En Passant Chess Rule

En passant is a special pawn capture available immediately after an adjacent enemy pawn advances two squares from its starting rank. The capturing pawn moves diagonally to the square the enemy pawn passed over.

En passant is French for in passing. The name describes capturing the pawn as though it had advanced only one square.

A pawn on its fifth rank may capture an adjacent enemy pawn that has just moved two squares. The capturing pawn moves diagonally one square and the enemy pawn is removed from the square beside it.

Yes. It is an official pawn rule, not an optional convention or online-only feature.

No. The player may choose another legal move, but the en passant opportunity then disappears.

It prevents a pawn from using its initial two-square move to bypass an enemy pawn's normal one-square capture opportunity.

Only pawns can capture en passant.

Yes. White captures onto its sixth rank and Black captures onto its third rank.

A white pawn on its fifth rank may capture an adjacent black pawn immediately after that pawn moves two squares from rank seven to rank five.

A black pawn on its fourth rank may capture an adjacent white pawn immediately after that pawn moves two squares from rank two to rank four.

It lands on the empty square the two-step pawn passed over, one rank forward and one file diagonally from the capturing pawn.

The pawn that just advanced two squares is removed from its destination square beside the capturing pawn.

The rule treats the two-square advance as though the pawn had stopped on the passed-over square, allowing the adjacent pawn to capture it there.

No. White's capturing pawn must be on rank five, while Black's capturing pawn must be on rank four.

Yes. They must occupy adjacent files on the same rank after the two-square pawn move.

No. A pawn always captures only one file diagonally.

Only for the move immediately following the enemy pawn's two-square advance.

No. If either player makes another move, that particular en passant right is lost.

No. En passant requires the adjacent pawn to have just made its initial two-square move. A normal diagonal capture may still be possible if the pawn occupies the destination square.

No. The opportunity is never restored unless a different pawn later creates a new en passant opportunity.

Yes. If the two-step pawn lands between two eligible enemy pawns, either one may capture it en passant on the next move.

No. The captured pawn must have arrived beside the capturing pawn by moving two squares on the immediately preceding move.

Yes. It is a choice, although playing another move permanently gives up that opportunity.

Not when the captured piece occupies the destination square. That is an ordinary pawn capture.

Yes, if the capture removes the check and leaves your king safe.

Yes, because two pawns leave their original squares during the capture. If that opens an attack on your king, the move is illegal.

Only if the resulting position leaves its king safe. A pawn absolutely pinned on a file or diagonal often cannot make the capture.

It can resolve check by removing the checking pawn or by placing the capturing pawn on a line, provided the final king position is safe.

Yes. The capturing pawn may check directly or the removal of the captured pawn may uncover a rook, bishop or queen attack.

Yes. Removing the adjacent pawn can open a rank or diagonal that checks the enemy king.

Yes. Although rare, a legal en passant capture can open a checking line and leave the enemy king with no defence.

A pawn may move onto an attacked square. It becomes illegal only when the move leaves its own king in check.

Yes. If an en passant capture is legally available, the player has a legal move and the position is not stalemate.

Yes. It is a pawn move and a capture, so the half-move count resets.

It is written like a normal pawn capture, such as exd6 or dxe3. The optional e.p. suffix may be added but is not required.

No announcement is required under standard chess rules. You simply make the legal capture.

The opportunity may have expired, the pawn may not be adjacent, the previous move may have been one square, or the capture may expose your king.

Yes. Legal move generators track the passed-over square for the single reply on which en passant is available.

Check that the enemy pawn just moved two squares, landed beside your pawn, your pawn is on its fifth rank, and the capture leaves your king safe.

Compare nearly identical positions where the previous move, pin or check changes the answer, then calculate the full board after both pawns leave their squares.