02/06/2026
When a pawn travels all the way to the very last row on the other side of the board, it earns a special "level up" called "promotion". Since the pawn reached the finish line, it gets to transform into any other piece you want, except for a King or another pawn. Most players choose to turn their pawn into a Queen because she is the most powerful piece in the game, but you can also pick a Rook, Bishop, or Knight.
Interestingly, you can have more than one Queen on the board at a time, so if you promote three pawns, you could technically have four Queens total! This move happens instantly on the same turn the pawn lands on that last square, and it’s often the best way to turn a tough game into a big win.