According to Wikipedia, when a pawn advances to the eighth rank, the pawn is promoted as a part of the move.
However, this doesn't make it clear whether I am obliged to promote the pawn if it gets to the eighth rank.
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Promotion itself is not itself a move separate from moving to the eighth rank. It's all part of a single move.– pabramsJan 5, 2016 at 16:54
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I always wanted to know if there is a position where not promoting the pawn is the best move :)– feritJan 5, 2016 at 19:21
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@Saibot Ask that as a new question and I'll give you an example.– Dag Oskar MadsenJan 5, 2016 at 21:40
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1 Answer
Yes, it is obligatory.
From FIDE's Laws of Chess §3.7e (Link):
e. When a player, having the move, plays a pawn to the rank furthest from its starting position, he must exchange that pawn as part of the same move for a new queen, rook, bishop or knight of the same colour on the intended square of arrival.
answered Jan 5, 2016 at 11:19
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5And note that if he doesn't, it's an illegal move that must be corrected, and then you are only allowed to choose a queen. Since july 2014 iirc. People were using the delay to make up their minds. See rule 7.5a. Jan 6, 2016 at 13:53