What Are Go Ranks (Kyu & Dan)? A List of Amateur Strength Levels and How Dan Certification Works

“Which is higher in Go, dan or kyu?” “I’ve heard someone is amateur 6-dan—how strong is that?” If you’ve been wondering, you’re not alone.

In Go, strength starts at kyu ranks and rises into dan ranks.

Kyu ranks get stronger as the number gets smaller, while dan ranks get stronger as the number gets larger.

The Nihon Ki-in issues amateur diplomas/certificates from 25-kyu up to 8-dan.

Professional players’ ranks run from 1-dan to 9-dan, and they are determined by standards separate from amateur ranks.

In this article, we’ll go through how the kyu/dan system works, a strength guide for each rank, the differences between amateur and pro ranks, and ways to get dan certification—in that order.

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What Are Go Dan & Kyu Ranks (Kyu/Dan System)?

The kyu/dan system is a ranking system that represents Go strength (playing strength).

People who start Go begin at kyu ranks, and as they improve they move on to dan ranks.

As with shogi, calligraphy, and martial arts, it’s common in Go to express skill as “X-kyu” or “X-dan.”

Knowing ranks makes it easier to judge the skill gap between opponents and decide the right handicap.

Here, we’ll look at how kyu and dan are ordered, and how big a difference one rank represents.

Kyu gets stronger as the number decreases; dan gets stronger as the number increases

In kyu, you get stronger as the number goes down, and after 1-kyu comes 1-dan (shodan).

In dan, it’s the opposite: shodan, 2-dan, 3-dan… the higher the number, the stronger.

From weakest to strongest, the order is:

25-kyu → …… → 10-kyu → …… → 1-kyu → 1-dan → 2-dan → …… → 8-dan

The Nihon Ki-in issues three types for amateurs:

• Kyu certificate: 10-kyu to 25-kyu
• Kyu diploma: 1-kyu to 9-kyu
• Dan diploma: 1-dan to 8-dan

Where you “start” depends on the school, tournament, or online Go service.

Some Nihon Ki-in tournaments allow entry from 30-kyu, and the online server “Yugen no Ma” starts from 25-kyu.

There’s no fixed rule like “beginners are X-kyu.”

You may also hear them called “classes,” but the formal term that groups kyu and dan together is “kyu/dan ranks.”

A one-rank difference can be expressed as the number of handicap stones

As a rule of thumb, a difference of 1 rank corresponds to about 1 handicap stone.

Handicap stones are a head start where the weaker player places stones on the board before the game begins.

This idea also appears in the wording on Nihon Ki-in kyu diplomas.

A 1-kyu diploma says “sen (no handicap stones) against shodan,” 2-kyu says “two-stone handicap,” and 3-kyu says “three-stone handicap.”

“Sen” means playing with no handicap stones, with the weaker player taking Black (first move).

So if a 3-kyu player plays a shodan player, the calculation is that placing three stones makes it an even game.

Likewise, shodan vs 4-dan is considered a 3-stone gap.

In Nihon Ki-in rank certification tournaments as well, the handicap rule is “1 rank = 1 stone.”

Kyu/dan ranks are used as a measuring stick for deciding handicaps.

[List] A Guide to Go Dan & Kyu Strength Levels

Here’s a list of typical strength expectations by rank, grouped into five bands.

The table is only a general guideline.

Rank standards vary slightly by organization, Go salon, and online Go service.

Even for the same person, it’s not unusual for their rank to differ by 1–2 levels depending on where they play.

Below, we’ll explain each band in a bit more detail.

20-kyu to 11-kyu: You know the rules and can play a full game

From 20-kyu to 11-kyu is the stage where you’ve learned the rules and can play a game through to the end.

Around 20-kyu, you understand capturing and how to count territory, and you can finish games on 9x9 or 13x13.

You’ll still often miss situations where your stones are about to be captured.

Around 15-kyu, you’ll start using basic capturing techniques like atari and ladders in real games.

This is also when you gradually get used to playing on 19x19.

In this band, the number of games you play directly translates into improvement.

