Rule
How Does En Passant Work in Chess?
En passant lets a pawn capture an enemy pawn that has just advanced two squares past it, as if it had moved only one.
Definition
En passant — French for 'in passing' — is the most surprising rule in chess. When an enemy pawn uses its opening two-square advance and lands directly beside your pawn, you may capture it as though it had only moved one square. Your pawn moves diagonally to the square the enemy pawn skipped over, and the enemy pawn is removed. The right exists for exactly one move: if you play something else, it disappears for good.
Example
Your pawn is on e5. Black plays d7–d5, landing beside it. You may answer exd6, moving your pawn to d6 and removing the pawn from d5 — even though your pawn never lands on the square the captured pawn occupied.
How to spot it
- It is only possible when your pawn is on the fifth rank (fourth for Black).
- The enemy pawn must have just moved two squares, on the immediately preceding move.
- It must land directly beside your pawn on an adjacent file.
- If you do not take immediately, the right is gone permanently.
The mistake most players make
Believing en passant can be played later. The right expires after one move — if you make any other move first, that pawn can never be captured en passant again.
Frequently asked questions
How does en passant work in chess?
When an enemy pawn advances two squares and lands directly beside your pawn, you may capture it as if it had only moved one square. Your pawn moves diagonally onto the skipped square and the enemy pawn is removed from the board.
Why does the en passant rule exist?
It was introduced when pawns were first allowed to move two squares on their opening move. Without it, a pawn could use that double step to run straight past an enemy pawn that would otherwise have controlled the square — en passant closes that loophole.
Can you play en passant at any time?
No. You must capture on the very next move after the enemy pawn's two-square advance. If you play anything else first, the opportunity is lost permanently for that pawn.
Related terms
Practise this pattern
Definitions stick once you have seen the pattern in a real game. Solve tactics puzzles to train recognition, review one of your games to find where it came up, or ask the coach to explain it in a position you are looking at.