Openings › Chess wiki › Pawn
Pawn
A pawn moves straight forward to the empty square in front of it, or on its first move two squares if both are empty, and it captures by moving one square diagonally forward.[1][2]
Page updated: 31 Oct 2026.
Explanation
It never moves backwards, never captures straight ahead and never jumps over a piece in its way.[1][2] As with every piece, it cannot move to a square occupied by one of its own pieces, and a pawn move that would put or leave its own king in check is not allowed.[1][2] En passant: if an enemy pawn's two-square first move leaves it level with a pawn on a neighbouring file, that pawn may capture it on the very next move, and only then, by stepping diagonally onto the square the enemy pawn crossed, the capture counting as though the enemy pawn had gone a single square.[1][2] A pawn that reaches the rank farthest from where it started must be exchanged, as part of that same move, for a queen, rook, bishop or knight of its own colour, chosen freely and not limited to pieces captured earlier, and the new piece takes effect immediately.[1][2]
Examples
A white pawn on d2 that has not moved yet may advance two squares to d4 only when d3 and d4 are both empty, and a white pawn on d4 captures a black pawn on e5 by moving diagonally forward onto e5.[1][2]
Related distinctions
Unlike a knight, a pawn cannot pass a piece standing in its way.[1][2]
Next steps
- Black's replies to 1.e4 ranked at 1500–1799 (Rankings by Lichess rating level)
- How the wiki texts and numbers are made (Method)
- Chess wiki index (Chess wiki)
Sources
- FIDE: Laws of Chess (effective from 1 January 2023), retrieved 25 Oct 2026. Licence: © FIDE; cited and paraphrased. Our use: Facts only, in our own words; no text copied.
- Wikipedia: Rules of chess, retrieved 30 Oct 2026. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0. Our use: Facts only, in our own words; no text copied.
Our sentences are our own wording. How the texts and numbers are made: Method.