Shodan

In Go, shodan (literally “first rank”) marks the first dan level and the beginning of a player’s recognized dan-level journey. It is a rank often seen as the turning point from amateur improvement to more refined and strategic play. In traditional ranking systems, shodan follows the highest kyu rank (1-kyu) and is the first of several dan levels that typically extend up to 7-dan for amateurs.

Reaching shodan means a player has achieved a level of consistent play, often understanding fundamental concepts such as life and death, shape, direction of play, and basic joseki. While not professional, shodan-level players are often well-respected in club and amateur tournament settings.

In amateur play, the dan system ranges from 1-dan to 7-dan, with each step often requiring a noticeable increase in skill. Promotion to dan levels may be informal (peer recognition), ratings-based (online servers or national systems), or awarded by a teacher or organization. There is no universal international standard, and dan ranks can differ between countries and even between organizations within a country.

In professional play, shodan also refers to the first professional dan (1p), granted upon qualifying as a professional. This begins a nine-dan system distinct from the amateur ladder.

Learn more about ranks, ratings, and the difference between kyu, dan, and Elo rating in our article.