How pawns move and capture
Thursday, 13. August 2009
The rooks starts on the corner squares, the Knights’ are located next to the rooks, the bishops are then located next to the Knights. The Queen starts on the square of her own color while the Knights take the remaining squares-White King on dark squares and the Black King on light. It is important to remember that each side’s eight pawns are located on the row of squares in front of their pieces.
How pawns move and capture.
Pawns are the smallest chessmen. Though they are valued by veterans in the game the beginners usually despise them. The white pawns usually start the game on the second rank and move forward whereas the Black pawns start the game in the opposite side and move towards the white pawns.
Because pawns of the same color are similar in their appearance we differentiate them by using the name of the piece that it was positioned in front of in the starting position: The pawns are: The Queens and the King’s Rook pawn, The Queens and the King’s Knight pawn, the Queen’s and the King’s Bishop pawn and finally the King’s and the King’s pawn.
Have you ever known that the pawn is the only chessman that cannot move backwards? It can also not jump over other men. The pawn only makes forward movements, moving one square at a time along the file on which it stands. Every pawn is given a chance to decide whether it can move one or two squares forward at making its first move only.
Although the pawn moves straight ahead it captures in a different way. To be exact, it captures one square diagonally forward. It is not allowed to capture backwards. Here are a few rules concerning the pawn game:
-Choosing colors: One of the players will hide the black pawn in one fist and the white pawn in the other. Thereafter he holds both fists in front of him and asks the opponent to select one of them. The opponent will then have to play the pawn color corresponding to the fist he has chosen. After that game the players will then switch the colors every game.
-Winning the chess game:
You emerge the winner if:
a) The opponent surrenders
b) You are the first to capture all your opponents’ pawns.
c) You manage to reach the last rank (your opponent’s first rank) with one of your pawns.
d) When it is your opponents turn to move but all his pawns are blocked and they do not have any moves, while you yourself can make at least one move.
The game will result in a draw if :
-The players have decided that the game is headed for a draw.
-If both sides’ pawns are blocked so that no side can make any moves.
Before you begin the chess game you should observe one very important rule: If you dare touch one of your men when it is your turn to move, then you are obligated to move it. If you touch one of your opponent’s men, then you must capture it if possible.Additionally, once you make a move, you can’t change it. So you be very careful when you make that move.
