Gomoku Rank Explained: How YiBoard Rates Every Player
YiBoard's gomoku rank starts everyone at 1200, Sixth Grade, and moves with every win and loss. Here is exactly how the rating works, how grades and dans map to your score, and why no season resets it.
If you have opened the YiBoard leaderboard you have seen the numbers: everyone starts at 1200, Sixth Grade, and climbs toward Ninth Dan. But what does the number actually mean, and how does one game move it? This is the plain-English explanation of how YiBoard's gomoku rank works. If you want to start playing, see the how-to guides.
The starting point: 1200, Sixth Grade
Every new YiBoard account begins at 1200 points, mapped to Sixth Grade. You do not pick a tier, and you are not dropped into a beginner-only pool. The 1200 start puts you on the same ruler as everyone else; your first wins and losses quickly find your real level.
How one game changes your score
Each match compares your rating with your opponent's. Beat a stronger player and you gain more points; beat a weaker one and you gain fewer. Lose to a stronger player and you drop little; lose to a weaker one and you drop more. The size of the swing depends on the rating gap, exactly like an Elo expected-score model.
The rank is continuous, so a single game never jumps you from one dan to the next by itself. It is a slow, honest convergence on your true strength.
Grades and dans: the two bands
- Grades (kyu) run from Ninth Grade up to First Grade: the beginner-to-proficient band
- Dans run from First Dan up to Ninth Dan: the expert-to-professional band
- First Grade sits just below First Dan; the two bands stack into one ladder from Ninth Grade to Ninth Dan
- Your score maps onto this ladder automatically, so the title you see is always in sync with your number
Why there is no season reset
YiBoard does not wipe ratings every season. Your history is yours: a dan you earned in August is still a dan in December. No floor points, no participation padding — the rank only moves when results move it, which is why a high dan on YiBoard actually means something.
Rank is cheat-resistant
Every move is validated server-side, and the rating math makes score dumping or win-farming detectable. The point of the system is to reflect real match results, not to reward activity.
FAQ
What does 1200 mean on YiBoard?
1200 is Sixth Grade, the start for every account. Wins raise it, losses lower it, and the score maps to your grade or dan.
How many points do I get for a win?
It depends on the rating gap. Beating a much stronger player adds more than beating a much weaker one; the swing shrinks as the gap shrinks.
Can my rank drop a full dan in one game?
No. The rating is continuous and moves a little each game, so a single result nudges you, it does not teleport you across bands.
Does YiBoard reset ranks each season?
No. YiBoard ratings are continuous with no season reset, so your earned rank stays yours.