The Pawn

    The pawn is usually viewed by onlookers as the most useless piece in chess. However, upon further inspection, you may find that the pawn can be used as a very active piece. But first, the basics of the Pawn.

    1. Movements

    The pawn can only move one square at a time. See the image below:

    There is another rule, though. If it is the first move the pawn takes, he can move two squares straight ahead in one turn. The pawn can only move forward.

    2. Capturing

    The pawn captures one square to its right or left diagonally. See the image below:

    The black pawn has the other two pawns in what is called a "fork". He could capture either the white pawn on the right side of the white pawn on the left.

  

    3. En Passant (On-pa-saunt)

            There is a rule in chess called En Passant, where a pawn can capture another pawn that has moved two spaces in its first turn as if the pawn had only moved one space. See the image below:

             4. Promotion

             If a pawn reaches the other side of the board, then that pawn will be promoted to a queen. This can happen at any stage in the game, but it is easier to move a pawn down the board when there are fewer pieces at its destination, and waiting to capture the aforementioned pawn. 

   Now you know all about the pawn and how to use it in Chess!