question about pawn promotion

I've got a quick question. I appologize if it's been asked before, but I don't read these forums very often and don't feel like reading back over all the old threads. I know that technically, the rules state that you can promote a pawn to whatever piece you want(besides a king of course) but I'm wondering why anyone would ever want to promote to anything besides a queen? I may be missing something, but I just can't see any advantage to choosing anything besides a queen. Seems like it should just be automatic.....pawn on 8th rank = queen. Is there a reason why its even an option?
Also, just out of curiosity, has anyone here ever accidentally promoted to the wrong piece? That would piss me off if I lost a game becuase of a wrong mouse click.

In some positions promoting to a Knight can checkmate your opponent on that very move, whereas a Queen can't.

Originally posted by Bostonsux81
I've got a quick question. I appologize if it's been asked before, but I don't read these forums very often and don't feel like reading back over all the old threads. I know that technically, the rules state that you can promote a pawn to whatever piece you want(besides a king of course) but I'm wondering why anyone would ever want to promote to anythi ...[text shortened]... o the wrong piece? That would piss me off if I lost a game becuase of a wrong mouse click.

99.999999999% of the time you want the Q. As mentioned the Kt might mate on the move, but this may exist only in chess textbooks as opposed to OTB. One possible situation is the Q will stalemate your opponent, so you take the Rook, but this just might be fantasy too. 😛

edit: Too slow typing. 😳

Some people might find it funny to checkmate with 6 bishops 🙂. (not sure what the maximum number of bishops is without causing mate / stalemate tho)

Also there might be some cases where promoting to a queen would stalemate your opponent; If you're hoping to win the game, underpromoting would avoid stalemate.

under promotion as it is often called , can be useful if by promoting to a queen produces stalemate ,where promoting to another piece does not give your opponent a draw by stalemate.----------😉

Never tire of showing this one.

One of my favourite games - sadly it's not one of mine.

I remember a game between Shirov and Aronian where Shirov promoted to a knight to block a mate. Obviously a rather rare case.

Originally posted by Bostonsux81
I'm wondering why anyone would ever want to promote to anything besides a queen?

here's a beauty, played between crafty(engine) and nakamura:

Thanks for posting these games guys. My question has been answered. It's humbling actually. Shows how little I really know about this game.

What's up with that last one though? Why did he promote to all nights like that? Was he trying to humiliate the computer or something cause it didn't resign? lol

I've actually seen a real game between masters in the chess literature where it was essential to promote to a bishop to win. Unfortunately it was not found in the game, but someone analyzing it later found that a bishop promotion was the key.

If I find it again, I'll post it.

It's much easier to imagine valid reasons to promote to Rook or Knight.

Originally posted by techsouth
I've actually seen a real game between masters in the chess literature where it was essential to promote to a bishop to win. Unfortunately it was not found in the game, but someone analyzing it later found that a bishop promotion was the key.

If I find it again, I'll post it.

It's much easier to imagine valid reasons to promote to Rook or Knight.

Originally posted by Bostonsux81
How can that be? A queen has the same moves as a bishop? If you you find the game, please post it cause I can't visualize a senario where this is possible.