Chess960 puzzles: Underpromotion

Promoting to a knight or rook — not a queen — is the only way to win.

Underpromotion means choosing a knight, rook or bishop instead of a queen — and winning precisely because of it. The usual hero is the knight, which delivers a check or a fork from the promotion square in a way no queen can. A rook is chosen when a fresh queen would produce stalemate. When your pawn reaches the last rank, never promote on autopilot — first ask what the knight can do.

26 puzzles

Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to d7 (c6·3)

Shuffle Rating 920

Attack on the uncastled king: pawn to f6 (e5·24)

Shuffle Rating 1060

Winning blow: pawn to d6 (d5·3)

Shuffle Rating 1060

Winning blow: pawn to h7 (g6·3)

Shuffle Rating 1060

Winning blow: bishop to a7 (d4)

Shuffle Rating 1060

Winning blow: queen to h5 (f5)

Shuffle Rating 1060

Winning blow: rook to a7 (a8)

Shuffle Rating 1060

Winning blow: pawn to f6 (e5·5)

Shuffle Rating 1060

Winning blow: pawn to b7 (c6·4)

Shuffle Rating 1060

Winning blow: pawn to g7 (g6·4)

Shuffle Rating 1110

Winning blow: queen to b3 (e3)

Shuffle Rating 1200

Winning blow: queen to a5 (d5·2)

Shuffle Rating 1200

Winning blow: rook to a6 (d6)

Shuffle Rating 1200

Winning blow: pawn to f7 (g6·2)

Shuffle Rating 1200

Winning blow: rook to h1 (f1·5)

Shuffle Rating 1200

Winning blow: pawn to c7 (c6·6)

Shuffle Rating 1250

Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·12)

Shuffle Rating 1250

Winning blow: pawn to e7 (e6·13)

Shuffle Rating 1250

Winning blow: king to h3 (g2·6)

Shuffle Rating 1390

Winning blow: pawn to g8 (g7·3)

Shuffle Rating 1470

Winning blow: pawn to a7 (a6·10)

Shuffle Rating 1610

Mate in 3: pawn to d8

Shuffle Rating 1630

Winning blow: rook to f8 (f6·5)

Shuffle Rating 1790

Winning blow: pawn to h8 (h7·4)

Shuffle Rating 1870

Tactics