| The pawn on c2 may move forward one square or two squares on its first move. | In diagram 2 it has moved forward to c3 |
 Diagram 1 |
 Diagram 2 |
| so the black pawn on b4 is able to capture it in diagram 3. We write this move bxc3. | In diagram 4 the white pawn has moved forward two squares to c4. We write c4 |
 Diagram 3 |
 Diagram 4 |
| The en passant rule says that the black pawn may capture the white pawn as if the white pawn had moved forward only one square to c3. This means that the black pawn captures the white pawn "en passant" which is French for "on passing". Its move is shown by the blue arrow. The black pawn ends up on c3. We write this as bxc3 | |
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Diagram 5 |
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If a player wishes to capture a pawn en passant they must do that on their next move. If they make a different move they are not allowed to capture that pawn en passant. Remember that a player may capture en passant only when an opponent's pawn moves forward two squares on its first move and comes level with his pawn. |
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