pawn
Quick Summary
In chess, pawns are unique pieces, with each player starting with eight. Pawns move forward one square at a time, but capture diagonally forward. An unmoved pawn has the option to move two squares forward on its first move. A special capture called "en passant" allows a pawn to capture an opponent's pawn that has just advanced two squares, as if it had only moved one square. If a pawn reaches the opposite end of the board, it must be promoted to another piece (queen, rook, bishop, or knight). Pawns are considered the "life of the game" as they form the basis for attacks and their structure influences strategy.123
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
chessPawnsEach player has eight pawns, which begin the game on the second rank closest to each player; i.e., Whiteās pawns start at a2, b2, c2, and so on, while Blackās pawns start at a7, b7, c7, and so on. The pawns are unique inā¦
Read MoreEach player has eight pawns, which begin the game on the second rank closest to each player; i.e., Whiteās pawns start at a2, b2, c2, and so on, while Blackās pawns start at a7, b7, c7, and so on. The pawns are unique inā¦
Read More- chessStandardization of rules
By 1300, for example, the pawn had acquired the ability to move two squares on its first turn, rather than only one at a time as it did in shatranj. But this rule did not win general acceptance throughout Europe for more than 300 years.
Read MoreBy 1300, for example, the pawn had acquired the ability to move two squares on its first turn, rather than only one at a time as it did in shatranj. But this rule did not win general acceptance throughout Europe for more than 300 years.
Read More
- chessHypermodernism
ā¦invited their opponents to advance pawns in the centre and in some cases tried to provoke them. For example, Alexander Alekhine, a future world champion who explored Hypermodern ideas in the 1920s, developed an opening that consisted of meeting 1 e4 with 1ā¦Nf6 in order to tempt White to advanceā¦
Read Moreā¦invited their opponents to advance pawns in the centre and in some cases tried to provoke them. For example, Alexander Alekhine, a future world champion who explored Hypermodern ideas in the 1920s, developed an opening that consisted of meeting 1 e4 with 1ā¦Nf6 in order to tempt White to advanceā¦
Read More - chessPhilidor and the birth of chess theory
ā¦that the significance of the pawns had been overlooked and drew particular attention to their weaknesses and strengths. His most famous commentāthat āpawns are the very life of the gameāāis often cited without his explanation of why they are important: because, he said, pawns alone form the basis for attack.
Read Moreā¦that the significance of the pawns had been overlooked and drew particular attention to their weaknesses and strengths. His most famous commentāthat āpawns are the very life of the gameāāis often cited without his explanation of why they are important: because, he said, pawns alone form the basis for attack.
Read More - chessSteinitz and the theory of equilibrium
ā¦advantages, such as a superior pawn structure, could be nurtured into the endgame, Steinitz said. Structural weaknesses generally involve pawns that are difficult to defend or squares (especially in the centre or around the king) that enemy pieces can occupy without being dislodged by pawn attacks. The following common pawnā¦
Read Moreā¦advantages, such as a superior pawn structure, could be nurtured into the endgame, Steinitz said. Structural weaknesses generally involve pawns that are difficult to defend or squares (especially in the centre or around the king) that enemy pieces can occupy without being dislodged by pawn attacks. The following common pawnā¦
Read More