G R A D E S A N D H A N D I C A P S ===================================== GRADES ------ In Shogi a so called dan/kyu grade ranking system is in use to indicate playing strength. It is more like a titles system (e.g. like in Chess: FIDE Master, International Master, Grandmaster) than an ELO system, because once you have been awarded a specific dan/kyu-grade you'll never lose it. This means that older or not very active players in general have worse results than young, active players of the same nominal strength. The kyu grades are the beginners grades and they can be awarded e.g. by tournament organizers and in clubs. Basically, they are free. The dan-grades are the higher grades and in Europe they can only be obtained by satisfying strict criteria decided upon by the national and European bodies. The dan/kyu system is generally accepted by the whole Shogi community. However, both the Japanese Amateur Shogi Association and the European Federation also employ an ELO system and in both cases roughly 100 ELO points correspond to 1 dan/kyu-grade and this is consistent for virtually all active players. To make things more complicated, the professionals have their own ranking system. Small differences in strength between professionals are measurable and therefore they have a more refined system. The rule of thumb is that a two (maybe three) professional's dan-grades equal one amateur grade. Below the system for both professionals and amateurs is given. The correspondence between the two scales is also provided, but bear in mind that, especially in the lower professional ranks, it is merely an educated guess. Amateur Grade Professional Grade 9-dan (hypothetical) ......... 8 / 9-dan (top professional) 8-dan (hypothetical) ......... 6 / 7 / 8-dan (top professional) 7-dan ........................ 4 / 5 / 6-dan 6-dan ........................ 2 / 3 / 4-dan 5-dan ........................ 1 / 2-dan (shoreikai) 4-dan ........................ 2 / 1 kyu (shoreikai) 3-dan ........................ 4 / 3 kyu (shoreikai) 2-dan ........................ 6 / 5 kyu (shoreikai) 1-dan 1-kyu 2-kyu ...... 14-kyu 15-kyu (rank beginner) Professional 6-kyu to 3-dan are the apprentice grades. Apprentices play and study in a world of their own, the so called "Shoreikai". Here they go through the ranks according to a quite severe system of promotion (and sometimes degradation !) and when they reach 4-dan level they become a full-fledged professional and receive a salary from the Japanese Shogi Association. If you have not reached the level of 4-dan at the age of 30, you have to leave the "Shoreikai". After having reached the level of 4-dan life becomes even more difficult. One plays in the so called C2 class half a round robin which runs for one year. Normally only the best two earn promotion to C1 class. Every class is associated with a dan-grade, but a player keeps the highest grade that he ever obtained, even when he goes down to a lower class. C2 class is associated with 4-dan, C1 with 5-dan, B2 with 6-dan, B1 with 7-dan and A class with 8-dan. The winner of A class is the challenger to the "Meijin" (Champion). The grade of 9-dan is only awarded to multiple winners or challengers of major tournaments. Because the promotion system is so severe, it may happen that a professional is e.g. 6-dan *only*, although he has proven to be a real top professional by winning major tournaments. This is the case now for Habu Yoshiharu, 6-dan and holder of the important "Ryu O" (Dragon King) title. For amateurs 4-dan is the highest grade to be obtained in the West. For promotion to 5-dan one must win one or more tournaments in Japan and promotion to 6-dan requires winning several strong tournaments or winning the Amateur "Meijin" (Champion) tournament. Strong "Shoreikai" players which leave or are forced to leave can also become 6-dan amateur. 15-kyu is the grade where a novice would start. HANDICAPS --------- Related to the ranking system is a handicap system. Handicaps are very important in Shogi. Whenever the difference in strength between two players is too large for an interesting game, handicaps are employed. This means that white removes one or more of his pieces from the board. These pieces are removed permanently and do not enter the game in a later stage. The removal of the white pieces is considered as the first move of the game. Subsequently, white makes the first move on the board. Of course, handicaps do not apply to tournament or championship games, but only to teaching, practice and training games. If the handicap is chosen correctly, very interesting and balanced games can result. There are several handicap systems, but the one recommended by the "Nihon Shogi Renmei" (Japanese Shogi Association) and normally employed in the West is: Diff. Handicap 1 left Lance (i.c. white removes his lance on 1a) 2 left Lance or Bishop 3 Bishop 4 Rook 5 Rook + left Lance ................. (one and a half piece) 6 Rook + left Lance or Rook + Bishop 7 Rook + Bishop ................................ (two piece) 8 Rook + Bishop + right Lance ................ (three piece) 9 Rook + Bishop + 2 Lances .................... (four piece) 10 Rook + Bishop + 2 Lances + optional kNight .. (five piece) 11 Rook + Bishop + 2 Lances + 2 kNights ......... (six piece) Professionals almost never give three or five piece handicaps and only sometimes six piece. All others are used. Up to amateur 2/1-kyu you would receive 4 piece against a top pro, up to 1/2-dan 2 piece and from 2-dan onwards it depends. To give two examples: 1) When a top amateur plays against a top pro the difference is 3-4 grades so they play either with a bishop or rook handicap. 2) An 8-dan pro and a 1-dan amateur differ 7-8 grades so the handicap is two piece. Pieter Stouten 12-th June 1990. Updated 1-st July 1990.