En Passant
The most surprising rule in chess — capturing a pawn "in passing."
Published 2026-02-01 | Last verified 2026-02-12
Professor Archer says: I cannot tell you how many times a student has looked at me in bewilderment when I demonstrate en passant for the first time. "You can do THAT?" is the most common reaction. Yes, you can — and once you understand why the rule exists, it makes perfect sense. It is one of those moments where chess reveals its elegant internal logic.
What Is En Passant?
En passant is a special pawn capture that confuses many beginners because it seems to break the normal rules of capturing. In a standard capture, you move your piece to the square occupied by the enemy piece. In en passant, you capture a pawn that is beside you, not in front of you, and your pawn moves diagonally to a square that appears to be empty.
Here is exactly how it works. When a pawn on its starting rank advances two squares in a single move, and it lands directly beside an enemy pawn (on the same rank), the enemy pawn has the option to capture it as though it had advanced only one square. The capturing pawn moves diagonally forward to the square the moving pawn "passed through," and the two-square pawn is removed from the board.
The critical detail is timing: you must execute the en passant capture on the very next move, or the right is lost permanently. You cannot wait two or three moves and then decide to take en passant. It is a "now or never" opportunity.
The name comes from French and means "in passing." The pawn is captured as it passes by. Once you see it a few times in practice, the mechanic becomes intuitive, even if the first encounter feels strange.
En Passant in Action
Look at this position. White has a pawn on d5, deep in enemy territory. Black has just played e7 to e5, advancing the pawn two squares. The black pawn has landed directly beside White's pawn on d5.
White now has the option to capture en passant. By playing dxe6 (the pawn on d5 captures on e6), White's pawn moves diagonally to e6, and Black's pawn on e5 is removed. It looks odd because White's pawn appears to land on an empty square, but this is completely legal.
Why does this rule exist? Before the fifteenth century, pawns could only advance one square at a time. When the two-square initial advance was introduced to speed up the opening, en passant was added to prevent pawns from using the double advance to "sneak past" enemy pawns. Without en passant, a pawn on the fifth rank could be bypassed by an adjacent enemy pawn, which would undermine pawn structure strategy.
The rule preserves the integrity of pawn interactions. It ensures that advancing two squares on the first move is a convenience, not an unfair advantage.
White can play dxe6 en passant, capturing the black pawn as if it had only moved one square.
When En Passant Applies
En passant has very specific conditions, and all of them must be met. Let me list them clearly.
The capturing piece must be a pawn. No other piece can perform en passant.
The captured pawn must have just moved two squares forward from its starting position. If the pawn moved one square on one turn and one square on the next, en passant does not apply. The double advance must happen in a single move.
The capturing pawn must be on the fifth rank (for White) or the fourth rank (for Black). This is the only rank where en passant is geometrically possible, since it requires the pawns to be side by side after the two-square advance.
The capture must be made immediately on the very next move. If you make any other move instead, you permanently lose the right to capture en passant on that particular pawn. There is no second chance.
En passant is optional. You are never required to capture en passant. Sometimes it is the best move, and sometimes it would be a mistake. Evaluate it like any other move — does it help your position?
En Passant in Strategy and Tactics
Beyond the mechanics, en passant has real strategic and tactical significance. In some positions, an en passant capture can completely change the character of the position by opening or closing files, altering pawn structure, or even delivering a discovered attack.
Consider a scenario where your opponent pushes a pawn two squares to try to lock down the center. By taking en passant, you can open a file for your rook or keep the center fluid. Alternatively, you might decline the en passant capture because keeping the tension in the pawn structure serves your plans better.
In rare but dramatic cases, en passant can factor into tactical combinations. For example, an en passant capture might open a diagonal, revealing a discovered check on the enemy king. There are even famous tournament games decided by an en passant capture that the losing player did not anticipate.
One practical tip: whenever your opponent pushes a pawn two squares next to one of your pawns, pause for a moment. Ask yourself whether taking en passant improves your position. Even if you decide against it, the habit of noticing the option will prevent you from missing it when it truly matters.
En passant also appears in chess compositions and puzzles, where it can be the key to an elegant solution that is invisible to anyone who has forgotten the rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is en passant in chess?
En passant is a special pawn capture that occurs when a pawn advances two squares from its starting position and lands beside an enemy pawn. The enemy pawn may capture it as if it had moved only one square, landing diagonally on the square the pawn passed through.
How do you use en passant in a game?
When your opponent pushes a pawn two squares and it lands next to one of your pawns on the fifth rank (for White) or fourth rank (for Black), you can capture en passant on your very next move only. If you make any other move first, the right to capture en passant is permanently lost.
Why is en passant important?
En passant prevents pawns from using the two-square initial advance to bypass enemy pawns entirely. Without this rule, a pawn on the fifth rank could be evaded, undermining pawn structure strategy and removing an important element of pawn play.
Professor Archer says: Remember: en passant is "use it or lose it." You get exactly one chance, on the very next move. I have seen players spot the en passant possibility two moves too late. Make it a habit to check for this option whenever an enemy pawn advances two squares past your pawn.
Quick Quiz
Black just pushed a pawn from e7 to e5, landing next to your pawn on d5. When can you capture en passant?
- Anytime within the next three moves - En passant is a "use it or lose it" move. You cannot wait multiple turns to execute it.
- On your very next move only (Correct) - Correct. You must capture en passant immediately on the next move or the right is permanently lost for that particular pawn advance.
- Only if the opponent reminds you about the rule - You do not need a reminder. En passant is a standard rule, and it is your responsibility to notice the opportunity.
- Only if the pawn on e5 is undefended - En passant does not depend on whether the pawn is defended or not. The capture follows its own special rules regardless of other piece placement.