PlayGo.gg’s AI matches include AIs from 18-kyu, and you can also set handicap stones.

It can be fun to test yourself against the AI to see roughly where your current kyu level is.

10-kyu to 1-kyu: You understand basic joseki and life & death

From 10-kyu to 1-kyu is the stage where you learn basic joseki and life & death, and can play in kyu sections at Go salons and tournaments.

At 10-kyu, you can play with your own ideas from opening to endgame.

You know a few simple joseki and can pay attention to whether stones are connected or cut.

By 5-kyu, you’ll likely start finding easy tsumego and tesuji in real games.

You’ll also be able to judge things like attacking the opponent’s weak stones or defending your own.

At 1-kyu, you’re one step away from shodan.

As mentioned earlier, against shodan you play “sen,” i.e., no handicap stones.

Around 10-kyu is also a time when many people hit a plateau.

If you’ve stopped winning, also see our article summarizing how to improve at Go and how to study by strength level.

1-dan to 3-dan: Amateur dan players

Shodan is a major milestone for amateurs; from here up you’re called a “dan player.”

Go shodan is the level where you’ve acquired the basics of joseki, tesuji, life & death, and endgame.

Nihon Ki-in’s shodan diploma also includes wording about diligently training and advancing your skill.

At 3-dan, there’s a two-stone gap versus shodan.

Along with deeper reading, this is the stage where you gain the ability to judge “who is ahead right now” by looking at the whole board.

At Go salons, you’ll be able to play at least evenly with many opponents.

If your goal is shodan, we also explain it in detail in another article: how long it takes to reach shodan in Go and how to study.

4-dan / 5-dan: Strong enough to place near the top at Go salons

Go 4-dan and 5-dan are strong enough to place near the top at Go salons and local tournaments.

At 4-dan, your reading and position judgment become stable, and big mistakes become rarer.

Since there’s a 3-stone gap versus shodan, if you play without handicap stones, 4-dan will win in most cases.

Go 5-dan is treated as “high dan” among amateurs.

Even in Nihon Ki-in’s special correspondence certification, 5-dan through 8-dan are grouped into the “high-dan course.”

The presentation box for the diploma is also a paulownia box from 5-dan and up.

At 5-dan, you’ll also see people who contend for championships in regional tournaments.

That said, even within 5-dan there’s a wide range of strength, and there can be a noticeable gap between someone who advances in prefectural tournaments and a “5-dan” at a Go salon.

Amateur 6-dan / 7-dan / 8-dan: Prefectural representatives to national-tournament class

Amateur 6-dan and above are the very top tier among amateurs.

Amateur 6-dan is often said to be the class that places near the top in prefectural tournaments.

How strong is amateur 7-dan? It’s often described as the level of prefectural representatives or national tournament participants.

Go 8-dan is the highest rank on the amateur diplomas issued by the Nihon Ki-in.

What makes 6-dan and above special isn’t only strength.

The ways to obtain the diploma itself are limited.

Under Nihon Ki-in rules, applying by recommendation from a branch head or certified instructor is possible only up to 6-dan.

In principle, 7-dan and 8-dan diplomas are limited to people who already hold the previous rank.

You can say that Go 7-dan and 8-dan are ranks reached only by those who have built up results over many years.

Three Differences Between Amateur and Pro Go Ranks

Because amateur and pro ranks are determined by completely separate standards, even the same “5-dan” represents totally different strength.

The differences are these three:

• Rank range
• How ranks are promoted
• What the rank means

Let’s look at them one by one.

Rank range: amateurs go up to 8-dan; pros go up to 9-dan

The Nihon Ki-in issues amateur dan diplomas from 1-dan to 8-dan, while professional ranks run from 1-dan to 9-dan.

Amateurs start from kyu ranks, but pros start from 1-dan.

Becoming a pro is called “entering dan” (nyudan), and for both the Nihon Ki-in and Kansai Ki-in, the promotion standards start from promotion from 1-dan to 2-dan.

