Answers.Body: <p>The first thing to note is that even if the opponent is deliberately hiding your captured queen (or any other piece you might want to promote to) there is no excuse for using some substitute because the rules allow for a simple solution: stop the clock, call the arbiter and ask for the piece you require. It is part of the arbiter's job to do this.</p>
  <p>Holding a captured piece or pawn is perfectly legal as long as it does not distract or disturb the opponent. Some players like to hold a captured piece between thumb and finger and spin it.</p>
  <p>Gelfand is famous for doing this. He always does it under the table so that the opponent doesn't see it and so cannot be disturbed by it. If your opponent does this where you can see it and the movement disturbs you then you are within your rights to call the arbiter and complain.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-12-12T18:38:18.810Z
Answers.Text: In this particular situation the player holding the queen was also about to promote and started reaching across the table for his queen, while the other player moved his pawn to the promotion square and his time was still running. The player promoting argued it interfered with him stopping the clock, which makes the situation unclear even given this rule.
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Answers.CreationDate: 2021-02-11T14:05:09.227Z
Answers.Text: Most boards come with 2 queens for each side. But it's just bad etiquette to hold a captured queen in your hands. A simple pawn should do.
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Answers.CreationDate: 2020-12-12T15:31:25.437Z
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Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
Body: <p>There was a <a href="https://www.chess.com/news/view/controversial-finish-to-canadian-chess-championship-5047" rel="noreferrer">controversial finish in a Canadian championship</a>, where an opponent [un]knowingly held the queen of the other player. The [victimised] player wanted to promote his pawn to queen, but couldn't find it. Due to time pressure, he used an upside down rook instead of a queen.</p>
  <p>The arbiter didn't allow this and the player ended up losing the game. The decision was not reversed even though there was a <a href="https://youtu.be/qBNEcRgHkvE?t=850" rel="noreferrer">video evidence</a> of the event.</p>
  <p>In many chess videos, I see that even the great world champion Magnus Carlsen holds the opponent's pieces in his hands, of course without any ill intent.</p>
  <p>Is there any rule or guideline for this?</p>
  
Tags: <rules><pawn-promotion><famous-games><pieces><famous-events>
Title: Is holding the opponent's captured pieces legal or allowed?
ThreadText: # Is holding the opponent's captured pieces legal or allowed?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2020-12-12)
  
  There was a [controversial finish in a Canadian championship](https://www.chess.com/news/view/controversial-finish-to-canadian-chess-championship-5047), where an opponent [un]knowingly held the queen of the other player. The [victimised] player wanted to promote his pawn to queen, but couldn't find it. Due to time pressure, he used an upside down rook instead of a queen.
  
  The arbiter didn't allow this and the player ended up losing the game. The decision was not reversed even though there was a [video evidence](https://youtu.be/qBNEcRgHkvE?t=850) of the event.
  
  In many chess videos, I see that even the great world champion Magnus Carlsen holds the opponent's pieces in his hands, of course without any ill intent.
  
  Is there any rule or guideline for this?
  
  **Tags:** rules, pawn-promotion, famous-games, pieces, famous-events
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2020-12-12. Score: 7 | Accepted answer
  
  The first thing to note is that even if the opponent is deliberately hiding your captured queen (or any other piece you might want to promote to) there is no excuse for using some substitute because the rules allow for a simple solution: stop the clock, call the arbiter and ask for the piece you require. It is part of the arbiter's job to do this.
  
  Holding a captured piece or pawn is perfectly legal as long as it does not distract or disturb the opponent. Some players like to hold a captured piece between thumb and finger and spin it.
  
  Gelfand is famous for doing this. He always does it under the table so that the opponent doesn't see it and so cannot be disturbed by it. If your opponent does this where you can see it and the movement disturbs you then you are within your rights to call the arbiter and complain.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: In this particular situation the player holding the queen was also about to promote and started reaching across the table for his queen, while the other player moved his pawn to the promotion square and his time was still running. The player promoting argued it interfered with him stopping the clock, which makes the situation unclear even given this rule.  
  > **username_3**: Most boards come with 2 queens for each side. But it's just bad etiquette to hold a captured queen in your hands. A simple pawn should do.  
  
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