How the pawn moves
Updated
A pawn moves one square straight forward. On its very first move it may go two squares instead. It captures one square diagonally forward, never straight ahead, and it never moves backward. A pawn that reaches the far side of the board is promoted to a queen, rook, bishop or knight.
How the pawn moves
Tap the pawn on e2: it can step one or two squares, or capture diagonally. The pawn on c4 is stuck, and the pawn on g7 is one step from promotion.
A pawn moves one square straight forward. From its starting square (the 2nd rank for White, the 7th for Black) it may move two squares instead, as long as both squares in front of it are empty. After that first move it goes one square at a time. A pawn never moves backward or sideways, and it can't jump: any piece directly in front of it, friend or enemy, stops it.
How the pawn captures
The pawn is the only piece that captures differently from how it moves. It takes an enemy piece one square diagonally forward, to the left or the right. It can't capture straight ahead and it can't capture backward. That is why two pawns that meet head-on simply block each other, like the pawns on c4 and c5 on the board above.
Special rules for the pawn
Promotion
When a pawn reaches the far side of the board (the 8th rank for White, the 1st for Black) it is promoted as part of the same move: you swap it for a queen, rook, bishop or knight of your own colour. It can't stay a pawn and it can't become a king. You may pick a queen even if your first queen is still on the board. Most players choose a queen, the strongest piece; once in a while a knight is better, for example when a knight would give check or a new queen would leave the opponent stalemated. On the practice board, the pawn on g7 promotes to a queen automatically.
En passant
If a pawn uses its two-square first move to land right beside an enemy pawn that has reached its own 5th rank, the enemy pawn may capture it as if it had moved only one square, but only on the very next move. It is the rule beginners most often haven't heard of, so it has its own lesson.
Common beginner mistakes
- Pushing the pawns in front of your king. Moving the f- and g-pawns early opens a road straight to your king. The quickest checkmate in chess, Fool's Mate, happens after White plays f3 and g4.
- Moving only pawns in the opening. One or two pawn moves to free your bishops is plenty; after that, bring out your knights and bishops.
- Forgetting pawns can't come back. Every pawn move leaves squares behind that the pawn can never guard again, so push with a purpose.
The bot who loves pawns
Rosa the Gambiteer plays with one motto: “Pawns are for throwing at kings.” She happily gives pawns away to rip open your position and storms your king with the rest. Her opening line says it all: “Let us make this bloody. Pawns forward!” Keep your king safe, take what she offers carefully, and her attack runs out of steam.
What the pawn is worth
A pawn is usually counted as worth about 1 pawn. These numbers are a rough guide for judging trades, not a rule: a piece's real value depends on the position.
The usual scale: pawn 1 · knight 3 · bishop 3 · rook 5 · queen 9. When it misleads:chess piece values.
Questions people ask
- Can a pawn move backwards?
- No. A pawn only ever moves forward, toward the opponent’s side of the board.
- Can a pawn move two squares after its first move?
- No. The two-square step is only allowed from the pawn’s starting square (the 2nd rank for White, the 7th for Black), and only if both squares in front of it are empty.
- Can a pawn capture straight ahead?
- No. A pawn captures only one square diagonally forward. A piece directly in front of it, yours or your opponent’s, simply blocks it.
- What can a pawn be promoted to?
- A queen, rook, bishop or knight of its own colour, your choice. It can’t stay a pawn or become a king, and you may promote to a queen even if your first queen is still on the board.