rank

A rank is a standardized grade indicating a Go player’s playing strength. Amateur ranks generally progress from weaker kyu grades to stronger dan grades, while professional players use a separate system of professional dan grades. Exact rank scales and certification rules vary by organization and locale.

Ranks help players describe relative strength, arrange suitable opponents, and determine handicap stones in teaching or rated games. A rank is a categorical strength grade; a rating is usually a numerical estimate that changes continuously according to game results. Rank systems are not uniform across countries, organizations, servers, or historical periods, so identical labels may not represent exactly equivalent strength.