2 Queens

Years ago as a lad I played Atari Chess. When the computer advanced a pawn to the other side, he was rewarded with another queen. For years, I was convinced that this was a computer glitch. Now on Red Hot Pawn, I see that it's the same - which is fine, it's part of the game and usually a deathblow to the hopes of a crippled opponent.

But now I have a question - what happens in real life, official chess games when a player still has his queen in play, and advances to the other side? If the answer is "he can only get a captured piece", then why do computer games allow a player to have 2 queens?

Originally posted by CamelClutch
Years ago as a lad I played Atari Chess. When the computer advanced a pawn to the other side, he was rewarded with another queen. For years, I was convinced that this was a computer glitch. Now on Red Hot Pawn, I see that it's the same - which is fine, it's part of the game and usually a deathblow to the hopes of a crippled opponent.

But now I have a ...[text shortened]... can only get a captured piece", then why do computer games allow a player to have 2 queens?

A pawn that reaches the eighth rank is not limited to a captured piece for promotion. One side can have two queens at the same time, or three, or one for each pawn that qualifies. And the promoted pawn is not forced to become a queen.. the player has the choice of any piece except the king.

Originally posted by CamelClutch
Years ago as a lad I played Atari Chess. When the computer advanced a pawn to the other side, he was rewarded with another queen. For years, I was convinced that this was a computer glitch. Now on Red Hot Pawn, I see that it's the same - which is fine, it's part of the game and usually a deathblow to the hopes of a crippled opponent.

But now I have a ...[text shortened]... can only get a captured piece", then why do computer games allow a player to have 2 queens?

It's perfectly within the rules. Theoretically, it's possible for each side to have 9 queens.

There is not a bug in your Atari chessprogram. When you get up with the pawn to the 8:th row, you can choose whatever piece you want, of your own colour, except a new king ofcourse. The most normal piece to choose is the Queen.
You can imagine which complications that arise when both player get the second Queen. 4 Queens on the board dancing around 😉 That is perfectly legal.

Originally posted by CamelClutch
Years ago as a lad I played Atari Chess. When the computer advanced a pawn to the other side, he was rewarded with another queen. For years, I was convinced that this was a computer glitch. Now on Red Hot Pawn, I see that it's the same - which is fine, it's part of the game and usually a deathblow to the hopes of a crippled opponent.

But now I have a ...[text shortened]... can only get a captured piece", then why do computer games allow a player to have 2 queens?

you're dumb

something called capturing en passant you might want to look up too.

If you're wondering how it works in OTB chess (since chess sets only have one queen of each color), in tournament games you're allowed to stop the clock and ask for the arbiter to provide another queen, or just borrow a queen from someone who has already finished their game.

In friendly games, it is a widely accepted practice to use an upside down rook to represent the 2nd queen - it's not in the rules and technically an illegal move, but no one really cares if the game is not official.

Originally posted by AttilaTheHorn
It's perfectly within the rules. Theoretically, it's possible for each side to have 9 queens.

I'd like to see an example of how this could be. Can you promote all the Pawns without any Pawns dying?!

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
I'd like to see an example of how this could be. Can you promote all the Pawns without any Pawns dying?!

1.d4 d5 2.e4 c5 3.e5 b5 4.Nc3 a5 5.Ne4 dxe4 6.c4 Bb7 7.f4 Bd5 8.cxd5 c4 9.b4 e6 10.f5 Bc5 11.bxc5 Ne7 12.f6 Na6 13.fxe7 b4 14.a4 Nc7 15.Ne2 Nb5 16.axb5 Kd7 17.Ng3 f5 18.h4 f4 19.Nf5 exf5 20.Be2 g5 21.Bf3 g4 22.Bd2 gxf3 23.g4 h5 24.g5 Rg8 25.Rg1 Kc7 26.Rg4 hxg4 27.e8(Q) a4 28.d6 Kb8 29.h5 b3 30.g6 a3 31.h6 b2 32.h7 bxa1(Q) 33.hxg8(Q) a2 34.g7 Qb1 35.Qgf8 a1(Q) 36.g8(Q) g3 37.Kf1 f2 38.Kg2 Qc8 39.Kh3 Ka7 40.Kh4 Qb8 41.b6 Ka6 42.Qd8 Kb5 43.Kh5 Qb7 44.Qh1 Ka4 45.e6 Ka3 46.e7 f1(Q) 47.Kh6 e3 48.e8(Q) exd2 49.c6 d1(Q) 50.c7 c3 51.c8(Q) c2 52.d7 Qb4 53.Qdf6 c1(Q) 54.d8(Q) g2 55.d5 g1(Q) 56.d6 Qfe1 57.d7 f3 58.Qgg5 f2 59.Qde7 f1(Q) 60.d8(Q) Qbd5 61.b7 f4 62.b8(Q) f3 63.Qeg6 Qfd3 64.Qdd6 f2 65.Qxa8 Kb3 66.Q8g7 f1(Q)

There are probably fasters ways but I did it 🙂

There are probably fasters ways but I did it 🙂[/b]

And well done.

Shortest game showing all 8 pawns promoted.

I'm going to drop this one into the lap of The Problemists Club

These guys are really good at these things. Watch this space.

The "captured piece only" rule is actually more widely believed than club chess players would imagine. I'm guessing it's because most sets don't come with a second queen piece.

In the stupider games at my school club, promotion to more and more queens results in the following:
Queen being used
If queen not possible, upside-down rook
If upside-down rook not possible, two pawns on same square
If two pawns on same square not possible, sideways knight.

If they really need more than this (never come up) they'll probably just agree that the player's won.

I bought a Chess set a few years ago because it was double weighted.

The pieces are really heavy and make a pleasant 'thud'.
I was surprised to find it came with two extra Queens (of either colour).

I call it my Optimists Set.

I have a chess variant with a 9x9 board.
In this one, there are queens on each side of the king.
I think it is called Minister's Chess.
I will look in the closet if anyone is interested.

Basically, we would end up trading one set of queens and playing regular chess. 🙂

Originally posted by paulbuchmanfromfics
I have a chess variant with a 9x9 board.
In this one, there are queens on each side of the king.
I think it is called Minister's Chess.
I will look in the closet if anyone is interested.

Basically, we would end up trading one set of queens and playing regular chess. 🙂

In Ministers Chess (new to me) if the pieces from left to right are RNBQKQBNR, then the two bishops are on same coloured squars, aren't they?

Originally posted by FabianFnas
In Ministers Chess (new to me) if the pieces from left to right are RNBQKQBNR, then the two bishops are on same coloured squars, aren't they?

I believe so.