How do pawns move in chess?
The pawn is the smallest piece on the board and the one beginners get wrong most often, because it is the only piece that moves one way and captures another.
A pawn advances straight forward one square at a time and can never move backwards. On its very first move it may advance two squares instead of one. But it captures diagonally — one square forward-left or forward-right — which means a pawn cannot take a piece standing directly in front of it.
Two special rules complete the picture: a pawn that reaches the far side of the board promotes into any piece you choose (almost always a queen), and a pawn can capture an enemy pawn "en passant" immediately after that pawn uses its two-square first move to slip past.
- Moves forward one square; never backwards.
- May move two squares forward on its first move only.
- Captures diagonally forward, one square.
- Cannot capture a piece directly in front of it.
- Promotes to any piece on reaching the last rank.
- Can capture en passant right after an enemy pawn double-steps past it.
Practise on a real board
4 short exercises. Nothing to install and no account needed — make the move on the board and the lesson checks it for you.
More about this
Can a pawn move backwards in chess?
No. Pawns are the only pieces that can never move backwards. Once a pawn has advanced, that square is behind it for good — which is why pushing a pawn is always a permanent decision.
Can a pawn capture the piece directly in front of it?
No. Pawns capture diagonally, so a piece standing directly in front of a pawn blocks it completely. Two pawns facing each other on the same file are both stuck.
What is en passant?
If an enemy pawn uses its two-square first move to land beside your pawn, you may capture it as though it had only moved one square. You must do it immediately — the right disappears after your next move.
What does a pawn become when it reaches the other side?
Any piece except a king — queen, rook, bishop or knight. Players choose a queen almost every time because it is the strongest, but promoting to a knight is occasionally better when it delivers check or a fork.
Lessons are the start. The coaching is the point.
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