En Passant Explained!

"En passant" is a special chess move that can only be made under specific circumstances in which a pawn can capture the opponent's pawn as if it had moved only one square forward, rather than two.

The en passant rule applies when an opponent's pawn advances two squares from its initial starting position to a square directly next to your pawn that is on its fifth rank. In response, you have the option to capture the opponent's pawn "en passant" by moving your adjacent pawn diagonally to the square where the opponent's pawn would have landed if it had only moved one square forward.

It is important to note that en passant must be played immediately after the opponent's pawn completes a two-square move. If you don't capture en passant on your next move, the opportunity is lost.

The purpose of this rule is to prevent pawns from gaining an advantage by bypassing the opponent's pawn entirely. It adds complexity and strategic considerations to the game because it introduces tactical opportunities to eliminate an opponent's pawn while also altering the pawn structure on the board.

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