Greetings:
Yes, you can promote a Pawn. All you have to do is get it to the
opponents back rank. But, you don't have to promote to a queen...in
some cases you can mate by just a promotion...be it either a rook,
knight, bishop. It is wise to just see what you need at the time.
However, i wouldn't throw your pawns forward at the start...i would try
and keep your pawn chain/s intact!!
Slan...
Imp..