♟️ Chess for Kids · Lesson 4 of 8
The pawn
Double step, diagonal capture, promotion and en passant.
Moving
A pawn moves straight forward one square. On its very first move it may move two squares. Pawns never move backward.
Capturing
Pawns capture differently than they move: one square diagonally forward. A pawn blocked by a piece straight in front of it can’t move.
Promotion
When a pawn reaches the last rank (the other side), it turns into a queen, rook, bishop or knight — almost always a queen. That’s why pawns that run are dangerous!
En passant
A special rule: if an enemy pawn moves two squares and lands right next to your pawn, your pawn can capture it as if it had moved only one square — but only on the very next move.
Mini-game: pawn wars
- Each side has only its 8 pawns
- The first to get a pawn to the other side wins
- Or the winner is whoever captures all the enemy pawns
✏️ Practice: your turn
- Play pawn wars 3 times
- Show a parent how a pawn captures
- Promote a pawn to a queen
- Set up an en passant position and try it
🧠 Quick quiz
Answer all 4 questions correctly to mark this lesson as done.
0 of 4 correct
All lessons in Chess for Kids
- 🏁 1. The board and the setupFiles, ranks, and where each piece stands
- 🏰 2. The rook and the bishopStraight lines and diagonals
- 👑 3. The queen, the king and the knightThe strongest piece, the most important piece and the piece that jumps
- ♙ 4. The pawnDouble step, diagonal capture, promotion and en passant
- 🏆 5. Check, checkmate and stalemateHow you win, and when it’s a draw
- 🏯 6. CastlingThe move that hides the king
- 🚀 7. The opening and trapsCenter, development, a safe king, and avoiding Scholar’s Mate
- ⚔️ 8. Tactics: forks and pinsPiece values, forks, pins, and how to keep improving