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When I ask for a correct handicap against much higher ranking players, I often get the response that this relationship between ranks and handicaps is not correct.
As a result, to avoid further discussions, I usually accept some reduced handicap, but this causes an internal conflict in me: one of the big virtues of Go just being this handicap system, in reality it is turned down - and always in favour of the stronger player.
Note that I accept to limit handicaps to 9, even if more would be correct.
I'd like to see an objective explanation why e.g. a 15k cannot enjoy the right to receive 9H from a 6k player without further discussion.
Personally I think that someone who truly deserves a given rank, must succesfully have been playing many games across the whole range of handicaps (given and taken).
axd:
I'd like to see an objective explanation why e.g. a 15k cannot enjoy the right to receive 9H from a 6k player without further discussion.
That depends on the ranking system. Unlike traditional rankings most modern ratings are not based upon handicaps, but mostly upon even games. Online ratings systems, in particular, tend to underrate double digit kyu players, who can improve as a group while they mostly play among themselves. (Weaker players tend to improve faster than stronger players.) That's why a 6k on an online server may not be 9 stones stronger than a 15k. OTOH, at a club with traditional rankings, a 6k should give a 15k a 9 stone handicap.