Normally a pawn moves by advancing a single square, but the first time a pawn moves, it has the option of advancing two squares (see diagram on the left).
Unlike the other pieces, pawns cannot move backwards.
Pawns may not use the initial two-square advance to jump over an occupied square, or to capture.
UNLIKE other pieces, pawns do not capture enemy pieces the same way they move. Pawns move forward only but can only capture pieces 1 square diagonal and in front of them (see diagrams below).
When a pawn reaches the other side of the board, it is PROMOTED and can turn into a Queen, Rook, Bishop, or Knight. You choose!
PAWNS HAVE A SPECIAL MOVE! En passant
It is a special pawn capture that can only occur immediately after a pawn makes a move of two squares from its starting square, and it could have been captured by an enemy pawn had it advanced only one square. More details below.
The first move of a pawn can be 1 or 2 squares forward. After that, pawns can only move forward one square.
This pawn has already moved forward once before. It can only move 1 space forward from now on.
The pawn can only capture pieces diagonal to it. It cannot take the enemy pawn. It also cannot move forward since the enemy pawn is blocking it.
The pawn can capture the knight.
Now it’s time to practice! Visualize using your mind. White to move and win in 1.
Answers are in the next section.
1. e4 (means Pawn to square e4). Remember pawn moves do not need a "P" in front!
2. _____
3. _____
4. _____
5. _____
6. _____
7. _____
8. _____
Answers:
e4
c4
e5
e4
c5
g4
d5+
c4
Remember, pawns can promote to these pieces when it reaches the end (Queen, Rook, Knight, or Bishop).
Pawn can move to b8 and become other pieces when it reaches the back rank.
Pawn to g8 = Queen
b8 = Q. This is the official annotation for a pawn promotion to a queen.
The best move? c8 = Q+ (means pawn moves to c8, turns into a queen, and delivers a check to the enemy King). All that in one turn!
Time to practice a few more promotions!
Answers are in the next section
1. _____
2. _____
4. _____
4. _____
Answers
d8 = Q
d7 x Rc8 = Q + (This means pawn on d7, captures the rook on c8 square, and turns into a queen, and delivers a check!)
a8 = Q
d8 = N+ (this means pawn on d7 moves to d8 and turns into a Knight, and delivers a check!). You don’t ALWAYS get a queen when you move a pawn to the end! In this case, turning it into a knight is better since it gives a double attack to the enemy king and queen and wins the queen! If you look closer, if you turned the pawn into a Queen, the enemy would be able to checkmate you in 2 moves by moving Qb1+.
En Passant
The special move many chess players forget!
It is a special pawn capture that can only occur immediately after a pawn makes a move of two squares from its starting square, and it could have been captured by an enemy pawn had it advanced only one square.
You will rarely encounter this in a real game, but it can make a BIG difference!
En passant starts when the enemy pawn moves 2 squares NEXT to your pawn.
You can now capture the enemy pawn as though it only moved one square. This HAS to occur immediately after the opponent's 2 square pawn move.
A successful en passant!
If the enemy pawn only moves one square next to you, you CANNOT use the en passant. move!