Weiqi Ranking System Explained for Beginners

When you start playing Weiqi online or at a club, you will quickly see strange-looking ranks.

You may see players described as:

30 kyu
10 kyu
1 kyu
1 dan
5 dan
1 professional dan

At first, this can feel confusing.

Why does 10 kyu become stronger than 20 kyu?

Why does 1 dan come after 1 kyu?

Is a professional 1 dan the same as an amateur 1 dan?

And what rank should a beginner expect to be?

This guide explains the Weiqi ranking system in simple terms, so you can understand what ranks mean without getting overwhelmed.

The Short Answer

Weiqi ranks are usually divided into two main groups:

Rank Type	Direction	Meaning
Kyu	Counts down	Beginner to advanced student ranks
Dan	Counts up	Strong amateur or expert ranks
Professional dan	Counts up separately	Professional player ranks

The basic order looks like this:

30 kyu → 20 kyu → 10 kyu → 1 kyu → 1 dan → 2 dan → 3 dan

For kyu ranks, smaller numbers are stronger.

For dan ranks, larger numbers are stronger.

That is the most important thing to remember.

What Is Kyu?

Kyu ranks are student ranks.

Most beginners start somewhere in the kyu range.

A complete beginner may be around 30 kyu, although the exact starting rank depends on the server, club, or association.

As you improve, your kyu number goes down.

So:

30 kyu is weaker than 20 kyu.
20 kyu is weaker than 10 kyu.
10 kyu is weaker than 5 kyu.
1 kyu is the strongest kyu rank.

This feels strange at first because most ranking systems count upward.

But in Weiqi, kyu ranks work like a countdown toward 1 kyu.

Once a player becomes stronger than 1 kyu, they may enter the dan ranks.

What Is Dan?

Dan ranks are stronger amateur ranks.

After 1 kyu comes 1 dan.

Then the numbers go upward:

1 dan → 2 dan → 3 dan → 4 dan

In many systems, amateur dan ranks may go up to around 6 dan, 7 dan, or sometimes higher depending on the organization or server.

A 1 dan player is already very strong compared with a beginner.

You can think of 1 dan as similar to a black belt in martial arts.

It does not mean the player has finished learning.

It means they have reached a strong level of understanding and skill.

Kyu and Dan in One Simple Ladder

Here is the ranking ladder in beginner-friendly form:

Level	Example Rank	Beginner Meaning
Complete beginner	30 kyu	Just learning the rules
Early beginner	25–20 kyu	Understands basic play
Beginner	19–15 kyu	Can finish games
Improving beginner	14–10 kyu	Understands basic tactics
Intermediate	9–5 kyu	Plays with more purpose
Advanced kyu	4–1 kyu	Strong non-dan player
Amateur dan	1 dan and above	Strong amateur player

This table is only a rough guide.

Different platforms use different rating systems, so do not treat these categories too rigidly.

Why Do Kyu Ranks Count Down?

Kyu and dan ranks come from East Asian ranking traditions also used in activities such as martial arts.

In this system, kyu ranks represent progress toward mastery.

That is why the number gets smaller as you improve.

You are moving closer to 1 kyu.

After 1 kyu, you enter the dan ranks, where the numbers begin increasing.

So the transition looks like this:

3 kyu → 2 kyu → 1 kyu → 1 dan → 2 dan

Once you understand this, the ranking system becomes much easier to read.

What Is a Professional Dan?

Professional dan ranks are separate from amateur dan ranks.

This is an important point.

A professional 1 dan is not the same as an amateur 1 dan.

Professional players have passed a formal qualification system and compete at a much higher level.

Professional ranks usually go from 1 professional dan to 9 professional dan.

However, professional rank does not always work exactly like amateur rank.

A professional 9 dan is extremely strong, but professional rank can also reflect status, achievement, promotion systems, and career progression.

For beginners, the main thing to remember is simple:

Professional dan and amateur dan are different systems.

Do not compare them directly.

Are Online Ranks Accurate?

Online ranks are useful, but they are not perfect.

Each server has its own rating system.

For example, your rank on one platform may not match your rank on another platform.

You might be 12 kyu on one server and 15 kyu on another.

That does not necessarily mean anything is wrong.

It simply means each system measures players differently.

Online ranks are best used as a rough guide for finding fair opponents.

They should not become your identity.

