“Im Vorbeigehen,” “de paso,” “di passaggio” are words in different languages that mean “in passing.” In chess, we use the French term “en passant.” If there is one rule you will need to teach your opponent, it's this. Many chess players have experienced this, especially when playing against a newer player who may be surprised when it is played. “Is that allowed?” they might ask, and at that moment, you can show them this blog post and teach them!

Chess Rules In Passing

Chess players navigate a game filled with rules; these rules shape the game of chess. One of the more unique rules in chess is en passant. It’s a strange move, so don’t worry if you don’t fully understand it yet. It is the only rule in chess that you may need to Google to prove to your opponent that it exists: it’s en passant. “In passing” is what it translates to. And far too many players have overlooked learning this rule. So what does it mean, why does it exist, and how can you use it in your games?

Start With Chess Pawns

In order to understand en passant, make sure you understand how the pawns work. Pawns move forward, but capture one square diagonally. 

What is En Passant?

En passant is a move possible when a pawn moves two spaces off of its starting square, and there is a pawn on an adjacent file that could have captured that pawn had it only moved one square. Look at the position below.

In this position, the black pawn has just moved forward two squares to e5 because the white pawn could have captured while the pawn was “passing” by on e6 on its way to e5. 

The Chess Rules that Stop You From En Passant

You can only play en passant on the turn your opponent pushes their pawn. So if you delay a move, and play something else, that pawn has already passed by, and you can no longer play en passant. However, this doesn't mean you should always play it, nor that you are forced to do so. You have the choice to play the special move if you decide it is best for your position. If it were required, it might put you in a type of Zugzwang. This is a situation found in chess where a player has the compulsion to move, but any move they make will worsen their position.

A Common Misunderstanding

If you are trying to play en passant, make sure that your pawn is on the correct square. One common mistake is thinking that the pawn in the position below could play en passant if the black e pawn were to push forward, but it cannot. The pawn would not be in place to capture the pawn if it had moves only one square, so it's not allowed.

How to Notate En Passant

If you are playing an OTB game and you need to notate an en passant capture, then you don’t have anything new to learn. You simply notate the move like any other pawn capture. The last example would have been notated as fxe6.

When En Passant was Added to Chess and Why

Understanding en passant requires looking back at the reasons it was added to the game. When chess was first played, the pawns could not move forward two squares. Once they introduced that rule between the 13th and 16th centuries, which helped speed up the game, players realized there was an issue. The pawn could move past a pawn that normally would have been able to capture it! En passant became widely agreed upon in the 1800s, but examples can be seen in books by Ruy López in the 16th century.

En Passant Puzzles

This special move can sometimes be a tricky answer in a chess puzzle, because you don’t know what the last move was. But it can lead to some fun positions. Here are a few fun positions.

There are two answers here, but one is more fun! White to play.

White to play. Can black stop you "in passing?"

White to play. Can black stop this mate with en passant?

Is En Passant Mandatory?

In modern chess, the joke is often that en passant must be played if given the opportunity. In my experience, it does seem more difficult for opponents to not play this fun move when given the opportunity, even if it is a mistake. If you have the chance to play en passant, make sure you are scanning all the moves and not just playing one because you can!

Other Special Chess Moves to Learn

If you are still learning en passant, then there may be some more special moves to learn. Castling is an important move to learn, as well as pawn promotion. Learning all of these special moves is an important part of getting better at chess.

Castling Chess Rules

Castling is another very important rule in chess to understand if you want to get better. Learning everything about castling will help you improve. The quick explanation of castling in chess is that you move your king over two spaces and put the rook on the other side. Make sure you are not moving your king through or into check, and that there are no other pieces in the way. Getting your king to safety is an important part of your chess game.

Pawn Promotion

Pawn promotion is a vital special move to learn in chess. When a pawn gets to the end of the chessboard, you get to “promote” or transform that pawn into a new piece. Usually, the player chooses a queen, but you can pick between a queen, rook, knight, or bishop. Especially in an endgame, pawn promotion is a very important rule to understand.

Do You Have to Learn All the Special Moves?

Yes, learning special moves in chess, like castling, en passant, and pawn promotion, is important for playing confidently. Knowledge of these moves will give you an advantage if your opponent doesn’t know them. Understanding when and how to use them can significantly impact beginner games and is essential for improving your play and competing against better opponents.

Now Go Win!

Learning all the special moves in chess is an important step in your chess education, so congratulations! You are now one step closer to mastering this complex game. Beginners can make many mistakes, and misplaying en passant is another. If anyone doesn’t believe you, show them this article, and they will allow you to play it. Now, good luck winning your game!