En passant
Last updated
En passant is a pawn capture of a pawn that has just advanced two squares, taking it as though it had only moved one. Your capturing pawn must be on its fifth rank, the enemy pawn must land directly beside it, and you must capture immediately. The right expires after one move.
What are the exact conditions?
All four must be true at the same time:
- The captured pawn has just moved two squares from its starting position.
- It has landed directly beside your pawn, on an adjacent file.
- Your capturing pawn is on its fifth rank (rank 5 for White, rank 4 for Black).
- You capture on your very next move. Play anything else and the right is gone for good.
How do I actually make the move?
Your pawn moves diagonally forward one square, into the square the enemy pawn passed over, not the square it is standing on. The enemy pawn is then removed. This is the only capture in chess where the capturing piece does not finish on the captured piece's square, which is exactly why it looks wrong the first time you see it.
Why does the rule exist?
Pawns originally moved only one square. The two-square first move was introduced to speed up the opening, which created a loophole: a pawn could sprint past an enemy pawn without ever giving it the chance to capture. En passant closes that loophole. It restores the position that would have existed had the pawn advanced one square at a time.
The most common error: believing you can capture en passant a move or two later. You cannot. If you do not take immediately, the opportunity is permanently lost, even if the position otherwise looks identical.
Is en passant compulsory?
No. It is an option, not an obligation, exactly like any other capture. There are real positions where capturing en passant is a mistake because it opens a file towards your own king.
Frequently asked questions
Can I capture en passant later in the game?
No. The right lasts for one move only. If you play anything else, it is gone permanently.
Can a pawn capture en passant after moving one square?
No. The captured pawn must have moved two squares in a single move. A pawn that advanced one square at a time can never be taken en passant.
Is en passant a real rule?
Yes. It has been part of the official Laws of Chess for centuries and appears in FIDE Article 3.7. It surprises people because it is rare, not because it is disputed.
Can a queen or knight capture en passant?
No. Only a pawn can capture en passant, and only another pawn can be captured that way.
Do I have to capture en passant?
No. It is optional, like any capture.