Why Ranks Differ Between Servers

Ranks differ because each server has its own player pool.

A server with many strong players may feel tougher.

A beginner-friendly server may feel softer.

Some servers update ranks quickly.

Others update more slowly.

Some use visible kyu and dan ranks.

Others also use hidden or numerical rating systems.

This is why comparing ranks across platforms can be misleading.

Instead of asking:

“What is my true rank?”

Ask:

“Am I improving compared with my own previous games?”

That is a much healthier way to think about progress.

What Rank Are Beginners?

If you have just learned the rules, you are probably somewhere around 30 kyu to 25 kyu, depending on the system.

But do not worry too much about the exact number.

At the beginning, your rank may change quickly.

You are learning huge concepts for the first time:

Liberties
Capturing
Atari
Eyes
Territory
Scoring
Basic strategy

Every few games may improve your understanding.

So if your rank moves up and down, that is completely normal.

Should Beginners Care About Rank?

A little, but not too much.

Rank is useful because it helps you find opponents near your level.

A fair game is more enjoyable than a game where one player is much stronger.

However, rank can become distracting.

If you focus too much on protecting your rank, you may become afraid to play.

That slows your improvement.

Beginners should focus on learning, not rank.

A better goal is:

Understand one new idea each game.

If you do that consistently, your rank will improve naturally over time.

How Do You Improve Your Rank?

The honest answer is simple:

You improve your rank by improving your play.

That usually means developing better habits.

Count liberties

Many beginner games are decided by missed liberties.

If you count liberties carefully, you will avoid many simple losses.

Notice atari

Recognizing atari helps you save your own stones and capture your opponent’s stones.

Stop chasing every capture

Capturing is exciting, but territory wins games.

Strong players know when to fight and when to play elsewhere.

Review your games

Even a short review helps.

Ask yourself:

Where did I lose stones?
Did I miss atari?
Did I build territory?
Did I play too fast?

Play regularly

Consistency matters.

Two or three thoughtful games each week can help you improve steadily.

Rank and Handicap Stones

One useful feature of Weiqi is the handicap system.

If two players have different ranks, the weaker player may receive extra stones at the beginning of the game.

These are called handicap stones.

They help create a more balanced game.

For example, if one player is much stronger, the weaker player might start with several black stones already placed on the board.

This lets players of different strengths still enjoy meaningful games together.

The handicap system is one reason Weiqi is such a good teaching game.

A beginner and a stronger player can still play an interesting match.

For a fuller beginner explanation, read What Are Handicap Games in Weiqi?.

Common Beginner Confusions

“Is 10 kyu better than 20 kyu?”

Yes.

In kyu ranks, smaller numbers are stronger.

10 kyu is stronger than 20 kyu.

“Is 1 kyu better than 1 dan?”

No.

1 dan is stronger than 1 kyu.

The order is:

2 kyu → 1 kyu → 1 dan

“Is 5 dan better than 1 dan?”

Yes.

In dan ranks, larger numbers are stronger.

“Is professional 1 dan the same as amateur 1 dan?”

No.

Professional dan ranks are separate and much stronger.

“Why is my rank different on different websites?”

Because each website has its own rating system and player pool.

This is normal.

Quick Recap

Here are the most important points:

Kyu ranks are beginner and student ranks.
Kyu ranks count downward.
1 kyu is stronger than 10 kyu.
Dan ranks come after 1 kyu.
Dan ranks count upward.
5 dan is stronger than 1 dan.
Professional dan ranks are separate from amateur dan ranks.
Online ranks can differ between platforms.
Beginners should use rank as a guide, not as pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What rank does a beginner start at?

Many beginners start around 30 kyu, although this depends on the platform or club.

Is kyu or dan stronger?

Dan is stronger than kyu.

The strongest kyu rank is 1 kyu, and the next level above that is 1 dan.

Why do kyu ranks count backward?

Kyu ranks come from a traditional ranking system where students progress downward toward 1 kyu before entering dan ranks.

How long does it take to reach 1 dan?

It varies greatly.

Some players may reach 1 dan after a few years of serious study, while others may never reach it and still enjoy the game deeply.

Should I worry about my rank?

Not too much.

Use rank to find fair games, but focus on learning and enjoying the process.

Continue Learning

If you are still new to Weiqi, focus on fundamentals before worrying too much about rank: