Capture
Removing an opponent's piece from the board by moving to its square.
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: Capturing is one of the first things a new player wants to do. I understand the impulse — it feels productive to remove an enemy piece. But I learned an important lesson early in my chess journey: just because you can capture does not mean you should. Every capture changes the position, and not always in your favor.
How Capturing Works
Capturing in chess is straightforward: you move one of your pieces to a square occupied by an enemy piece, and the enemy piece is permanently removed from the board. Your piece takes its place on that square. The captured piece does not return to the game (unlike some other board games).
Most pieces capture in exactly the same way they move. A bishop that moves diagonally also captures diagonally. A rook that moves along ranks and files also captures along ranks and files. The queen captures on any straight line or diagonal, and the knight captures on its L-shaped destinations.
The pawn, however, is the exception. Pawns move forward (one or two squares from their starting position, one square after that) but capture diagonally forward. This means a pawn can be "blocked" by a piece directly in front of it — it cannot move forward or capture that piece. But if an enemy piece sits diagonally ahead, the pawn can take it.
The king can also capture, but only on adjacent squares and only if the captured piece is not defended by another enemy piece (since the king cannot move into check). Capturing with the king is relatively common in endgames when many pieces have been traded.
Material Value and Trading
Every piece has an approximate material value, and understanding these values is essential for deciding when to capture. The standard values are: pawn = 1, knight = 3, bishop = 3, rook = 5, and queen = 9. The king has no material value because it cannot be captured.
When you capture an enemy piece and your opponent recaptures yours, this is called a trade or exchange. If you trade pieces of equal value (a knight for a knight, for example), the exchange is "even" and neither side gains material. If you capture a piece worth more than the piece you lose in return, you have "won material."
The term "exchange" has a special meaning when referring to rooks and minor pieces. If you trade a rook for a bishop or knight, you have "lost the exchange" (since a rook is worth more). Winning a rook in return for a minor piece means you have "won the exchange."
Capturing is not always about material, though. Sometimes you trade pieces to simplify the position when you are already ahead, making it easier to convert your advantage. Other times, you might avoid captures to maintain tension and complexity on the board. The decision to capture or not is one of the most important judgments in chess.
Special Captures in Chess
Beyond the standard capture, chess has two special capture rules that every player must know: en passant and pawn promotion with capture.
En passant, which we cover in its own lesson, is a special pawn capture that occurs when an enemy pawn advances two squares and lands beside your pawn. You can capture it as if it moved only one square. This is the only capture in chess where the capturing piece does not land on the square of the captured piece.
Pawn promotion with capture is less unusual but worth noting. When a pawn captures diagonally onto the eighth rank, it promotes immediately. So a single move can both capture an enemy piece and promote the pawn to a queen (or another piece). This is a powerful combination that comes up frequently in endgames.
There is no capturing in castling — both the king and rook simply move to new squares, and the squares between them must be empty. Also, you can never capture your own pieces. If one of your pieces occupies a square, you cannot move another piece there.
Finally, remember that captures are often written with an "x" in algebraic notation. For example, Bxf7 means a bishop captures on f7, and exd5 means a pawn on the e-file captures on d5.
When to Capture and When to Wait
One of the most common beginner habits is capturing everything in sight. If an enemy piece is within reach, the instinct is to take it. But thoughtful players know that sometimes leaving the tension on the board is more powerful than resolving it with a capture.
Consider this principle: capturing often helps your opponent by showing them where to recapture. If you take a knight on c6 with your bishop, your opponent immediately knows to recapture on c6. But if you leave the bishop aiming at c6, your opponent must constantly account for the threat. The tension keeps them guessing.
Another consideration is pawn structure. Every pawn capture changes the pawn structure, and these changes are permanent. Capturing toward the center can strengthen your position, while capturing away from the center can create weaknesses. Before taking with a pawn, visualise the resulting structure.
There are times when capturing is clearly correct: when you win material for free, when you remove a dangerous piece from the board, or when a trade simplifies a position where you already have an advantage. The skill lies in distinguishing these situations from ones where restraint is the better choice.
A wise professor once told me, "A good chess player knows when to take. A great chess player knows when not to." I have found this to be one of the truest things ever said about the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a capture in chess?
A capture occurs when a piece moves to a square occupied by an enemy piece, removing it permanently from the board. Most pieces capture the same way they move, except pawns, which move forward but capture diagonally.
How do you decide when to capture in a game?
Before capturing, ask three questions: Am I winning material? Am I improving my position? What does the board look like after the exchange? If the capture gains material or strengthens your position, take it. If it relieves tension or helps your opponent, consider waiting.
Why is understanding captures important?
Captures are irreversible and change the material balance and pawn structure permanently. Knowing when to capture and when to maintain tension is a fundamental skill that separates thoughtful players from those who grab everything in sight.
Professor Archer says: The habit I encourage is to ask three questions before every capture: "Am I winning material? Am I improving my position? And what does the board look like after the exchange?" If you can answer those questions honestly, you will make far better decisions about when to take and when to hold back.
Quick Quiz
How does a pawn capture differently from how it moves?
- A pawn moves forward but captures diagonally (Correct) - Correct. Pawns are the only pieces in chess that capture differently than they move. They advance straight forward but capture on the diagonal.
- A pawn captures by jumping over enemy pieces - Only knights can jump over pieces. Pawns capture by moving one square diagonally forward to the square occupied by the enemy piece.
- A pawn can capture in any direction - Pawns can only capture diagonally forward (one square). They cannot capture backward, sideways, or straight ahead.
- A pawn captures the same way it moves — straight forward - This is a common misconception. Pawns move straight forward but capture diagonally. A pawn cannot capture a piece directly in front of it.