Author: Serge Desmarais
Date: 21:17:06 09/02/98
Go up one level in this thread
On September 02, 1998 at 03:38:42, Danniel Corbit wrote:
>On September 02, 1998 at 01:49:21, Dave Gomboc wrote:
>
>>On September 01, 1998 at 22:04:32, Danniel Corbit wrote:
>>
>>>Is it possible to promote a pawn to a pawn? [i.e. no change?]
>>>I know it makes no sense. I just want to know if it is legal by the rules of
>>>chess.
>>
>>It used to be. I think it fell out of favor around 1850 or so, and it's still
>>not permitted today.
>1. Is there any game ever recorded in which someone promoted to a pawn?
>2. I assume that the new pawn was then frozen until an opponent took it, or was
>there a new mobility rule for the piece? ... It seems like it could possibly be
>useful {for instance} to generate a stalemate under rare circumstances.
Ha! That reminds me a funny situation that happened in a tournament and was
reported in a chess magazine (Echec+ from the Quebec's Chess Federation) a few
years ago : one of the players wanted to promote one of his pawn into a piece of
his opponent's colour! The referree was called and the guy argued with the
official that NOTHING in the rules states specifically that it is forbidden! Of
course, he lost his case. And yes, would it have been possible, it would have
been a case of stalemate!
The cases Dave Gomboc reports were never official and mostly regional
variations. I have never heard such a game was noted for the posterity. If you
look at the games of Greco 9played in the 1600's), you will not find a single
example of this. Nor in the games of Philidor (at least the few we have), La
Bourdonnais, Saint-Amant, Anderssen or Staunton. Not even the games played by
Napoleon Bonaparte (yes, the Emperor of France!), Ruy Lopez, Paolo Boi or
Leonardo! Though, I know that there are still places in Spain (don't ask me
where exactly), in deep country, where they play with at least slightly
different rules than the official ones...
Serge Desmarais
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