![[Welcome to Sensei's Library!]](images/stone-hello.png "Sensei's Library")
Groningen uses a simple ladder system, designed by Herman Hiddema.
All games in the ladder are played with full handicap. If a player wins, he earns a plus (+), if he loses he gets a minus (-). The pluses and minuses cancel out. Promotions and demotions are given when a player has reached a certain number of pluses or minuses.
The number of pluses or minuses to change rank is:
| rank range | +/- needed |
|---|---|
| 21+ kyu | 1 (every game changes the rank). |
| 11-20 kyu | 2 |
| 6-10 kyu | 3 |
| 1-5 kyu | 4 |
| dan players | 4 + their current dan rank |
In addition, players can request a new rank based on e.g. tournament performance.
Once per year, the ladder is reset, which is based on anchoring the dan players to their official rank.