You vs. ?

You are given an opportunity to play a game against an opponent of your choice. Living or long dead. Who would you play against? How/what would you prepare for the best shot at winning?

Tal most definatly.  I'd probably prepare by drinking as much as him in hopes of seeing it the way he does.

Wait...that doesnt work for me now.  I guess I'd play him sober.  Hmm..

I would like to play a game against Fischer. It doesnt matter how I prepare. Fischer will win. :)

I would play Gary kasparov just to see how long I could hold off the greatest attacking player ever. I would have no illusions of winning

  I would definately prefer to play a person who is still alive! Just imagine how disgusting it would be to play Morphy, Lasker, Capa, or even Fischer since their state of decompositionn is well advanced by this time.Consider the stench, awful!  No Id rather  play 1Naturaldisaster, or, ewq85!  thanks Aggie

I agree.

I'd like to play Bill Gates because he is such a patzer then I can win.

He lost for Magnus in only 9 moves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znqd4HYe0ng

MarcoBR444, what's the point in playing someone you know you can beat?

Because he is Bill Gates... 

Morphy. Because talent + no formal training is an intriguing combination in a very strong player, and Morphy is the quintessential example.

I would prepare by looking over his games to see what kind of openings they played.

I would be very interested in hearing his interpretations of a modern player like myself. What was unique, what was mundane, what was good or bad in my play, etc.

Travel back in time and I've had thoughts of playing Steinitz in his era of chess. My vision of me trouncing opponents left and right with my enhanced abilities garnered from the future.

He came, he saw, he offered a draw?! :)

Borislav Ivanov. It's no fair that nobody wants to play with him. They're probably just jealous of how good he is.