Apr 17, 2025

What is En Passant in Chess: The Sneaky Move Every Player Should Know

by Nikola Nestorovic

If chess had secret menu items like a trendy café, en passant would definitely be one of them. It's the move that sneaks under the radar, surprises your opponent, and makes you feel like a grandmaster—even if you're just trying to avoid another blunder. But what exactly is en passant in chess, and how does it fit into your chess game arsenal? Let’s unravel this mysterious maneuver.

En Passant: The Basics

Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/En_passant

En passant (French for “in passing”) is a special pawn capture move in chess. It allows a pawn to capture an opposing pawn that has just moved two squares forward from its starting position, as if it had only moved one square.

Let’s say you’re playing a chess game and your opponent suddenly advances a pawn two squares forward from its original position. If this pawn lands right next to your pawn, you can capture it en passant—but only on the very next move. If you don't act immediately, the opportunity disappears forever. This makes it the most fleeting move in all of chess!

Why Does En Passant Exist?

Image source: https://www.chess.com/blog/PeaPer27/what-is-en-passant

Long ago in chess history (we're talking medieval times), pawns could only move one square forward. Then someone decided that was too slow (probably a kid with no patience), and the two-square first move rule was born.

But this created a problem. Without en passant, pawns could dodge being captured by leaping forward two spaces. That’s like cheating death in an action movie by jumping out of a car at the last second—cool, but unfair. So, to restore balance to the force (cue Star Wars music), en passant was introduced as a way to preserve pawn tension and fairness in the chess game.

When Can You Use En Passant?

Let’s break it down:

It can only occur when a pawn moves two squares forward from its starting position (on the second rank).
The opposing pawn must be on a square adjacent (horizontally) to the pawn that just moved.
En passant must be executed on the very next move.

If you wait even one turn longer, sorry—too late! The opportunity vanishes like a sock in a washing machine.

Visual Example of En Passant in Chess

Let’s say white has a pawn on e5, and black just moved a pawn from d7 to d5. On your turn as white, you can capture that d5 pawn en passant by moving your pawn from e5 to d6. It’s as if the black pawn only moved to d6 instead of d5.

Here’s an interactive chess board so you can try it out:

(Thanks, lichess.org, for making chess education so slick!)

Chess Strategy Tips with En Passant

You might wonder: Is en passant actually useful, or is it just a quirky rule? Well, like any good plot twist, it can change the story of your chess game in surprising ways:

1. Tactical Opportunities

Sometimes en passant can open up a file, clear the way for an attack, or mess up your opponent’s pawn structure. Sneaky but effective!

2. Psychological Advantage

Most beginners don’t know the rule. Using it in a game might make them look at you like you’re Neo in The Matrix—“You can DO that?” Yes, yes you can.

3. Don’t Overuse It

Not every en passant opportunity is worth taking. Sometimes, it weakens your own position. Like choosing the red pill in The Matrix—know what you’re getting into.

Famous Chess Games Featuring En Passant

While en passant is rare at the grandmaster level, it has shown up in competitive chess games that made history. Even legends like Magnus Carlsen and Gukesh Chess have had games where this move popped up unexpectedly. In most cases, it served to create imbalance, change tempo, or open lines.

Chess Courses That Teach En Passant

If you’re just learning the ropes or looking to level up your game, chess courses on platforms like Chessdistrict or Lichess can teach you all the sneaky tricks—including en passant.

Look for chess lessons that specifically include beginner tactics, because mastering all these cool rules is part of building a solid foundation.

Common Mistakes with En Passant

Trying to play it after more than one move—it’s only legal immediately after the opposing pawn jumps two squares.
Trying to use en passant when your pawn is not next to the opponent’s.
Forgetting about it and missing a crucial opportunity.

Final Thoughts

Chess is full of surprises, and en passant is like the Easter egg of the chess world—a hidden rule that pops up when you least expect it. It’s a testament to how deeply nuanced and exciting this ancient game can be.

Whether you’re just starting your chess education or refining your technique with advanced chess courses, don’t overlook this move. Next time someone tries to sneak a pawn past your defenses, hit them with a stealthy en passant and whisper, “I learned this at Chessdistrict.”

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