1.

[So we've just learned the values of all the pieces and how to set them up. Now we'll learn how they move. The chess pieces might seem strange to you at first, but soon they'll feel natural, almost a part of you.  Let's begin with the unit of value in chess, the pawn. Individually, pawns are the least powerful of all pieces, but there are more of them on the board than any other piece. So it's essential to learn how to use them in coordination. The game begins with each side possessing eight pawns, all lined up on the 2nd and 7th rank, as you've learned. In the beginning of the game, the primary function of the pawn is to take control of the center of the board and to protect the king.

{B:rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/32/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR}{W:j15}{D:15000}{H:a2b2c2d2e2f2g2h2}{D:300}{H:a7b7c7d7e7f7g7h7}{D:2000}{C}{W:j15a1}

]

2.

[So this is how the pawn moves. On each pawn's first move, it has the option of moving ahead one square or two. It's very important to remember that, after it's first move, pawns can only move ahead one square at a time. So here, this E2 pawn can move to either to E3 or E4, because it's that pawn's first move; but once it's on E4, it can only move to E5.

{B:60PPPPPPPP8}{D:12500}{H:e2}{D:1500}{S:e2e3}{H2:e3}{D:1200}{S:e3e2}{D:300}{S:e2e4}{H2:e4}{D:3000}{C}{D:500}{H:e4}{D:1100}{S:e4e5}{H2:e5}{W:j15a2}

]

3.

[The pawn possesses a number of unique qualities. First of all, the pawn is the only piece that cannot move backwards. So, as we'll explore in Part Three of the Academy, we have to be careful not to over-extend our pawn structure. You'll see more about that later.

{B:4k3/p3pppp/1p1p4/8/2p2P1P/P2PP3/1PP3P1/4K3}{W:j15a3}

]

4.

[Also, the pawn is the only piece that captures differently from how it moves. Pawns move straight ahead, but they capture diagonally. This is tricky. So in this position, the white D3 pawn can capture black's pawn on C4, but not the black pawn on D4. In this position, the white pawn on D3 can't move at all. It's blockaded by the black pawn on D4, and there's nothing for it to capture.

{B:40/8/3P4/8}{C}{R}{D:5000}{S:d2d3}{D:1000}{A:Cd3c4}{A:Cd3e4}{H:c4e4}{D:2000}{C}{R}{D:1000}{B:8/8/8/8/2pp4/3P4/8/8}{D:1500}{H2:d3}{D:1000}{A:Cd3c4}{H:c4}{D:2000}{C}{H2:d3}{R}{D:500}{H:d4}{D:1500}{C}{R}{D:500}{B:8/8/8/8/3p4/3P4/8/8}{D:2500}{H2:d3}{D:3200}{H:d4}{D:1800}{C}{H2d3}{D:300}{A:Dd3c4}{A:Dd3e4}{H:c4e4}{W:j15a4}{C}{R}

]

5.

[Despite being small, each pawn has enormous potential. The pawn's greatest power is called "promotion." Any time a pawn successfully journeys to the end of the board, it can transform into any other chess piece on the board, except for the king, of course. A queen, rook, knight, or bishop. We almost always promote into a queen, but there are rare exceptions which I'll show you a bit later.

{B:48/4P3/8}{D:7500}{A:Te2e8}{D:1000}{H:a8b8c8d8e8f8g8h8}{D:1000}{C}{R}{S:e2e4}{D:200}{S:e4e5}{D:200}{S:e5e6}{D:200}{S:e6e7}{D:200}{S:e7e8}{D:3700}{P:WQe8}{D:500}{P:WRe8}{D:500}{P:WNe8}{D:500}{P:WBe8}{D:2000}{P:WQe8}{W:j15a5}

]

6.

[

{B:4k3/8/8/8/p7/P2P4/1P5P/4K3 w}{IJ:Highlight all the legal pawn moves.{W:j15a7};b3b4d4h4h3;You got it.{W:yougotit}{W:sil1000}{J};You haven't selected all the possible pawn moves. Keep looking.;Incorrect. Remember, pawns can move two squares only on their first move, and only one square at a time after the first move.{W:j15a8}}

]

7.

[In this position, what do you think white should do?

