the illegal move (except when making an illegal move actually loses the game), this definition should
be unequivocal:
========= Suggestion ==========================================================
7.5.a
If during a game it is found that an illegal move has been completed, the position immediately before
the irregularity shall be reinstated.
- 1. If the player has moved a pawn to the furthest distant rank, pressed the clock, but not
replaced the pawn with a new piece, the move is illegal. If a pawn move with that pawn is legal,
the player must promote the pawn to a queen of the same colour from the reinstated position.
from the last identifiable position prior to the irregularity. Articles 4.3 and 4.7 apply to the move
replacing the illegal move. The game shall then continue from this reinstated position.
========== End Suggestion =====================================================
The old definition involving a pawn push without substituting promotion piece, is currently:
"If the player has moved a pawn to the furthest distant rank, pressed the clock, but not replaced the pawn with a new piece, the move is illegal. The pawn shall be replaced by a queen of the same colour as the pawn."
It is not clear from this definition whether or not the position before the illegal move must be reinstated. It sounds like
the arbiter can just take a queen of the same colour and replace the pawn with it, and the game can continue from that
position. That would be an error.
Additionally the old article insists on that the pawn must be replaced even if that particular move were illegal. The position of E. Michael
White very appropriately demonstrates that:
All the moves b7xa8, b7-b8 and b7xc8 may be possible, but it may be that not all are legal, and it may be that
articles 4.3 and 4.7 will restrict the choice further.
The formulation "If a pawn move with that pawn is legal, the player must promote the pawn to a queen of the same colour from the reinstated position."
The theoretically possible moves with a white pawn on b7 is (from any position)
b7xa8=Q
b7xa8=R
b7xa8=N
b7xa8=B
b7-b8=Q
b7-b8=R
b7-b8=N
b7-b8=B
b7xc8=Q
b7xc8=R
b7xc8=N+
b7xc8=B
... but since it is a requirement the player must promote the pawn to a queen
of the same colour, only these are allowed
b7xa8=Q
b7-b8=Q
b7xc8=Q
... and since only capturing the black knight will avoid that the king is in check
only this move is allowed
b7xc8=Q
One reason the position before the illegal move must be reinstated is that only by
letting the player perform the exchange in his own time, will the time keeping of
this crucial moment be correct, ensuring that the player does not benefit
neither timewise nor otherwise from the illegal pawn push.
I am fairly certain it was not the intention that the article should be misinterpreted
to that the pawn can just be replaced with a queen and the game continue from there.
However, the above redefinition should make it obvious that the article does not allow that.