Underpromotion Chess Puzzles — Rated 2000

10 underpromotions rated between 2000 and 2199, averaging 2092. Each position below is from a real game, with the solution given underneath — so you can check yourself immediately rather than guessing whether you were right.

Underpromotion — taking a knight or rook instead of a queen — is right when the queen would be stalemate, or when only a knight delivers the fork or check that wins. Rare, and unforgettable when it appears.

These are pitched at 2000-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2000 is one that players around 2000 solve about half the time, so if you are getting most of these you should move up a band.

Solving from a page is good for pattern recognition but not for tracking progress. The rated puzzle trainer serves puzzles matched to your own rating and adjusts as you solve, and the Mistake Trainer builds puzzles from positions you actually got wrong in your own games.

Underpromotion puzzles rated 2000

  1. Underpromotion puzzle 1, rated 2109a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2109 · White to play after f6
    Show solution

    e6 Nb6 e7 Nc8 e8=N+

  2. Underpromotion puzzle 2, rated 2166h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2166 · Black to play after Qe3
    Show solution

    d2 Qxc3 d1=N+ Kg3 Nxc3

  3. Underpromotion puzzle 3, rated 2181h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2181 · Black to play after h4
    Show solution

    Qc1+ Rxc1 Ba2+ Kxa2 bxc1=N#

  4. Underpromotion puzzle 4, rated 2106h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2106 · Black to play after Kf3
    Show solution

    Kg5 Rh1 e1=N+ Kg3 Re3+

  5. Underpromotion puzzle 5, rated 2029a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2029 · White to play after Kg7
    Show solution

    Rg8+ Kh7 f8=N+ Rxf8 Rxf8

  6. Underpromotion puzzle 6, rated 2070h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2070 · Black to play after Rc8
    Show solution

    Rxg2+ Kf3 e1=N#

  7. Underpromotion puzzle 7, rated 2021a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2021 · White to play after Kc6
    Show solution

    d8=N#

  8. Underpromotion puzzle 8, rated 2182a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2182 · White to play after Rah8
    Show solution

    e8=N+ Rxe8 Rd7+ Qxd7 Qxd7+

  9. Underpromotion puzzle 9, rated 2042a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2042 · White to play after g6
    Show solution

    exf8=N+ Bxf8 Rb7+ Bg7 Qxf3 Qa1+ Kg2

  10. Underpromotion puzzle 10, rated 2016h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2016 · Black to play after Kf2
    Show solution

    Kh3 Re1 g3+ Kf3 g2 Re6 g1=N+

Train underpromotion puzzles at your rating →

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Frequently asked questions

What is a underpromotion in chess?

Underpromotion — taking a knight or rook instead of a queen — is right when the queen would be stalemate, or when only a knight delivers the fork or check that wins. Rare, and unforgettable when it appears.

What does a puzzle rating of 2000 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2000 is one that players rated around 2000 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2092, so they suit 2000-rated players.

Are these underpromotion puzzles free?

Yes. Every puzzle on this page, including its solution, is free to view with no account. The rated trainer that tracks your progress and serves puzzles matched to your rating is part of Chess Ramp Premium.