En Passant
"A special pawn capture rule in chess that occurs immediately after a player moves a pawn two squares forward."
Interactive Demonstration
Visualizing the Concept
Use the interactive board to explore this position. Understanding En Passant is much easier when you can visualize the pieces in action.
rnbqkbnr/ppp1p1pp/8/3pPp2/8/8/PPPP1PPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq f6 0 3In-Depth Explanation
En Passant (French for 'in passing') is a special pawn capture rule in chess. It happens when a pawn captures an opponent's pawn that has just moved two squares forward from its starting position. The capturing pawn must be on its fifth rank, and the opponent's pawn must move two squares in a single move, landing exactly next to it. The capture must be made immediately on the next move.
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Frequently Asked Questions
No, en passant only applies to a pawn capturing another pawn. Kings and other pieces cannot use this rule.
No. Like other captures in chess, en passant is optional – but it must be played on the very next move or the right to capture is lost forever.
En passant was formalized in the late 15th century, when pawns first gained the option to advance two squares on their initial move. It prevents pawns from bypassing enemy pawn control.
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