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Learn Chess – En Passant

by on 06/05/10 at 9:00 pm

En Passant is a special rule within chess that often confuses the beginner chess player. The term is French for in passing and refers to the taking of a pawn on its first two square move. This move is rarely used and therefore many beginner players chose to ignore it. This is not wise as En Passant can provide a tactical advantage and is used in some common chess openings such as Petrov’s Defence.

In the early 15th century, a new rule was added to allow pawns to initially move two squares on their first move. This rule was designed to speed up the opening game as at the time chess was fast becoming a popular spectator sport and casual activity. At the same time that the two square rule was introduced so was En Passant thus stopping a player from moving two squares to avoid capture. Interestingly, En Passant was introduced at roughly the same time as castling, the two square rule (as mentioned above) and unlimited range for the queen and bishop pieces, thus creating the game of European Chess which we all play today.

To simplify this explanation, let us imagine an example where a pawn has not yet moved and is therefore eligible to move two squares. Lets us also say that if the pawn moves one square, it will be under attack from the opponents queen. If it moves two, it will be under attack from the opponents knight. Now lets image that the player decides to move the pawn two squares. At this point the opponent may enact En Passant and take the piece with the queen. The queen must be placed not in the current position that the pawn occupies, but instead is placed in the position as if the pawn had moved one square only. In other words, the pawn can be captured as if it only moved one square. The opponent may also choose not to enact En Passant and may instead take the pawn with the knight. In this move, the knight is placed in the square currently occupied by the pawn.

En Passant must be played immediately after the pawn has moved two squares. If a turn passes, En Passant can no longer be played on that pawn.