{B:8/5p2/3p4/4P3/8/8/8/8 w}{V:{SAVE}In this position, what do you think white should do? {W:j15a9};$White can capture the pawn and will soon promote.{D:500}{S:e5d6}{D:1000}{A:Td6d8}{W:j15a10}{W:sil1000}{J}$e5d6;Good job! White can capture the pawn and will soon promote.{W:gg}{W:sil500}{D:1000}{A:Td6d8}{W:j15a10}{W:sil1000}{J};$c No, that's not right! Now black can capture your pawn. {W:j15a11}; e5e6:$cNo, that's not right! Now black can capture your pawn. {D:2000}{A:Cf7e6}{W:j15a11}{RETRY}}

]

8.

[{B:8/8/p7/8/8/8/7P/8 w - - 0 1}{QB:In this position, it's white's move. Who do you think will promote first? White or black?{W:j15a12};White;Good job! White's pawn can move faster because it's two move head start.{W:j15a13}{J};Black;No that's not quite right. The white pawn can reach the back rank faster, because on it's first move it can move away two squares.{W:j15a13n}{J}}

]

9.

[H4. Then black will play A5. White plays H5, A4, H6, A3, H7, A2, H8.   White gets there faster.

{B:8/8/p7/8/8/8/7P/8}{D:500}{S:h2h4}{D:1500}{S:a6a5}{D:1500}{S:h4h5}{D:1000}{S:a5a4}{D:1000}{S:h5h6}{D:1000}{S:a4a3}{D:1000}{S:h6h7}{D:1000}{S:a3a2}{D:1000}{S:h7h8}{D:1000}{P:WQh8}{W:j15a14}

]

10.

[This exercise is a little bit trickier. It's black's move. What would you play?

{B:8/4p3/8/8/8/3P4/8/8 b - - 0 1}{V:{SAVE}This exercise is a little bit trickier. It's black's move. What would you play?{W:j15a15};$After black plays E5, white's position self-destructs, because the only possible pawn moves, loses a pawn. After E5, white's forced to play D4, after which, black can capture.  {S:e7e5}{D:9000}{S:d3d4}  {D:2000}{A:Ce5d4}  {W:j15a16}{C}{R}{W:sil1000}{J}$e7e5;Good job! After black plays E5, white's position self-destructs, because the only possible pawn moves, loses a pawn. After E5, white's forced to play D4, after which, black can capture.  {W:gg}{W:sil500}  {D:9000}{S:d3d4}  {D:2000}{A:Ce5d4}  {W:j15a16}{C}{R}{W:sil1000}{J};Incorrect. The best move for black would be to move two spaces to e5 - then the white pawns only possible move is into danger.;e7e6:$cNo, that's not right. After E6, white can win the black pawn, because white can play D4 after which, the only move for black is E5, and then white can capture the pawn.   {D:5000}{S:d3d4}{D:3000}{S:e6e5}{D:1500}{A:Cd4e5}  {W:j15a17}{C}{R}{W:sil1000}{RETRY};Try to make a move which forces white to self-destruct.}

]

11.

[There's a term for this type of position in chess, called "Zug Zwang." What this means is that, if I'm in Zug Zwang, any move that I make will hurt my position. I'm paralyzed, but I'm forced to move. So here you can see that come across on the board. If it's white's move, the only legal move is D3 to D4, after which black can capture the pawn. Now, interestingly, if it were black's move and he played E4, the only legal move, white could capture that pawn. So in fact, this is a position of mutual Zug Zwang, which means, whosever move it is will be in a big disadvantage.

{B:8/8/8/4p3/8/3P4/8/8}{D:16000}{S:d3d4}{D:2000}{A:Ce5d4}{D:2000}{C}{R}{B:8/8/8/4p3/8/3P4/8/8}{D:1500}{S:e5e4}{D:2000}{A:Cd3e4}{D:1500}{C}{R}{B:8/8/8/4p3/8/3P4/8/8}{W:j15a18}{J}

]

12.

[Take a look at this set up. It's a little bit more complicated. Let's say you have the black pieces. White has two options: either E3 or E4. Let's take a look at both. If I play E3, what should you do?

