Pawn promotion movement

Question

If a pawn is promoted, does that count as a move? What if a rook is waiting and could capture the new queen in one move? What exactly happens when a pawn is promoted?

Answer 1

The pawn promotion is part of the move of a white pawn to the eighth (or for a black pawn to the first) row. So you move the pawn to eighth row and replace it immediately with a piece of your choice (except kings, pawns or pieces of the opposite color). You don't need to spend an extra move for the promotion.

If a rook can immediately take your new queen, well such is life … ;-) Maybe promoting wasn't such a good move then ...