<p>Your friend was wrong.  There is no rule preventing a pawn from being promoted outside the normal move restriction rules (e.g. you can't leave your king in check).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-17T13:07:02.883Z
2014-01-17T13:07:02.883Z
Stephen
<p>I am a chess arbiter and I can confirm that this rule does <em>not</em> exist whatsoever in the FIDE rules of chess. The only restriction to promotion is if it's an illegal move.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-07T02:33:04.147Z
2015-12-09T19:52:41.280Z
2015-12-09T19:52:41.280Z
Amaras
<p>Some players will do anything to try to prevent them losing...</p>

<p>From the position above, white promotes and black may as well resign. White can make a 2nd queen and give one of them up if necessary to prevent black's attack with the d and e pawns.
You won't even need to do that though. If black moves Ke4 his pawn on d5 is pinned, if he plays d5-d4 you go Qf3+ and if he plays Ke6 you just go Qc6+. Anything else and you just capture on d5.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-22T10:04:36.527Z
2014-10-22T10:04:36.527Z
CashCow
<p>There is never any difference in restrictions when a pawn queens, regarding pawns in the same file behind it. 
(Of course you can't overtake the pawn in front)
[my rating: 1920]</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-22T03:27:28.580Z
Difference between what? I'm not sure how this is responding to the question.
doppelgreener
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-22T15:53:28.940Z
Sorry for not being clear. There is never any difference in restrictions when a pawn queens, regarding pawns in the same file behind it.
z0mbi3
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-11-20T18:33:46.543Z
2014-11-22T22:34:06.063Z
2014-11-22T22:34:06.063Z
z0mbi3
<p>I was playing white and I had one pawn at a7 and the other at a6. My opponent didn't let me promote the pawn to a Queen stating that when two pawns are in the same column then the pawn doesn't get promoted.</p>

<p>Is this correct? If so, then what happens to a pawn which reaches a8? Does that become useless?</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/Xrb6H.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-17T10:24:26.787Z
I've never heard if that rule, and looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promotion_%28chess%29 it doesn't seem to be listed...
Nick
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-17T15:47:54.520Z
btw: if you had a pawn on a7 and a pawn on a6 they're on the same _file_ (or column) not the same row
crownjewel82
<chess><end-game>
Are there restrictions on pawn promotion if two pawns are on the same column?
Anon
# Are there restrictions on pawn promotion if two pawns are on the same column?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-17)

I was playing white and I had one pawn at a7 and the other at a6. My opponent didn't let me promote the pawn to a Queen stating that when two pawns are in the same column then the pawn doesn't get promoted.

Is this correct? If so, then what happens to a pawn which reaches a8? Does that become useless?

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/Xrb6H.jpg)

**Tags:** chess, end-game

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I've never heard if that rule, and looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promotion_%28chess%29 it doesn't seem to be listed...  
> **username_2**: btw: if you had a pawn on a7 and a pawn on a6 they're on the same _file_ (or column) not the same row  

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## 4 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2014-01-17. Score: 29

Your friend was wrong. There is no rule preventing a pawn from being promoted outside the normal move restriction rules (e.g. you can't leave your king in check).


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### Answer by username_4 on 2015-07-07. Score: 5

I am a chess arbiter and I can confirm that this rule does *not* exist whatsoever in the FIDE rules of chess. The only restriction to promotion is if it's an illegal move.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2014-10-22. Score: 4

Some players will do anything to try to prevent them losing...

From the position above, white promotes and black may as well resign. White can make a 2nd queen and give one of them up if necessary to prevent black's attack with the d and e pawns.
You won't even need to do that though. If black moves Ke4 his pawn on d5 is pinned, if he plays d5-d4 you go Qf3+ and if he plays Ke6 you just go Qc6+. Anything else and you just capture on d5.


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### Answer by username_6 on 2014-11-20. Score: 1

There is never any difference in restrictions when a pawn queens, regarding pawns in the same file behind it.
(Of course you can't overtake the pawn in front)
[my rating: 1920]

> **Comments:**
> **username_7**: Difference between what? I'm not sure how this is responding to the question.  
> **username_6**: Sorry for not being clear. There is never any difference in restrictions when a pawn queens, regarding pawns in the same file behind it.  

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