Note that “Judan” (10-dan) is not a rank—it’s the name of a title match (the Judan title).

Because a player holding the Judan title is called “XX Judan,” it’s easy to confuse it with ranks, so be careful.

If you want to understand the title system, see Go’s seven major titles.

How ranks are promoted: pros are determined by three promotion rules

Professional promotions are determined by three factors: winning titles, number of wins, and prize-money ranking.

Examples include the following (from Nihon Ki-in promotion rules):

• Winning titles: winning one term of Kisei or Meijin promotes you to 9-dan
• Number of wins: 30 wins to go from 1-dan to 2-dan; 200 wins to go from 8-dan to 9-dan
• Prize-money ranking: top finishers in the annual prize-money ranking are promoted (applies to 1-dan through 6-dan)

A pro rank is proof of continued results in official games.

By contrast, amateur ranks are certified based on tournament results, certification problems, recommendations, etc., and then obtained by applying for a diploma.

They don’t automatically rise based on official-game win totals like pros.

What we introduced here is the Nihon Ki-in’s rules.

Kansai Ki-in players are promoted under the Kansai Ki-in’s own promotion standards.

What the rank means: What pro rank corresponds to an amateur rank?

You can’t directly convert an amateur rank into a pro rank.

That’s because there is no official conversion table like “amateur 6-dan equals pro X-dan.”

Only those who have trained as insei (Go apprentices) or passed the pro qualification process can become professional players.

So in general, even a pro 1-dan is stronger than a high-dan amateur.

However, top amateurs do sometimes get chances to play pros.

In Nihon Ki-in promotion rules, wins in the Kisei, Ryusei, and Kiriyama Cup note that they “include games vs amateurs,” and there are situations where amateurs participate in pro tournaments.

Four Ways to Get a Go Dan Rank (Rank Certification)

The official proof of a Go dan rank is a diploma issued by the Nihon Ki-in or Kansai Ki-in.

The Nihon Ki-in lists eight ways to obtain a diploma; broadly, they can be grouped into these four:

• Achieve results in tournaments
• Pass certification problems
• Get certified via online rating
• Receive a recommendation from a pro player, branch head, etc.

For the Nihon Ki-in, applying for a diploma of shodan or above requires membership.

Kyu diplomas and kyu certificates can be applied for even if you are not a member.

Diploma fees are set as follows in the Nihon Ki-in’s “Kyu/Dan License Rules and Fees” (dated May 1, 2023; checked Nov 2026). Amounts include shipping and consumption tax.

Fees may be revised, so check the Nihon Ki-in’s official website before applying.

Achieve results in tournaments such as rank certification tournaments

If you achieve the required results in tournaments hosted by the Nihon Ki-in or in certification tournaments, you can be certified.

The advantage of this method is that you can test your strength in real games.

In certification tournaments, classes are divided by rank, and certification is determined by the number of wins over 4–5 games.

If you go undefeated, you can often receive the diploma for the rank you applied for at no cost.

Since better results reduce the diploma fee, it can be a good idea to participate as a test of your skill.

At the Kansai Ki-in as well, you can obtain a diploma by achieving specified results in tournaments it hosts, co-hosts, or supports.

Conditions differ by tournament, so check the guidelines before entering.

Pass certification problems (correspondence certification / online certification exams)

Solve the problems and submit them; if you score a passing mark, you gain eligibility to apply for a diploma.

This method suits people who don’t have time to attend tournaments.

For the Nihon Ki-in’s special correspondence certification, you apply by choosing one of these three courses:

• High-dan course: 8-dan to 5-dan
• Dan course: 4-dan to 1-dan
• Kyu course: 1-dan to 6-kyu

You can apply by postcard or via a web application form.

The Kansai Ki-in’s “Playing Strength Certification Problems” cover kyu ranks through 5-dan.

There are 12 questions total, and 70 points or more is a pass. For kyu problems you can apply up to twice per year; for dan problems, once per year, and only one type.

You can request the problem sheets for free, and PDF downloads are also available.

