*P R O M O T I O N
In my book which was printed in mid-July 2009., I didn’t give the broader overview of the pawn promotion believing that everything is clear about that. However, as in life people often complicate something that is not complicated, promotion of a pawn made some new concerns.
Cause for this text is recently published Geurt Gijssen’s opinion about promotion. He is President of Commission for Laws of chess and his opinion caused concern and confusion several times before with many arbiters. Unfortunately he is high in hierarchy and many arbiters respect his opinion.
Text listed below is taken from site www.chesscafe.com/geurt/geurt.htm
Mauricio Rãos, (Columbia)
Question I regularly play in blitz tournaments, but I find that in different regions of the country the arbiters have different approaches in regards to pawn promotion. Here are two scenarios: 1. the pawn reaches the eighth rank, I place the promoted piece, and I press the clock. 2. the pawn is removed from the seventh rank, I place the promoted piece, and I press the clock. (Here the pawn is never played to the square of promotion.) Is the second method considered an illegal move? Thanks for your help. Mauricio Rãos, (Colombia)
Answer Formally, the correct way of promotion is
1. Play the pawn to the eighth rank
2. Remove the pawn from the square
3. Put a new piece on the same square.
When electronic boards were introduced in tournaments, the computer only accepted the promotion when it was done in this way. But this caused so much commotion that removing the pawn from the square on the seventh rank and placing a new piece on the eighth rank was also programmed in. In my opinion, both ways of promotion are acceptable. In your question you refer to Blitz games, but the method of promotion above applies to all kinds of chess.
Here is our stand about this question: First scenario could be accepted as right with some additions. Our opinion is that with same hand these things must be done- moving the pawn to the eight rank, removing the pawn, placing the promoted piece and pressing the clock. Why?
Because the Laws only for castling allows to be done with both hands. All other moves are made with one hand.
Mentioned gentleman said that scenario when the pawn is removed from the seventh rank then promoted piece is placed on the field on which the pawn never was and then clock is pressed is also correct. His opinion is based on the fact that programs for online chess are made to recognize this kind of promotion! What an opinion!
Representation of thesis that this promotion is correct is, indeed, nonsense. Good programmer will program the computer to recognize promotion which would be made by removing the pawn from fourth or fifth rank. Reading the original text of Laws about promotion (could be translation too) shows that the promotion is done on the furthest rank from starting position by changing the pawn for promoted piece on that (exit) square (underlined by the author). There is no promotion from seventh to eight rank because pawn must be moved to the eight rank. For the end, pawn can exit left or right from exit square if there are opponent pieces on those squares he can capture. To repeat once more: it must move to last rank.
To conclude: when promoted pawn (must) exit on last rank then on that square it is exchanged for promoted piece with a same hand and then also with a same hand the clock is pressed.
If it is not so, then this is irregular promotion i.e. illegal move which is sanctioned according to what kind of chess is played. If it’s standard chess, penalty is warning with increasing of the opponents’ time for two minutes or if it’s third warning the game is lost. Same is for rapid chess. If irregular promotion has been made in blitz game and opponent claims it according to the rules if blitz chess the game is lost under condition that claimer could checkmate with a series of legal moves. If there is no possibility for checkmate with series of legal moves the game will be draw. So there are no promotions in the air, pawn could not pose as a queen just because player said “queen” when he moved to the exit square and reversed rook is still rook no matter what player said!!
Mihajlo Savic
Holder of three FIDE titles
*This text is from the book Commentary on the Laws of chess