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Can You Have Two Queens?
Your pawn has marched all the way to the other side of the board. It is time to Promote. But your original Queen is still on the board. Can you get a second one?
The Short Answer: YES!
The Official Rule:
When a pawn reaches the farthest rank (8th for White, 1st for Black), it must immediately be exchanged for a Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight of the same color.
When a pawn reaches the farthest rank (8th for White, 1st for Black), it must immediately be exchanged for a Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight of the same color.
There is no limit to how many pieces you can have. Theoretically, if you promoted all 8 pawns, you could have 9 Queens on the board at the same time!
The Common Myth
⛔ The "Captured Piece" Myth
Many people were taught: "You can only get a piece back if it has been captured."
This is FALSE. You do not need to lose a Queen to get a new one.
Many people were taught: "You can only get a piece back if it has been captured."
This is FALSE. You do not need to lose a Queen to get a new one.
What if I Don't Have an Extra Queen?
In real life (Over-the-Board), this happens often.
- Tournament Play: You pause the clock, raise your hand, and ask the Arbiter (referee) to bring you an extra Queen.
- Casual Play: Most people take a Rook and turn it upside down to represent a second Queen.
What is "Underpromotion"?
99% of the time, you will choose a Queen because it is the strongest piece (9 points). But sometimes, you might choose a Knight (3 points) instead. Why?
- To Checkmate: Sometimes a Knight can deliver a checkmate that a Queen cannot (because Knights jump).
- To Avoid Stalemate: A Queen might be too strong and accidentally trap the enemy King in a stalemate. A Rook or Bishop might be safer.
Next Steps
- Piece Values – Why a Queen is worth 9 points.
- En Passant – The other weird pawn rule.
- Endgames – How to get your pawn to the other side safely.