For example, it is illegal to perform an en passant capture if the capturing pawn has advanced more than three squares. There are a few cases where making an en passant capture is illegal in chess, mostly in situations where one or more of the requirements for an en passant capture are not in place. It is important to note that, because of the specificity of these rules, an en passant capture can only take place between two pawns and cannot involve any other type of chess piece such as a knight, bishop, rook, queen, or king. In en passant, however, a pawn is able to capture another pawn that has moved into the square directly horizontal to it and does so by moving into the square directly behind the pawn it is capturing, removing the captured pawn from the board. Andre Harding on Should I Play 1…e5 Against 1.In chess, en passant is a special type of move involving pawns, the lowest-ranking chess pieces on the board. The term “en passant” is derived from the French expression of the same spelling, which translates to “in passing” in English. This refers to the way in which a pawn is captured en passant.Įn passant is a unique chess move because it breaks the normal rule of pawns capturing other pieces. In standard chess rules, a pawn can only capture another piece when that piece is one square ahead of and directly diagonal to it, at which time the capturing pawn removes the other piece from the board and occupies its square.Andre Harding on Your Chess Temperament.Richard Cory on Chess Endgame Technique, Part 2: A Playing Method.

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Andre Harding on French Defense, Part 4: Steiner Variation.

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If the chance for en passant appears, you must do it immediately or you lose your chance with that combination of pawns.

The capturing pawn, standing next to the enemy pawn, moves diagonally behind it and removes it from the board.

The pawn-to-be-captured must jump two squares from its starting position, ending up next to the capturing pawn.

The capturing pawn must be three squares from his starting line. So a white pawn must stand on the 5th rank to make the capture and a black pawn must stand on the 4th rank.

No other pieces can capture or be captured.

En passant involves pawns capturing pawns.

Players are often confused by en passant, but I promise to make it clearer! Things to Remember about En Passant USCF Official Rules of Chess It should be the last of the three special moves taught to a new player, after castling and pawn promotion. En Passant means “in passing” in French, and you’ll soon see why the rule is named this way.

En passant rule