How does the Pawn Move in Chess?

Pawns are the most basic pieces in the game. In the majority of cases, the pawn is the weakest piece among the other pieces. However, in some cases, pawns are one of the most influential pieces that aid in the victory. However, to extract the best from the pawn, a player should thoroughly understand how the pawn moves in chess and its capabilities.

The entire chess set includes 16 pawns, and these are equally divided between the two players. It means a player owns 8 pawns. Before beginning the game, the eight troops are set up in the second rank, covering the aristocratic pieces such as the king, queen, bishop, rook, and knight.

In general, pawns are allowed to move one square forward at a time. It is important to remember that pawns can only move in one direction and can never move backward. However, the pawn’s general mobility can be slightly changed by the first move. It has the ability to move one or two squares forward, depending on the players’ preferences.

Capturing is the second most important parameter while considering the behavior of a piece. The pawn is the only piece that captures another piece by changing its regular moving pattern. The pawn performs the capture by moving one square in a diagonal direction. After the capture, the pawn lands in the same square where the enemy piece was.

Unlike other board-based games, chess is extremely strategic and tricky. Therefore, there are some rules where the general moving pattern changes. En-passant capture and pawn promotion are the most impressive rules that are specifically applied to pawns.

En Passant Capture: According to the special initial move of two squares, the pawn can move to the 4th rank at once. But, considering En-passant, the opponent’s pawn, who is located in the 4th rank, can capture the piece by assuming that the piece is in the 3rd rank. But this should be done as the immediate next move.

Pawn promotion: Once the pawn reaches the end of the board on the opponents’ side, it can be replaced by a powerful piece. From a rook, a bishop, a knight, or a queen.

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