En passant is a special capture reserved for pawns. When an enemy pawn advances two squares in one move and lands right next to one of your pawns, you can capture it as if it had only moved one square, but only on the very next move. Once that window closes, the right is gone for good.

How it works

Three conditions must all be true:

  • The enemy pawn must advance two squares in a single move (from its starting square).
  • It must land right next to one of your pawns, on the same rank.
  • You must capture en passant immediately, on the very next move; otherwise the right is lost for the rest of the game.
After 2...d5, the black pawn lands right next to the white pawn on e5. On 3.exd6, White captures as if the black pawn had stopped on d6: that's en passant.

The white pawn on e5 captures the black pawn that just jumped from d7 to d5, and lands on d6, exactly as if it had captured a pawn sitting there normally. The black pawn disappears from the board, even though it never actually occupied d6.

Why this rule exists

En passant was introduced once the pawn’s initial two-square move became standard, back in the 15th century. Without it, a pawn could “jump” straight past an enemy pawn’s zone of control without ever risking capture. That would be a loophole the rules were never meant to grant. En passant restores the balance: a pawn that advances two squares stays just as exposed as if it had only moved one.

A classic beginner trap: forgetting this right and letting the enemy pawn slip by, or conversely thinking en passant is still available several moves after the double step. Both mistakes get punished in real games.

How to use it in your games

After every enemy double pawn step next to one of yours, check systematically whether en passant is available to you. It’s a habit worth building early: plenty of players discover the rule late and miss it for years. Conversely, if you’re about to push a pawn two squares past an enemy pawn, remember you’re exposing it to this exact capture on the next move; sometimes a single-square advance is the safer choice.

Frequently asked questions

Is en passant mandatory?

No. It’s a right, not an obligation. You’re free to skip the en passant capture and play something else instead, but then that right disappears permanently for that particular pawn.

Can you capture en passant several moves after the double step?

No, never. The right only exists on the very first move following the enemy’s double step. If you play anything else in between, even a move that has nothing to do with that pawn, the window closes for good.

Can any piece make an en passant capture?

No, only a pawn can. Only a pawn can capture en passant, and it can only capture another pawn this way. No other piece is involved in this rule.