Chess masters only...?

Question

Isn't it true that if you are able to get a pawn to the other side of the chessboard that you are allowed to choose a single piece taken from you and get it back?

Answer 1

As others have said, the pawn can become any piece of the same color, except a king or a pawn. This is called pawn promotion. Wikipedia is a good source for chess info, including details on this rule.

Answer 2

Yes it is.

"Should a pawn get all the way across the board to reach the opponent's edge of the table, it will be promoted. The pawn may now become any piece that the moving player desires (except a king or pawn). Thus a player may end up having more than one queen on the board. Under normal circumstances a player will want to promote his pawn to be a queen since that piece is the most powerful and flexible. The new piece is placed where the pawn ended its movement."

Answer 3

Ayup.  Most people go with the Queen.

Answer 4

Not true as you've worded it. As Katrina quoted, you can turn it into ANY piece (other than the King), not just a piece that you've lost. It is theoretically possible for one side to have nine queens on the board at once.

Answer 5

Yep, anything excet another king or a pawn

Answer 6

The exact rule, according to both the USCF (United Sates Chess Federation) and FiDE (International Chess Federation - the name is a French acronym), "a pawn reaching the 8th rank may become a Knight, Bishop, Rook or Queen (i.e. a piece) of the player's own color".

You could have 9 Queens, or 7 Rooks, or 5 Knights on the board at the same time. You however, cannot promote to the opposite color, such as Black Knight if you are White. This loophole was closed in the 19th century due to some problems in which the only way to win was to promote a pawn to piece that was opposite in color.

Rob

Answer 7

Hi,

     Promotion: Pawns: to promote - to advance in rank, dignity, position - enrobe etc.  When a Pawn reaches the top rank s/he may be promoted to any of the major pieces available ie, Queen, Rook, Bishop or Knight.   It is indicated by the sharp symbol.   If a Pawn is promoted to any other piece except a Queen it is sometimes referred to as an under-promotion.   A Pawn, on reaching the farthest rank, may be exchanged for another piece of the same colour, apart from a Pawn or King.   When a Pawn reaches the top rank, s/he is promoted immediately to become Queen, Roo, Bishop or Knight - whatever the player who owns the Pawn chooses - but never to King (King-02).   An unusual feature of many great armies is the principle of promotion within their ranks based on merit alone - the secret of their success.   In the past a Pawn that reached rank-8 was exchanged for a piece from among those the player had lost during the game.   Two Queens, two Bishops on the same coloured diagonal, three Rooks (RO1, RO2 and RO3), three KTs (KT1, KT2 and KT3) were not permitted.   If a Pawn advanced to rank-8 it remained inactive until one of the pieces was captured by enemy action.   Pawns that reach the top rank are ‘knighted’ or ‘queened’.  Pawns that become Bishops are ‘ordained.’  

           Pawns are often blocked by other pieces of either side.   If a Pawn cannot make a capture then they are stuck where they are and can remain in this twilight state for a prolonged period.  The PA may progress two cells on the initial move (FMO).   This two-square advance was originally introduced in the 16th century so as to speed up events.   Thereafter, they may move one square at a time.   A Pawn is prevented from retreating.   Pawns move vertically forward on the board and may capture diagonally forward.  On reaching the top rank they must be promoted   Promotion is not optional for a Pawn.   Although the Pawn is the weakest piece in a chess game they have the potential to become the strongest by being transformed into a Queen on reaching a top rank of the board - rank eight

Yours sincerely,

Chesmayne.

PS: you may like to visit my personal web page - link below?

http://www.chesmayne.info

Answer 8

You don't have to choose from a captured piece.  In almost all cases a promoted pawn turns into a queen.