Pawn Promotion

Sort:
Avatar of Chesstour_Cheetah

Perhaps I am missing an obvious answer, but WHY would anyone want to promote their pawn to anything OTHER than a queen?  I could possibly see a configuration in which a knight could be more beneficial if the positioning is such that an L shape could lead to a faster mate than queen movement, but a bishop or a rook to me is a ridiculous choice as the queen can do those things and more.  Does someone have a good rationale as to why someone would select a rook or a bishop?  I really am curious.

Avatar of Tronchenbiais

sometimes it's stalemate if you go for a queen and winning if you choose a rook. As you said in some positions underpromoting to a knight may be with check and could win you a crucial tempo. I have never seen someone underpromote to a bishop.

Avatar of Chesstour_Cheetah

Okay yeah, Tron, stalemate would make sense.  That is a very good point.

Avatar of crumpmasterjoe
 


Avatar of GMVillads

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promotion_(chess)#Underpromotion