How does a pawn move in chess?
B · Beginner · The board and the pieces · 3 of 10A pawn moves one square straight forward, and only if that square is empty. On its first move it may go two squares instead. It captures differently from how it moves: one square diagonally forward. A pawn never moves backwards, and when it reaches the far end of the board it is promoted.
How it works
- Forward one: to the square immediately in front on the same file, if it is unoccupied.
- Forward two: on its first move only, if both squares are unoccupied.
- Capturing: to a square diagonally in front on an adjacent file, if an opponent's piece stands there.
- Blocked: a pawn cannot move forward onto, or through, any piece.
- En passant: a special capture of a pawn that has advanced two squares past it.
- Promotion: on the furthest rank the pawn must be exchanged for a queen, rook, bishop or knight.
The glossary has the pawn, the capture, en passant, the promotion, the passed pawn and the pawn structure.
Tricky cases
Can a pawn move two squares if it has not moved yet but the game is 30 moves old?
Yes. The right belongs to the pawn's first move, whenever that comes.
A piece stands directly in front of a pawn. Can the pawn capture it?
No. A pawn captures only diagonally. It is blocked until the piece moves or the pawn captures something on a neighbouring file.
Can a pawn jump over a piece with its two-square move?
No. Both squares must be unoccupied.
Can a pawn capture backwards?
No. It moves and captures forwards only.
Why the rule exists
Pawns are the only pieces that cannot retreat, so every pawn move changes the position for good. That is what gives a game its shape. The two-square first move was added centuries ago to speed up the opening, and en passant came with it to stop pawns from slipping past each other.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First move of each pawn | One square or two | FIDE Laws 3.7.2 |
| Every later move | One square | FIDE Laws 3.7.1 |
| Capturing | One square diagonally forward | FIDE Laws 3.7.3 |
| On the furthest rank | Must be promoted | FIDE Laws 3.7.3.3 |
From the rule book
FIDE, Laws of Chess (approved 7 August 2022, applied from 1 January 2023), Article 3.7. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: FIDE Laws of Chess taking effect from 1 January 2023 (FIDE Handbook E.01).