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ChessIs pawn promotion obligatory?
[+2] [1] Man_Of_Wisdom
[2016-01-05 11:05:59]
[ rules pawns pawn-promotion ]
[ https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/13315/is-pawn-promotion-obligatory ]

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.

Promotion itself is not itself a move separate from moving to the eighth rank. It's all part of a single move. - pabrams
I always wanted to know if there is a position where not promoting the pawn is the best move :) - ferit
@Saibot Ask that as a new question and I'll give you an example. - Dag Oskar Madsen
[+5] [2016-01-05 11:19:17] Dag Oskar Madsen [ACCEPTED]

Yes, it is obligatory.

From FIDE's Laws of Chess ยง3.7e ( Link [1]):

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.

[1] https://www.fide.com/fide/handbook.html?id=171&view=article

(5) And 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. - RemcoGerlich
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