easily get online and find an answer, then your interest has been sparked and hopefully you’ll have learned something. Congratulations to David Rohde of Carpentersville, IL this week’s winner, chosen at random from those answering correctly. photo courtesy Go’s Everywhere website.

THIS WEEK’S QUIZ: Let’s learn something about China’s Gu Li (left). While Gu benefitted from instruction by several teachers, one teacher nurtured him since he was a youngster. Is it Yang Yi 6P, Yang Yilun 7P, Song Xuelin 9P or Zhang Wendong 9P? Hint: He has attended the U.S. Go Congress several times. Click here to make your guess by close of business on Thursday.
– Keith Arnold, HKA & AGA Quizmaster

Thank you for all of your pleased remarks about the return of the quiz.  Unfortunately, your faith in my book collection was misplaced, as the number of unique books is “only” around 750.  Although this was enough to prompt Joel Benyowitz to suggest that my wife Erica “should have a yard sale,” it was not enough for our quizzers, who consistently guessed high, only 4 of 29 getting the correct answer.  Books in Japanese, Chinese and Korean far outnumber the English books (although I do have two of virtually all of the English volumes).  I did not count magazines; with complete sets of Go Review, Go World, the American Go Journal and the British Go Journal, a bunch of Kido magazines and duplicate English books the number would easily double.  Barry Pasicznyk’s query about “How many of these go books did Keith Arnold actually read?” is fair but I must plead the Fifth. Here’s a shot of some of the collection. You will be no doubt be relieved that this week’s question will NOT be Kelsey Dyer’s suggestion: “What is Keith Arnold’s favorite sandwich? (Schlotzsky’s Original – RIP Greg).  Josh Thorsen of Seattle is our winner this week, chosen at random from those answering correctly.

THIS WEEK’S QUIZ: In honor of the current talk of the go world, the Lee Se Dol vs. Gu Li jubango, you can expect a series of questions regarding the players and jubangos.  We will start with a question regarding the greatest “jubangoer” ever, Go Seigen.  Who was the only player to defeat him in a jubango match?  Was it Fujisawa Kuranosuke, Sakata Eio, Takagawa Kaku or Shusaku?  Click here to make your guess by close of business on Thursday and again, feel free to add your own comments!
– Keith Arnold, HKA & AGA Quizmaster

by Keith Arnold, HKA
I am delighted to have been asked to return as AGA Quizmaster and look forward to bringing you a whole new batch of weekly brain-teasers that will test your knowledge of the go world and its fascinating history. I will be ably assisted by quiz veteran Phil Waldron 6 dan and Daniel Chou 6 dan; if you notice clever questions of a new style, they will deserve the credit, while all errors (and unfortunate puns) will remain my responsibility.  Please remember to submit your answers on or before Thursday each week. Let the games begin!

Since we’re in a self-referential mood, let’s make our first effort close to home: How many books are in Keith Arnold’s go library?  For the purpose of this question, all languages are allowed, including duplicates as long as they are materially different (translations, revised editions with different covers) as opposed to the deranged “doubles” of an obsessed collector.  Our E-Journal editor – who interviewed me at my home some years ago — will be as surprised as I am that the number of go books finally exceeds my voluminous collection of books regarding the War Between the States. Is the number 600-700, 700-800, 800-900 or more than 900?  Click here to make your guess and, as always, feel free to include your comments, rude or otherwise, as we do award extra points for clever responses. photo: Arnold at the 2012 US Go Congress; photo by Phil Straus