Get certified via online game ratings

You can also apply for a diploma based on the rating on the Nihon Ki-in’s online Go service “Yugen no Ma.”

This is one of the methods listed by the Nihon Ki-in.

On Yugen no Ma, rating points change based on wins and losses, and your kyu/dan rank from 25-kyu up to 8-dan is determined by those points.

In other words, the results of your regular games directly lead to certification.

Unlike tournaments, you don’t need to match schedules, and you can keep playing from home.

For eligibility and procedures, check “Diploma Application” on the Yugen no Ma member page.

If you’re aiming for kyu ranks, you can also apply via the Nihon Ki-in’s Go app “Igo Shiru.”

If you pass the in-app certification test and meet the conditions, you can apply for official Nihon Ki-in kyu diplomas/certificates.

Since this applies to kyu diplomas and certificates, those who want a dan rank should choose Yugen no Ma or another method.

Receive a recommendation from a pro player, branch head, etc.

You can also apply for a diploma with a recommendation from a pro player who teaches you, the head of your local branch, or a certified instructor.

This method fits people who attend classes or belong to a branch.

Under Nihon Ki-in rules, there is an upper limit on the rank that can be recommended.

With a branch head’s recommendation, you can apply up to 6-dan. A certified instructor can recommend up to the rank they hold, and in any case up to a maximum of 6-dan.

At the Kansai Ki-in as well, you can obtain a diploma if you have a recommendation from a pro player or branch head.

You receive the diploma application form from the pro player or branch head and then submit your application.

Because they can evaluate your play in everyday games or teaching games, even people who are not good at tests may find it easier to receive certification that matches their true strength.

Frequently Asked Questions About Go Dan Ranks

Here are three common questions about Go ranks:

• Can your Go rank ever go down?
• Are online Go ranks the same as diploma ranks?
• Can you write a Go rank on your resume?

We’ll answer them in order.

Can your Go rank ever go down?

A rank certified by a diploma does not go down.

The Nihon Ki-in explains a diploma as “proof of your highest lifetime playing strength.”

Your obtained data is registered in the Nihon Ki-in database and preserved permanently.

Even if you stop playing for a while and your strength declines, the rank on your diploma remains.

On the other hand, online Go kyu/dan ranks typically go up and down as your rating changes with wins and losses.

Are online Go ranks the same as diploma ranks?

No—they are certified under completely different standards.

That’s because online Go ranks are determined by each service’s own criteria.

Even for the same person, one service might show 3-dan while another shows shodan.

Go salons are similar: in reality, rank standards vary slightly from place to place.

So rather than focusing on the number itself, it’s a better indicator of improvement to see whether you’re steadily rising while continuing to play in the same place.

In PlayGo.gg rated games, you can play opponents of similar strength, and your rating goes up and down based on results.

By tracking your rating changes, you can check whether your playing strength is improving.

Can you write a Go rank on your resume?

If you have obtained a diploma, you can write it on your resume.

The Nihon Ki-in also states that a diploma—unlike a self-declared rank—can be listed on resumes for exams and job applications.

When writing it, include the issuing organization and the rank, e.g., “Nihon Ki-in, Go Shodan.”

Online Go ranks and self-reported ranks are not official proof.

If you want to list it under qualifications, consider obtaining a diploma.

Summary

Go kyu/dan ranks are a ranking system that expresses strength, progressing from kyu ranks to dan ranks.

Kyu gets stronger as the number gets smaller, and after 1-kyu comes shodan. Dan gets stronger as the number gets larger.

The Nihon Ki-in’s amateur diplomas/certificates run from 25-kyu to 8-dan, while professional ranks run from 1-dan to 9-dan.

Because amateurs and pros use different standards, strength differs greatly even at the same “dan.”

There are four official ways to obtain a dan rank: tournaments, certification problems, online rating certification, and recommendations.

To apply through the Nihon Ki-in for shodan or above, you must be a member.

If you’re aiming for a dan rank, start by finding out your current strength.

With PlayGo.gg, you can play for free against AI from 18-kyu to 10-dan with handicap stones, and test your current level.