En passant
If a pawn moves two squares from its start and lands right beside an enemy pawn, that enemy pawn may capture it as if it had moved only one square. The capture must happen on the very next move, or the chance is gone.
- Only pawns capture en passant, and only pawns can be captured that way.
- It is a choice, not a must, unless it is your only legal move.
Teach it
- DoPut a white pawn on e5 and a black pawn on d7.
- Say“If Black moved one square, to d6, my pawn could take it.”
- DoMove the black pawn two squares, to d5.
- Say“It tried to sneak past. En passant means in passing: I can still take it, as if it moved one square.”
- Ask“Where does my pawn land?”
- Child“On d6, and the black pawn comes off.”
- TipOnly right now. If White plays something else, the chance is gone.
Your turn!
Black's pawn just moved from d7 to d5. Capture it en passant.
Three quick questions
When can you capture en passant?
Which pieces can capture en passant?
Where does your pawn land?
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Black just played d7 to d5. Draw White's en passant capture.
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White just played c2 to c4. Can Black take en passant? Where does the pawn land?
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Black plays d7 to d6 (one square). Can White take en passant?
Answers: En passant
- e5 takes on d6; the pawn on d5 is removed.
- Yes: d4 takes on c3.
- No: en passant only works after a two-square move. White can take normally on d6.
Questions parents ask
Is en passant a real rule?
Yes. It is part of the official rules of chess, Article 3.7 of the FIDE Laws.
Do I have to capture en passant?
No. It is a choice, unless it is your only legal move.
Why does en passant exist?
When pawns got the two-square first move, this rule stopped a pawn from slipping past an enemy pawn without risk.
Rules checked against FIDE Laws of Chess, taking effect from 1 January 2023 (Article 3.7) on . Found something to fix? Tell us on the contact page.