stupid question time!

when playing chess online, you can promote pawns and have numerous queens, what about OTB?

Online chess is exactly the same as OTB chess.

So yes, you can have multiple queens. It is rare though. (It usually occurs when someone is very unsportsmanlike and promotes all his pawns for the sake of it!)

I don't agree with that being "unsportsmanlike" as the opponent is the one not resigning. Yes I know this gets into the whole "my opponent won't resign" issue in the forums. =P

When playing chess online, you can promote pawns and have numerous queens, it is the same for OTB.

How about a compromise. They're both being unsportsmanlike. One guy because he isn't resigning, the other because he's not checkmating. Let's not start another one of THESE threads...

I don't want to weigh in on whether or not having multiple queens is unsportsmanlike, but as I'm not a very strong player, I always think it's best to look for the quickest most safe checkmate, which usually (though not always) does not mean having a harem of ladies on the board.

Sometimes it's quicker to make 3 pawn moves and mate with 2 queens instead of wasting time to find a mate with 1 queen against one other piece. If you have little time left, it's also good to simplify by making another queen and exchanging it for opponent's piece.

I was winning a game by a wide margin. My opponent had a lone king. I had 2 queens, a bishop and pawn. Instead of going for the immediate mate, I promoted the pawn to another bishop. I wanted to have 2 bishops of the same colour, just to say I did. My intentions were not unsportmanship, just having some fun

Sorry, action trumps intent.

For beginners and D level and below i understand the promotion of multiple queens.  So in this example i dont think its bad sportsmanship, its just a lack of knowledge in how to checkmate with 1 or 2 queens. 

But for anything C class and above there is no excuse for multiple queens.  That is bad sportsmanship.  And to those that would argue "Hes being unsportsmanlike" by promoting multiple queens.  Quit worrying about someone else, quit blame storming, and be the bigger person and just end the game.  Shake hands, tell them good game and get ready for the next round. 

This isnt really that hard people.

God Bless.

 So its basically bad sportsmanship for everyone. You know that we don't mean "bad" chess players.

oh.... So your not talking about Nick Griffin then?

has anyone ever promoted all 8 pawns in a game?

I'm pretty sure I had 3 queens once. Before you can promote your 8th queen, wouldn't it be difficult to not stalemate or checkmate by the time you got your 5th or 6th?

Shouldn't the software automatically decide the game as won by person with sufficient material to mate when only piece of opposing color is King? Just so, if both colors have insufficient material to mate, shouldn't the program automatically terminate the game as a draw? With a pop-up or message, for instance, "Black has insufficient mating material -- White wins" or "Insufficient Mating Material -- Game Drawn" For beginners who might not know the rules concerning insufficient material, that would relieve the winning player of responsibility for asking opponent to resign or save two players with insufficient material from a bad infinity of pointless moves.

No, because time and ability are also factors.  The opponent may not have the ability, or may not have the time to complete the win despite having the material advantage.

so when playin OTB where do i get the extra queens?

If there aren't spare sets available to pull the peices from I've seen upside-down rooks or pawns on their sides represent a Queen (although the latter tend to "roam" a little).

Yes, I see -- thanks for clarifying!

You need to be careful with that one.  You may be just 'having fun', but many players take insult when you don't 'move in for the kill'.  On top of that, deliberately underpromoting is often regarded as insulting and in this case may have been perceived as 'rubbing salt in the wound'.  You would need to be on pretty freindly terms with your opponent, I think, in order not to ruffle feathers with what you did.

Safer and more widely accepted by far is to make your way to the shortest mate you can see.

 really? I didn't know that