Pawn promotion
A pawn that reaches the last rank is promoted. You replace it with a queen, rook, bishop, or knight of the same color. The choice is part of the move.
The promotion happens as soon as the pawn arrives. You cannot leave it as a pawn, and you cannot promote to a king.
Promoting to a queen is the usual choice because the queen is the strongest piece. Promoting to a knight, rook, or bishop is called underpromotion.
Underpromotion is the right choice in two situations. A knight promotion can give a check a queen would not give. A queen promotion can also stalemate the enemy king, and a different piece avoids the draw.
In the small diagram, the white pawn on c7 can promote. Queen to c8 is stalemate. Knight to c8 gives check.
On the board
White to move. Promote the c-pawn to a knight. Promoting to a queen on c8 is stalemate.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting that promotion is part of the same move. The opponent does not get a turn while the pawn sits on the last rank.
- Promoting to a queen when that queen stalemates the king.
- Thinking you may promote to a piece of the other color. The new piece is yours.