Underpromotion Chess Puzzles — Rated 2200+

10 underpromotions rated between 2200 and 3500, averaging 2391. 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 2200+-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players around 2200+ 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 2200+

  1. Underpromotion puzzle 1, rated 2405a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2405 · White to play after Rh8
    Show solution

    Be5+ Bf6 Bxf6+ Kxf6 e8=N+ Rxe8 Qxe8 Qxe8 Rxe8

  2. Underpromotion puzzle 2, rated 2333a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2333 · White to play after Kg8
    Show solution

    Qxd6 Qxd6 e7+ Kh7 Bb1+ Kg7 e8=N+

  3. Underpromotion puzzle 3, rated 2508a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2508 · White to play after Nd7
    Show solution

    e6 Nb6 e7 Nc8 e8=N

  4. Underpromotion puzzle 4, rated 2546h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2546 · Black to play after h6
    Show solution

    Rg1+ Kh7 a1=R

  5. Underpromotion puzzle 5, rated 2402a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2402 · White to play after Kc8
    Show solution

    Qa6+ Kc7 Bd6+ Kd8 c7+ Kd7 cxb8=N+

  6. Underpromotion puzzle 6, rated 2266a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2266 · White to play after Nf4
    Show solution

    d6 cxd6 c7 Nd5 c8=N

  7. Underpromotion puzzle 7, rated 2322a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2322 · White to play after Qd4
    Show solution

    g6+ Kh6 gxf7+ Qxf6 fxg8=N+ Kxh5 Nxf6+

  8. Underpromotion puzzle 8, rated 2520a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2520 · White to play after Ne3+
    Show solution

    Kg5 Nc4 gxh7 Ne5 h8=N

  9. Underpromotion puzzle 9, rated 2216a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2216 · White to play after Qxg4
    Show solution

    exd7+ Kg7 dxe8=N+ Rxe8 hxg4 Rxe1+ Rxe1

  10. Underpromotion puzzle 10, rated 2387h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2387 · Black to play after Qd7
    Show solution

    d2+ Rc2 Qg1+ Kb2 d1=N+ Qxd1 Qxd1

Train underpromotion puzzles at your rating →

Related puzzle sets

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 2200+ mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players rated around 2200+ solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2391, so they suit 2200+-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.