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RulesLast Updated: 2026-01-15
En Passant
"A special pawn capture rule in chess that occurs immediately after a player moves a pawn two squares forward."
Interactive Demonstration
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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.
Current FEN
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a king capture en passant?
No, en passant only applies to pawn capturing pawn.
Is en passant mandatory?
No, like most captures in chess, it is optional.
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