The Movement of the Chessmen (cont'd)

You can download an AVI movie on how the chess pieces move, or find out below. On this page, we show you how the Pawn moves, and we introduce you to the en passant rule.

The Pawn

The Pawn moves only one square at a time, in one direction - forward. It cannot move backwards, but there is an exception to the one-square-per-move rule. When the Pawn is still on its original square (on the second rank), it has the option of advancing one square or two. This option holds good for the duration of the game, as long as the Pawn in question has not moved. Once the Pawn has made its initial move - regardless of whether it is a move of one or two squares, or a capture, this option is withdrawn (Fig. 16).

Fig. 16 The Pawns can move to any
one of the squares marked with an X

In the above diagram, the White Pawn in the first file has the option of advancing to the third or the fourth rank on its first move. Its fellow Pawn in the file next to it cannot advance any further, as it is blocked by the Black Pawn. However, the White Pawn on the last file is not obstructed by any piece, and as such, can continue to move forward by one square.

When the Pawn captures, it takes one step diagonally to the right or left file onto the square occupied by the piece taken, as can be seen in Fig. 17.

Fig. 17 The capturing powers of the Pawn

In the above diagram, the White Pawn on the first file has the option of either moving forward by one step or two steps, or capturing the Black Rook on the file to its right. The White Pawn on the second-last file can either capture the Black Bishop to its left or the Black Pawn on its right, or move forward as usual.

The Pawn is the least powerful of the chessmen, and for this reason beginners are very careless about preserving their Pawns. This is a mistake which good players avoid because they are well aware that Pawns become more valuable as the endgame approaches. The reason of this appreciation in value is that a remarkable privilege has been bestowed on the Pawn - whenever it reaches the last rank, it is removed and replaced with either a Queen, a Rook, a Bishop or a Knight (most players choose the Queen as she is the most powerful piece available - and two, three or even four Queens is a formidable force to be reckoned with!) in the same turn. This substitution is compulsory, not optional, and it is called pawn promotion. The diagram below (Fig. 18) shows a typical situation before promotion. White can promote his Pawn to a Queen in two ways - he can either capture the Black Bishop or simply move forward. Which is the better choice?

Fig. 18 How should the White Pawn promote?

If he promotes to a new Queen by capturing the Black Bishop, Black's Knight will capture the new Queen, and the game will be won by Black, who has a Queen of his own. So, the right way is for White to advance his Pawn, likewise getting a new Queen (although White will most probably lose, at least he has a better chance of surviving than if he had chosen the latter option).

The Pawn - Capturing En Passant

Capturing en passant ("in passing") is a special power of the Pawn. It applies only to the capture of a Pawn by a Pawn, in a specific situation. The two Pawns of opposite colour involved must be on adjacent files. The Pawn that is to capture en passant must be on its fifth rank, while the Pawn that is to be captured must be on its (original) second rank. Fig. 19 shows the necessary preliminary features of a capture en passant.

Fig. 19 Black to move

In the above position, we know that if Black advances his Pawn by one square, the White Pawn can capture the Black one as usual. But if Black advances his Pawn two squares, White can capture en passant, by capturing the Black Pawn as if it had advanced only one square (Fig. 20). The end position in both cases is the same. Capturing en passant is optional, but if a player wants to capture en passant, he must do it on the first opportunity. If he declines to make the capture immediately, the option disappears for good.

Fig. 20 The ending position

There are two compulsory aspects of capturing en passant. Both involve a the King's welfare. Firstly, if capturing en passant is the only way to get a player's King out of check, then the player must capture. Secondly, if capturing en passant will expose a player's King to check, then he cannot capture en passant.

How do you win a game, now that you know how all the pieces move? What is "check", and what is "checkmate"? Also, what is castling? Find out in the next page.