Answers.Body: <p>Yes, it is obligatory.</p>
  
  <p>From FIDE's Laws of Chess §3.7e (<a href="https://www.fide.com/fide/handbook.html?id=171&amp;view=article" rel="noreferrer">Link</a>):</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>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.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-01-06T13:53:17.100Z
Answers.Text: 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.
Answers.UserDisplayName: RemcoGerlich
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2016-01-05T11:19:17.517Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2016-01-05T11:19:17.517Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Dag Oskar Madsen
Body: <p>According to Wikipedia, when a pawn advances to the eighth rank, the pawn is promoted as a part of the move.</p>
  
  <p>However, this doesn't make it clear whether I am obliged to promote the pawn if it gets to the eighth rank.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-01-05T16:54:29.760Z
Comments.Text: Promotion itself is not itself a move separate from moving to the eighth rank.  It's all part of a single move.
Comments.UserDisplayName: pabrams
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-01-05T19:21:41.740Z
Comments.Text: I always wanted to know if there is a position where not promoting the pawn is the best move :)
Comments.UserDisplayName: ferit
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2016-01-05T21:40:56.533Z
Comments.Text: @Saibot Ask that as a new question and I'll give you an example.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Dag Oskar Madsen
Tags: <rules><pawns><pawn-promotion>
Title: Is pawn promotion obligatory?
ThreadText: # Is pawn promotion obligatory?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-05)
  
  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.
  
  **Tags:** rules, pawns, pawn-promotion
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Promotion itself is not itself a move separate from moving to the eighth rank.  It's all part of a single move.  
  > **username_2**: I always wanted to know if there is a position where not promoting the pawn is the best move :)  
  > **username_3**: @Saibot Ask that as a new question and I'll give you an example.  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2016-01-05. Score: 5 | Accepted answer
  
  Yes, it is obligatory.
  
  From FIDE's Laws of Chess §3.7e ([Link](https://www.fide.com/fide/handbook.html?id=171&view=article)):
  
  > 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.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_4**: 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.  
  
  ---
  
  