Does anyone have a situation where underpromotion of pawns is better than the queen? I know default for blitz is the queen but when is it not good?

This is an example:

Underpromotion (though rare) does happen OTB (not just in puzzles).

Here is an example of this in real life:

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1398984

enjoy!

Thanks!

wow nice game

Promotion to a rook wins.

They are interesting positions srn347.

Inn the first position White should NOT simply promote the pawn to a queen. The position of Blacks king in the cornor does him favours! He is not mated in a few moves. 1.c8(Q) (threatens mate on a6) Ra4 or Rd6 (prevents mate on a6) {But Rc4+!=} 2.Qc3+ followed by Qb2#.

Graw81 - in srn347's first example, if the pawn promotes to a Queen, black plays Rc4 and the only options for white are Qxc4, which is a stalemate, and moving the King, which loses the Queen and the game.  The promotion must be to a Rook in order for white to win

I still love this one.

Occasionally if my opponent is losing really badly, I like to give him a chance if I like him.

If I don't like him then I add insult to injury and promote to a pathetic piece and still beat him

gr842day wrote:

Graw81 - in srn347's first example, if the pawn promotes to a Queen, black plays Rc4 and the only options for white are Qxc4, which is a stalemate, and moving the King, which loses the Queen and the game.  The promotion must be to a Rook in order for white to win

Ah i overlooked that. Thanks for letting me know. :)