[Retros] Introduction to Proof Games

[Noam Elkies]

"Werner Keym" <w.keym at gmx.net> writes:


> A different thing is that a promotion to R or B

> is more attractive than to Q.


That's true in play-to-win chess, and in related genres such as
studies or direct-mate problems, where one usually wants to promote
to the most powerful piece possible, whence a strictly less powerful
promotion on either side is a surprise.  In helpmates, White R or B
promotion is much more valuable than Black (indeed Black Q promotion
may be the paradoxical choice).  In retros it seems hard to propose a
general rule.  Certainly if the diagram shows three or more White Rooks
then a wR promotion in the retroplay is no surprise...

NDE