Promotion is a chess term describing the transformation of a pawn that reaches its eighth rank into the player's choice of a queen, knight, rook, or bishop of the same color (a queen is usually chosen).

The choice is not limited to previously captured pieces. Hence it is theoretically possible for a player to have up to nine queens or up to ten rooks, bishops, or knights if all his or her pawns are promoted. If the desired piece is not available, the player should call the arbiter to provide the piece