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Endgame

Promotion

A pawn reaching the last rank becomes any piece you choose — almost always a queen.

When a pawn reaches the eighth rank (or first, for Black) it is immediately replaced by a queen, rook, bishop, or knight of the same colour. Choosing a queen ('queening') is normal; choosing a knight ('underpromotion') is occasionally the only move that works, often to give a check or a fork the queen cannot.

You can have more than one queen — promoting a second is entirely legal.

Why it matters

The threat of promotion is what gives pawns their endgame value and drives the whole race in king-and-pawn endings.

The mistake everyone makes

Auto-queening when underpromoting to a knight would give check and win — or when a queen leaves the opponent stalemated.

Related terms

Passed pawn
A pawn with no enemy pawns able to block or capture it on its way to promotion.
Stalemate
The side to move has no legal move and is not in check — the game is an immediate draw.
King activity
In the endgame the king becomes a strong piece and should march toward the action.

See Promotion in your own games

Play the engine, train tactics, and analyse your games — ChessRanger points out these patterns as they come up so the word turns into a skill. Free to start.

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