En passant (French: [ɑ̃ paˈsɑ̃], lit. The en passant capture must be made on the very next turn or the right to do so is lost. En passant capture is a common theme in chess compositions. The en passant capture rule was added in the 15th century when the rule that gave pawns an initial double-step move was introduced.
When can you not en passant?
En passant is an exception to this rule. It can only occur immediately after a pawn moves two squares from its starting square, and it could have been captured by an enemy pawn had it advanced only one square. In this case, the opponent is allowed to capture the pawn “as it passes” through the first square.
Has en passant always been a rule?
In most places the en passant rule was adopted as soon as the rule allowing the pawn to move two squares on its first move, but it was not universally accepted until the Italian rules were changed in 1880 (Hooper & Whyld 1992:124–25).
Is en passant legal in standard chess?
As per the standard chess rules, en passant is completely legal in chess. There is a clear description about en passant in the FIDE Laws of Chess (FIDE is the international governing body of chess) article 3.7. 4.1 and 3.7.
Is the en passant move legal in chess?
There are a few requirements for the move to be legal: The capturing pawn must have advanced exactly three ranks to perform this move. The captured pawn must have moved two squares in one move, landing right next to the capturing pawn. The en passant capture must be performed on the turn immediately after the pawn being captured moves.
When was the en passant capture rule introduced?
The en passant capture rule was added in the 15th century when the rule that gave pawns an initial double-step move was introduced. It prevents a pawn from using the two-square advance to pass an adjacent enemy pawn without the risk of being captured.
When does a white pawn capture an en passant?
If it moves to f6 (marked by ×), the white pawn can capture it. Black moved his pawn forward two squares in a single move from f7 to f5, “passing” f6. White captures the pawn en passant, as if it had moved only one square to f6. En passant is a unique privilege of pawns—other pieces cannot capture en passant.
Where does en passant capture place black in Checkmate?
The en passant capture and discovered checks place Black in checkmate (from White’s rook on h1, even without help from White’s bishop; an en passant capture is the only way a double check can be delivered without one of the checking pieces moving, as in this position).