Eleven out of fourteen of you guessed that it was go writer John Fairbairn who came to dinner recently. For those who do not know, his name does in fact “rhyme” with “bair” sounding the same as “fair.” John has translated many books for Ishi press and is the quieter half of the GoGoD team.  Recently his books from Slate and Shell have been receiving high and well-deserved praise. He attended several Orioles games during his recent visit — and even saw them win! — as well as a Phillies game and a Nationals game. Here we are pictured on our excursion to Frederick to watch a game by the Orioles single-A farm club, the Frederick Keys.  I really enjoyed spending time with John, and look forward to a long and ironic friendship between an English American baseball fan and an American English football fan.
Sadly, the Go Quiz has run its course. Participation is down this year and the response received does not justify the time and space involved.  I really want to thank everyone who participated and everyone who enjoyed the Quiz and I hope some of you learned something and maybe your interest in go was increased in some fashion. Final Standings: Phil Waldron 11/13, Grant Kerr 9/10, Kim Salomony 9/11, Scott Pederson 8/8 and Lin Nei 7/8. Many thanks to Phil Waldron, who never missed a quiz, Grant Kerr, who only got one wrong and my biggest fan Kim Salomony.  Finally, a special thanks to an old friend, one-time rival, and one-time Congress ride buddy who easily wins the all-time award for most wrong answers. You too are namelessly appreciated.
– Keith Arnold

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’:  With plans for next year’s Los Angeles Congress well underway, California will join Pennsylvania, Colorado and Washington as states that have held three Go Congresses.  Most of you knew that Washington (Seattle, Seattle, Tacoma) was the first.

GUESS WHO CAME TO DINNER:  This week I ask a very simple question, who did I have dinner with Friday night?  I suppose a few clues would be helpful.  He is an increasingly prolific go author, he acted as translator for several Ishi Press books, is a huge baseball fan, and ordered the German mixed grill with russett potatoes (not much of a clue, but it was delicious).  The first 4 letters of his last name rhyme with the next 4 letters of his last name.  With a hint like that, it cannot be multiple choice – CLICK HERE to send in your best guess.

Last week’s “simple” multiple choice fooled most of you: Kato Masao (r) not only won the Honinbo, but won it several times, the last time in 2002 at age 55.  The Kisei title is the only one he’s never won.
THIS WEEK’S QUIZ: CONGRESS TIME: It’s about time I plugged the annual U.S. Go Congress in the Quiz.  This year will be the third Congress hosted by Colorado; which state was the first to host three US Go Congresses? Washington, Pennsylvania, California or Virginia?  Click here to vote now.

Folks found this one tough, with just four realizing that this year’s 37th Maryland Open Champion would join 37th Honinbo Cho Chikun, 37th Judan Kobayashi Koichi and 37th Oza Kato Masao as winners of the 37th version of the their respective titles.
THIS WEEK’S QUIZ: KATO MASAO – TO TELL THE TRUTH: We will return to multiple choice for this quiz about the late Kato Masao (r).  Which of these statements, if said by Kato, would be untrue – “I was one of the ‘three crows’ of the Kitani Dojo,” “I was known as “Killer” in the early part of my career,” “I won all the top seven titles, except the Honinbo,” “I was Director of the Nihon Kiin when I died”.  Click here to vote now.
– Keith Arnold

Noriyuki Nakayama 6P, who died last week (EJ Special Edition 2/19) was famous for creating original ladder problems, including a series with the black stones in the shape of the oriental zodiac signs.  The attached problem is for the sign of the monkey. Note that the monkey is winking its right eye.  The problem is translated by Bob McGuigan from Nakayama’s book Shicho no Sekai (The World of Ladders) published by the Nihon Ki-in in 1998.  Nakayama noted that several go players were born in the year of the monkey, including Sakata Eio, Cho Chikun, Sugiuchi Masao, Fukui Masaaki and Nakayama himself. The problem is Black to play at A; can he capture the white stone at Q9 in a ladder? The solution is 119 moves long; watch for the solution next week.

Can you find a pro’s mistakes? That’s the challenge in Go4Go’s new “Best professional game review contest.” Choose from two games – the complicated O Meien vs. Iguchi Toyohide or the more peaceful Kodama Kunio vs. Tokimoto Hajime – and send in your reviews for a shot at prizes that include a teaching game and Go4Go memberships. Contest judges include An Younggil 8P of Korea, Alexander Dinerchtein 3P (Russia), Alexey Lazarev 6d (Russia), Theo van Ees (Holland), the EJ’s own William Cobb and Gabriel Benmergui 6d. Contest deadline is December 1.