Shodan (初段) is the Japanese term for '1 dan', with Dan being the rating system for proficient players (think black belts in martial arts).
The rating system for beginners is expressed in kyu grades, with absolute beginners usually starting somewhere between 25 and 30 kyu. A 10 kyu player is one grade stronger than an 11 kyu, and 1 kyu players are only one grade away from shodan. Confusingly enough the dan ratings are then counted in ascending order, with a 5 dan being one grade stronger than a 4 dan. The highest amateur rating is usually 7 dan, although Japan now recognises a few top amateurs as 8 dan.
Although both amateur and professional players can sport a fancy dan rating, it is important to realise that a professional shodan is a lot stronger than an amateur shodan.
In practice the amateur ratings are a useful way to agree quickly on an appropriate handicap at the start of a game. A difference of one grade corresponds to one handicap stone. When a 15 kyu meets a 9 kyu over the board, 6 stones should be the correct handicap to ensure both players have to play at their full strength and have an enjoyable game.
--Stefan
Hmm... Wouldn't the correct handicap for 15 kyu vs 9 kyu be 7 stones, not 6?
--Paul Pogonyshev
(15-9) = 6 grades different, so six stones. Why would it be seven? One stone is one stone, no komi (which is why statistically handicap games should favour White - one stone handicap is worth a bit less than one full stone.)
- Andrew W
That's why i asked. At least on NNGS there is no "one stone handicap". Its `suggest' command considers no komi as 1/2 stone and would suggest 15 kyu to take 7 stones from 9 kyu.
--Paul
How do you spell shodan in hiragana? --Juuitchan
しょ-だ-ん sho-da-n
Like that, without an hiragana "u"?
Yeah, it's supposed to be a short vowel. --BlueWyvern
Other dan rankings... (these seem much more widespread outside go. got them off the internet so my apologies if they are wrong!)
Shodan 1st Dan
Nidan 2nd Dan
Sandan 3rd Dan
Yodan 4th Dan
Godan 5th Dan
Rokudan 6th Dan
Nanadan (Shichidan) 7th Dan
Hachidan 8th Dan
Kudan 9th Dan
Juudan 10th Dan (obv. not in go. why does it stop at 9?)
Hans: Isn't Yondan and Kyuudan correct? And Juudan is not an official rank but the winner of the Juudan tournament in Japan can call himself Juudan for one year.
kokiri i think you could get away with either yo- or yondan, but kudan aint right.
kirtar? Juudan can also be spelled Jyuudan.
aruu actually Kudan is correct. If anyone here has taken a Japanese class they would know. kyu is shortened to ku is some situations. The same goes for yodan.
Chris Hayashida: Just to clarify, kyuu and ku are different readings for "nine." You can't be a 3 ku player.
kokiri well i don't think i recall the dan rankings being of particular importance in any of my japanese lessons, perhaps i missed it in the first couple of weeks, ;-) but a quick google shows me up as wrong - kudan it is, sheepish i am. However, google gives as many hits for よだん+四段 (yodan) as for よんだん+四段 (yondan) so i stand by that comment. Indeed, the windows japanese ime seems to prefer yondan.