When a pawn reaches the opposite side of the chessboard, it can be promoted to any piece, based on the players preference. The pawn can be exchanged for a queen, bishop, rook, or knight, and there are no restrictions on how many pieces of a given type you can have via promotion. The player must immediately replace the pawn with the chosen piece. This process is known as pawn promotion. Pawns become more powerful as they move further up the board, and promoting a pawn can be a crucial decision in the game.