Passed pawn in chess: what it is and how to push it
A passed pawn has no enemy pawns in front of it or on the files next to it. Only pieces can stop it from reaching the last rank and becoming a queen.
In the endgame a passed pawn is often worth more than a piece: the opponent has to keep a defender in front of it for good.
The rule of the square
Can the king catch a passed pawn? Picture a square from the pawn to the promotion rank: here it is b5–e5–e8–b8. If the king can step into the square on its move, it catches the pawn; if not, the pawn queens.
The breakthrough
Three pawns against three can create a passed pawn by force. The middle pawn goes first, and whatever Black takes, another pawn walks through.
Exercise: catch the pawn
Black to move. Stop the white pawn with the king.
Make the move on the board: drag a piece, or click it and then a square.
Solved!
Kd5! steps into the square a5–d5–d8–a8. After a6 Kc6 and a7 Kb7 the king reaches the pawn in time. Every other first move is too slow, and the pawn queens.
Key points
- A passed pawn has no enemy pawns in front of it or on the next files.
- The rule of the square: if the king can step into the pawn’s square, it catches the pawn.
- Passed pawns must be pushed: the further they go, the more they cost the opponent.