Underpromotion Chess Puzzles — Rated 800

10 underpromotions rated between 800 and 999, averaging 909. 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 800-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 800 is one that players around 800 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 800

  1. Underpromotion puzzle 1, rated 941a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 941 · White to play after Ke6
    Show solution

    f8=N#

  2. Underpromotion puzzle 2, rated 931a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 931 · White to play after Kg7
    Show solution

    e8=N+ Kg6 Nxf6

  3. Underpromotion puzzle 3, rated 934h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 934 · Black to play after Qf3
    Show solution

    g1=N+ Ke3 Nxf3 Kxf3 Kg1

  4. Underpromotion puzzle 4, rated 910a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 910 · White to play after Ke6
    Show solution

    f8=N+ Kf5 Nxh7

  5. Underpromotion puzzle 5, rated 904a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 904 · White to play after Qf7
    Show solution

    h8=N+ Kg7 Nxf7

  6. Underpromotion puzzle 6, rated 951a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 951 · White to play after Rxc8
    Show solution

    dxc8=N+ Kb8 Nxe7

  7. Underpromotion puzzle 7, rated 892h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 892 · Black to play after Kf3
    Show solution

    g1=N+ Kf2 Nxe2

  8. Underpromotion puzzle 8, rated 853h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 853 · Black to play after Qd3
    Show solution

    e1=N+ Kf1 Nxd3

  9. Underpromotion puzzle 9, rated 884h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 884 · Black to play after Ree5
    Show solution

    f1=N+ Kxh3 Nxg3

  10. Underpromotion puzzle 10, rated 888a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 888 · White to play after Rxd7
    Show solution

    f8=N+ Kf6 Nxd7+

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 800 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 800 is one that players rated around 800 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 909, so they suit 800-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.