user6984: I have my rook on the 8th rank.  My pawn is directly behind it.  I want to move diagonal with my pawn to promote it to a queen.  Can I move diagonal to reach the 8th rank and promote my pawn?

user167: You may do so only if the pawn is capturing one of the opponent's pieces; that is the only way a pawn ever moves diagonally. So here you can do what you describe:
[fen "3Rn3/k2P4/8/8/8/K7/8/8 w - - 0 1"]

1.dxe8=Q

But if you're talking about a situation like the following, then no, the pawn cannot move as you described:
[fen "3R4/k2P4/8/8/8/K7/8/8 w - - 0 1"]


6984: <p>I have my rook on the 8th rank.  My pawn is directly behind it.  I want to move diagonal with my pawn to promote it to a queen.  Can I move diagonal to reach the 8th rank and promote my pawn?</p>
 167: <p>You may do so only if the pawn is capturing one of the opponent's pieces; that is the only way a pawn ever moves diagonally. So here you can do what you describe:</p>

<pre><code>[fen "3Rn3/k2P4/8/8/8/K7/8/8 w - - 0 1"]

1.dxe8=Q
</code></pre>

<p>But if you're talking about a situation like the following, then no, the pawn cannot move as you described:</p>

<pre><code>[fen "3R4/k2P4/8/8/8/K7/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
</code></pre>
