Beginner

9. En Passant

Learn the special pawn capture that catches an advancing pawn "in passing."

Introduction

En passant (French for "in passing") is a special pawn capture. It prevents a pawn from using its two-square first move to sneak past an enemy pawn. It's the most surprising rule in chess!

Lesson Content

Try this position

En passant can happen when a pawn advances two squares from its starting position and lands beside an enemy pawn. The enemy pawn can capture it as if it had only moved one square.

Try this position

Here, White just played e2-e4 (two squares). Black's pawn on f4 can capture "en passant" by moving to e3—the square the white pawn passed through. The white pawn on e4 is removed.

Try this position

1. ..fxe3

Move the black pawn from f4 to e3. The white pawn on e4 will be captured.

Capture en passant! Move the f4 pawn to e3.

Try this position

Now let's try from White's side. Black has a pawn on f7 and White has a pawn on e5.

Try this position

1. exf6

Move the white e5 pawn to f6.

Capture en passant with the white pawn!

Try this position

Important: en passant must be played immediately on the very next move, or the right is lost forever. You can't save it for later!

Try this position

When can you capture en passant?

Try this position

When capturing en passant, where does the capturing pawn land?

Key Takeaways

En passant captures a pawn that just advanced two squares
The capturing pawn moves to the skipped square
It must be done immediately on the very next move
Both White and Black can capture en passant
It's the only capture where the capturing piece doesn't land on the captured piece's square