How the pawn moves
Pawns march forward, capture diagonally, and can become queens.
The idea
A pawn moves forward, captures diagonally, and can become a queen.
- The pawn moves straight forward: one square, or two on its first move.
- It captures one square diagonally forward, never straight ahead.
- If it reaches the far end, it is promoted, nearly always to a queen.
In a game: Watch every pawn that gets close to the far end: it can become a queen.
The lesson
The pawn is the one piece that moves differently from how it captures. It moves straight forward one square, or two squares on its first move. It never moves backwards.
Find the move
A pawn captures one square diagonally forward. Take the pawn on d5.
A hint
Capture diagonally, forward and to the left.
Show the answer
1. exd5
The pawn on e4 captured diagonally to d5. It moves straight ahead but captures diagonally forward.
A question
Can the white pawn on e4 take the black pawn on e5?
Show the answer
No, the two pawns block each other.
Right. Neither pawn can move forward, and neither can capture straight ahead.
A pawn that reaches the far end of the board is promoted: it is replaced by a queen, rook, bishop or knight of its own colour. Nearly always you choose a queen, the strongest piece.
- 1. a8=Q The pawn reaches a8 and becomes a queen.
Find the move
Promote the pawn: move it to a8.
A hint
Move the pawn one square forward.
Show the answer
1. a8=Q
The pawn became a queen. Players choose a queen almost every time, because she is worth the most.