Chess rules · beginner
Pawn Promotion
A pawn that reaches the last rank becomes a queen (or rook, bishop, knight).
Last updated
touch_appLearn it by doing: read the short explanation, then play it on the board.
Quick answer
When a pawn reaches the last rank (the 8th for White, the 1st for Black), it must be promoted: you replace it with a queen, rook, bishop or knight of your colour. You can't keep it as a pawn or make a second king. Almost always the queen is the best choice.
Step by step
Common mistakes
- Promoting to a queen when it gives stalemate. Check the opponent still has a legal move, or choose a rook.
- Forgetting a knight promotion can give check or a fork when a queen would not.
- Racing a pawn forward without checking whether the enemy king can catch it (see the rule of the square).
Tips from the lesson
- Push the pawn to the 8th rank.
FAQ
Can you promote a pawn to a second queen?add
Yes. You can have several queens; over-the-board players often use an upside-down rook until a spare queen is found.
Can a pawn promote to a king?add
No. Only to a queen, rook, bishop or knight.
What is underpromotion?add
Promoting to anything other than a queen, usually a knight for a check or fork, or a rook to avoid stalemate.
Does promotion happen automatically?add
It's part of the same move: the pawn reaches the last rank and becomes the new piece immediately.