Underpromotion

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Avatar of TonightOnly

Can anyone think of a situation where you would need to promote to a rook or a bishop, other than avoiding stalemate?

Avatar of mxdplay4

Yes. I put a puzzle up called 'a tricky one', but I got the diagram wrong. I will remedy it next two days. Have a look at what I did, you'll get the idea of it. Maybe you can work out where I should have put the men! However, that's a problem condition. In a real game you wouldn't do that. and anyway, it sort of avoids stalemate some moves on.


Avatar of Etienne

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first is bishop promotion, the second, rook. 


Avatar of likesforests

Can anyone think of a situation where you would need to promote to a rook or a bishop, other than avoiding stalemate?

 

Another reason is to cause stalemate. Be sure to click on "Move List" below:

 

 


Avatar of TonightOnly

Mxdplay4,

 

Your puzzle answers my question with "To force mate more quickly." It is still to avoid stalemate thought as you pointed out. Also, I meant otb play. Maybe you could say, if you only have 5 sec. left, and you need to find a mate in three. 


Avatar of TonightOnly

Etienne,

 

Yah, that's just the case of avoiding stalemate I was talking about. Nice puzzles though. 


Avatar of TonightOnly

Likeforests,

 

I like your answer. In very rare cases, you will want to take away possible moves for yourself with underpromotion. So there are atleast two reasons: Avoid stalemate, and cause stalemate. Pretty cool. 


Avatar of Ray_Brooks
Yes, I sometimes under-promote when the opposition has played out a totally lost position. If they can "take the mickey", then so can I! Tongue out 
Avatar of TonightOnly

?

 

What is the point of your puzzle? No matter what you promote to, it is a forced mate in three for black. White should play 1.d3.