Bible Chess

Pawn Promotion Chess Puzzles with Answers

12 puzzles · rated 983 to 2216 · answers under each board

A pawn that reaches the last rank becomes a queen, rook, bishop or knight. In these puzzles the promotion is the key to checkmate: sometimes it is the mating move itself, sometimes the step that makes mate possible.

The pawn usually needs help to get there. Look for the check or capture that clears its path or drags away the piece that guards the promotion square.

How to solve them

The side to move is at the bottom of each board. White’s pieces are gold and Black’s are stone, drawn as the biblical figures of Bible Chess: the queen is a Judge, the rook a Tower, the bishop a Prophet, the knight a Scout and the pawns are Shepherds.

Puzzle 1: Black to move, mate in 2

EasyRating 983

White: king g1, rook d1, pawns g2 and h2. Black: king g8, queen e8, pawn d2.

Hint

Your queen moves first, with check.

Show the answer

1... Qe1+ 2. Rxe1 dxe1=Q#

  1. Queen e8 to e1, check. White answers: rook d1 to e1, taking the queen.
  2. Pawn d2 to e1, taking the rook, promoting to a queen. Checkmate!

Based on Lichess puzzle 1UhbP (CC0)

Puzzle 2: White to move, mate in 2

MediumRating 1107

White: king g6, rook g7, pawn e7. Black: king h8, rook g8.

Hint

Your rook moves first, with check.

Show the answer

1. Rxg8+ Kxg8 2. e8=Q#

  1. Rook g7 to g8, taking the rook, check. Black answers: king h8 to g8, taking the rook.
  2. Pawn e7 to e8, promoting to a queen. Checkmate!

Based on Lichess puzzle 07LpO (CC0)

Puzzle 3: White to move, mate in 2

MediumRating 1144

White: king e6, knight d5, pawns d6 and c7. Black: king c8, bishop b5, pawns b6 and a7.

Hint

Your knight moves first, with check.

Show the answer

1. Ne7+ Kb7 2. c8=Q#

  1. Knight d5 to e7, check. Black answers: king c8 to b7.
  2. Pawn c7 to c8, promoting to a queen. Checkmate!

Based on Lichess puzzle 1Su3d (CC0)

Puzzle 4: White to move, mate in 2

MediumRating 1189

White: king b6, knight e7, pawn c6. Black: king b8.

Hint

Your pawn moves first, with check.

Show the answer

1. c7+ Ka8 2. c8=Q#

  1. Pawn c6 to c7, check. Black answers: king b8 to a8.
  2. Pawn c7 to c8, promoting to a queen. Checkmate!

Based on Lichess puzzle 172oH (CC0)

Puzzle 5: White to move, mate in 2

MediumRating 1216

White: king h1, queen h6, pawns h2 and e7. Black: king h8, rooks h7 and e8.

Hint

Your queen moves first, with check.

Show the answer

1. Qf8+ Rxf8 2. exf8=Q#

  1. Queen h6 to f8, check. Black answers: rook e8 to f8, taking the queen.
  2. Pawn e7 to f8, taking the rook, promoting to a queen. Checkmate!

Based on Lichess puzzle 0fITN (CC0)

Puzzle 6: White to move, mate in 2

MediumRating 1266

White: king h1, queen f3, rook f1, pawn g7. Black: king g8, queen e6, rook e8, pawn h7.

Hint

Your queen moves first, with check.

Show the answer

1. Qf8+ Rxf8 2. gxf8=Q#

  1. Queen f3 to f8, check. Black answers: rook e8 to f8, taking the queen.
  2. Pawn g7 to f8, taking the rook, promoting to a queen. Checkmate!

Based on Lichess puzzle 0WQZp (CC0)

Puzzle 7: White to move, mate in 2

MediumRating 1339

White: king f2, queen g6, rook g1, pawns f4 and h7. Black: king h8, queen e7, rook f8.

Hint

Your queen moves first, with check.

Show the answer

1. Qg8+ Rxg8 2. hxg8=Q#

  1. Queen g6 to g8, check. Black answers: rook f8 to g8, taking the queen.
  2. Pawn h7 to g8, taking the rook, promoting to a queen. Checkmate!

Based on Lichess puzzle 1MUab (CC0)

Puzzle 8: White to move, mate in 2

MediumRating 1438

White: king f1, queen g2, rook g1, pawn h7. Black: king h8, rook f8, knight e6, pawn f5.

Hint

Your queen moves first, with check.

Show the answer

1. Qg8+ Rxg8 2. hxg8=Q#

  1. Queen g2 to g8, check. Black answers: rook f8 to g8, taking the queen.
  2. Pawn h7 to g8, taking the rook, promoting to a queen. Checkmate!

Based on Lichess puzzle 0mQOV (CC0)

Puzzle 9: White to move, mate in 2

HardRating 1565

White: king d3, bishop d5, pawn c6. Black: king a8, rook c5, bishop d4, pawn a7.

Hint

Your pawn moves first, with check.

Show the answer

1. c7+ Rxd5 2. c8=Q#

  1. Pawn c6 to c7, check. Black answers: rook c5 to d5, taking the bishop.
  2. Pawn c7 to c8, promoting to a queen. Checkmate!

Based on Lichess puzzle 0rue7 (CC0)

Puzzle 10: White to move, mate in 2

HardRating 1665

White: king f2, queen g3, rook g2, pawn h7. Black: king h8, rook f8, knight f5.

Hint

Your queen moves first, with check.

Show the answer

1. Qg8+ Rxg8 2. hxg8=Q#

  1. Queen g3 to g8, check. Black answers: rook f8 to g8, taking the queen.
  2. Pawn h7 to g8, taking the rook, promoting to a queen. Checkmate!

Based on Lichess puzzle 18v9X (CC0)

Puzzle 11: White to move, mate in 2

HardRating 1840

White: king e3, queen g3, rook g1, pawns h2 and h7. Black: king h8, queen d7, rook c8, pawn f5.

Hint

Your queen moves first, with check.

Show the answer

1. Qg8+ Rxg8 2. hxg8=Q#

  1. Queen g3 to g8, check. Black answers: rook c8 to g8, taking the queen.
  2. Pawn h7 to g8, taking the rook, promoting to a queen. Checkmate!

Based on Lichess puzzle 0k0nu (CC0)

Puzzle 12: Black to move, mate in 4

Very hardRating 2216

White: king h2, rook e7, pawn g2. Black: king f2, rook g3, pawn g4.

Hint

Your rook moves first, with check.

Show the answer

1... Rh3+ 2. gxh3 g3+ 3. Kh1 g2+ 4. Kh2 g1=Q#

  1. Rook g3 to h3, check. White answers: pawn g2 to h3, taking the rook.
  2. Pawn g4 to g3, check. White answers: king h2 to h1.
  3. Pawn g3 to g2, check. White answers: king h1 to h2.
  4. Pawn g2 to g1, promoting to a queen. Checkmate!

Based on Lichess puzzle 8ex6j (CC0)

Questions

What is pawn promotion?

When a pawn reaches the last rank it is exchanged for a queen, rook, bishop or knight of the same color. Most players choose a queen.

What is underpromotion?

Promoting to a rook, bishop or knight instead of a queen. It is rare, but sometimes it is the only move that wins or avoids stalemate.

More chess puzzles