How ‘En Passant’ Unlocks the Chessboard: The Game-Changing Move Hidden in Plain Sight

In the game of chess, there are lots of moves that are used by players to win the upper hand. Discovered checks, x-rays, and pins are just some of the few moves that are used to aggressively force your opponent into giving up their pieces. 

One move that is certainly underestimated is “en passant.” A move so conniving and discreet that your opponent will never see it coming. While able to be used by any player, this is a move that really separates new players from people who have mastered the game of chess. 

Usually a pawn captures diagonally in front of it. Although this move is a little different, it is even more powerful. For en passant to occur, a couple of things must happen prior to the move:

1. Your opponent must choose to move their pawn two spaces

2. The square that their pawn lands on must be horizontally next to one of your pawns

*Note that the move must be played directly after your opponent moves their pawn up two, you cannot play the move on another turn. 

This move was created only after pawns were given the option to move two spaces on their first move. “En passant” translates in French to “in passing,” because you are literally passing their pawn.

Now you can initiate en passant. To do the move, take your pawn that is next to theirs and move it on the square above their pawn. This not only advances your pawn, but kills their pawn  in the process. Now, not only are you up a pawn from when you started, but you are also one square away from promoting your pawn. Now you know the en passant move, a detrimental move used to get the advantage in almost any position.