|
The Pawn |
|
Typical Staunton wood Pawn piece used in a game of Chess (Fig. 1). Each player starts the game with eight pieces. |
|
Staunton wood white Chess Pawn piece |
|
|
|
Fig. 1 |
|
The following graphic shows white and black Chess Pawn figures (Fig. 2). These pieces are widely used in diagrams to illustrate games, positions, and Chess problems. |
|
Chess Pawn figures |
|
|
|
Fig. 2 |
|
This diagram (Fig. 3) shows the position all Pawns have at the beginning of the game. |
|
Pawns initial position |
 |
|
Fig. 3 |
|
Pawns move forward only and they cannot retreat or move backward. At the beginning of a game, each Pawn has the option to advance one or two squares from their initial starting position (Fig. 4 & 5). Afterwards, they can only move one square at a time. This rule applies to all the Pawns. |
|
Any white Pawn can move 1 or 2 squares from their initial position |
|
|
|
Fig. 4 |
|
Any black Pawn can move 1 or 2 squares from their initial position |
|
|
|
Fig. 5 |
|
Pawns can only capture in a diagonal way as shown in Fig. 6 & 7. When a Pawn (white or black) places itself in front of any friendly or enemy piece, it cannot move forward or capture such piece. The Pawn cannot move to the red “X” as shown in the graphics below since it is an illegal move. |
|
White Pawn moves and can capture the black Pawn |
|
|
|
Fig. 6 |
|
Black Pawn moves and can capture the white Pawn |
|
|
|
Fig. 7 |
|
When any Pawn white or black reaches an 8th rank square (white piece) or 1st rank square (black piece), it can be promoted to any desired piece of their same color other than King or Pawn (Fig. 8). This is done by removing the Pawn from the board and placing the wanted piece on the reached square. The Queen is chosen as a natural and logic move for it’s the most powerful Chess piece. |
|
White and black players can promote to any higher piece |
 |
|
Fig. 8 |
|
The Pawn can perform a special capture called “in passing” (en passant, from French). This move should be made immediately after an opponent moves a Pawn two squares forward from its starting position and an opposing Pawn can captured it as if it had only moved one square forward (Fig. 9 & 10). It must be done on the very next turn or not at all by making another move and losing the right to do so. All Pawns on their initial position and two square move option are subject to this capture. Such a move is the only occasion in Chess in which a piece captures but does not move to the square of the captured piece. |
|
Black Pawn just moved two squares to e5 enabling the white Pawn to capture it by placing itself at e6 and removing the black Pawn from the board |
|
|
|
Fig. 9 |
|
White Pawn just moved two squares to e4 enabling the black Pawn to capture it by placing itself at e3 and removing the white Pawn from the board |
|
|
|
Fig. 10 |
|
The following Applet lets you try an interactive feeling to practice the Pawn’s moves and capture. Just place the cursor over the white Pawn piece, press the left button of your mouse, and drag the Pawn to the cell you wish and release it. The computer (black pieces) will move next. This position should end in a win for the white pieces. |
