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En passant

A special pawn capture: when an enemy pawn rushes two squares past yours, you may take it as if it had moved only one. Learn when it's allowed.

Beginner5 min

Taking in passing

Black's pawn rushes two squares, from d7 to d5, landing right beside White's pawn on e5. White may capture it as if it had moved only one square: the white pawn moves diagonally to d6, and the black pawn on d5 is removed. This is called en passant, French for 'in passing'.

Taking in passing abcdefgh12345678

Now or never

Three things must be true. Your pawn is on its fifth rank, the enemy pawn just moved two squares to land right next to it, and you capture on the very next move. If you wait even one turn, the chance is gone for good.

Now or never abcdefgh12345678

Capture in passing

Your turn

Black just played pawn d7 to d5. Capture it en passant, then win material.

Show the answer

Taking en passant put your pawn on d6, attacking the rook and the knight at once. Black saved the rook, and the pawn took the knight.

Capture in passing abcdefgh12345678

Now as Black

Your turn

White just pushed the e-pawn two squares. Take it en passant and attack two pieces.

Show the answer

Pawn takes on e3 en passant. Now it attacks both the rook on d2 and the knight on f2, and White can only save one.

Now as Black abcdefgh12345678

Quick check

Question

Black's pawn moved two squares to land beside your pawn, but you made a different move instead. Can you capture it en passant on your next turn?

  • No, en passant is only allowed right away
  • Yes, any time the pawns stay side by side
  • Yes, but only if it gives check
Show the answer

No, en passant is only allowed right away

The capture must be made on the very next move. After that the chance is gone.

More in Rules

Castling Castling moves the king and a rook in one turn, tucking the king away and bringing the rook into play. Learn how and when you may castle. Check and checkmate When your king is attacked you must save it. Learn the three ways out of check, and how to give a checkmate that ends the game. Stalemate If your opponent has no legal move and is not in check, the game is a draw. Learn to avoid this trap when you are winning. Promotion A pawn that reaches the last rank turns into a queen, rook, bishop or knight. Learn how promotion works and why the queen is usually the choice. The knight The knight jumps in an L-shape and is the only piece that can leap over others. Learn its move and why it hates the corner.