{B:8/5p2/32/4P3/8 b}{D:8000}{S:e2e3}{H2:e3}{D:1000}{S:e3e2}{D:500}{S:e2e4}{H2:e4}{D:1000}{S:e4e2}{D:2000}{C}{R}{D:2500}{S:e2e3}{W:j15a20}{V:Take a look at this set up. It's a little bit more complicated. Let's say you have the black pieces. White has two options: either E3 or E4. Let's take a look at both. If I play E3, what should you do?{SAVE};$You play f5. Now my only option loses the game for me, as we saw last example. After E4, you can capture the pawn.  {S:f7f5}  {D:4200}{S:e3e4}  {D:1000}  {A:Cf5e4}  {W:j15a21a}{W:sil1000}{J}$f7f5;Good job. Now my only option loses the game for me, as we saw last example. After E4, you can capture the pawn.  {D:4000}{S:e3e4}  {D:1000}  {A:Cf5e4}  {W:j15a21}{W:sil1000}{J};Incorrect;f7f6:$c No, that's not right. Now, with white, I can play E4, and your position is paralyzed. If you play F5, I can capture the pawn.   {D:3000}{S:e3e4}  {D:3200}{S:f6f5}  {D:1000}{A:Ce4f5}  {W:j15a22}{RETRY}{S:e2e3};Plan ahead to see how White will be forced to move into a threatened position.}

]

13.

[Now let's look at this position and say that I play E4 on the first move. What would you do?

{B:8/5p2/32/4P3/8 b}{D:2000}{S:e2e4}{W:j15a23}{V:Now let's look at this position and say that I play E4 on the first move. What would you do? {SAVE};$Here your best move is F6, once again paralyzing me. If I play E5, which is my only option, you can capture the pawn, F takes E5.   {D:1500}{S:f7f6}  {D:3500}{S:e4e5}  {D:2000}{A:Cf6e5}  {D:1000}{R}{S:f6e5}  {W:j15a24}{W:sil1000}{J}$f7f6;That's right! Here your best move is F6, once again paralyzing me. If I play E5, which is my only option, you can capture the pawn, F takes E5.   {W:thatsright}  {D:5000}{S:e4e5}  {D:2000}{A:Cf6e5}  {D:1000}{R}{S:f6e5}  {W:j15a24}{W:sil1000}{J};Incorrect;f7f5:$c No, that's not right.  {D:700}{S:e4f5}  {W:j15a25}{RETRY}{S:e2e4};Plan ahead to see how White will be forced to move into a threatened position.}

]

14.

[So, in this position, we can see that if white plays E3, black's best move is F5. If white plays E4, black's best move is F6; and in both cases, white will lose a pawn because he had to move first. So in fact, if you go back, whosever move it is in this position, will lose. Take some time and work that out on your own.

{B:8/5p2/32/4P3/8}{D:3300}{S:e2e3}{D:1500}{S:f7f5}{A:Df5e4}{H:e4}{D:1200}{C}{R}{B:8/5p2/32/4P3/8}{D:700}{S:e2e4}{D:1500}{S:f7f6}{A:Df6e5}{H:e5}{D:2500}{S:e4e5}{C}{R}{S:f6e5}{D:3500}{B:8/5p2/32/4P3/8}{W:j15a26}

]

15.

[Take a look at this position. What is white's best move?

{B:8/8/3p2p1/2p5/4P2P/8/3P4/8}{V:{SAVE}Take a look at this position. What is white's best move?{W:j15a27};$The correct move is d3.  {D:1000}{S:d2d3}{W:j15a31}{W:sil1000}{J}$d2d3;Good job!{W:j15a28}{W:sil1000}{J};Incorrect. Notice how you are moving your pawn into a threatended position where it can be captured.;e4e5:$cBe careful. Notice you're moving into a threatened position where it can be captured.  {D:2000}{A:Cd6e5}{W:j15a29}{R}{RETRY};d2d4:$cBe careful. Notice you're moving into a threatened position where it can be captured.  {D:2000}{A:Cc5d4}{W:j15a29}{R}{RETRY};h4h5:$cBe careful. Notice you're moving into a threatened position where it can be captured.  {D:2000}{A:Cg6h5}{W:j15a29}{R}{RETRY};Try to avoid moving onto a threatened square.}

]

16.

[The point here is that any move that black makes will self-destruct. Black's in Zug Zwang. If he plays C4, D takes C4, wins a pawn, if he plays D5, E takes D5 wins the game, and if he plays G5, white can play H takes G5.

{B:8/8/3p2p1/2p5/4P2P/3P4/8/8}{D:6200}{S:c5c4}{D:1200}{S:d3c4}{D:1500}{B:8/8/3p2p1/2p5/4P2P/3P4/8/8}{D:300}{S:d6d5}{D:1000}{S:e4d5}{D:1700}{B:8/8/3p2p1/2p5/4P2P/3P4/8/8}{D:300}{S:g6g5}{D:1300}{S:h4g5}{W:j15a30}{B:8/8/3p2p1/2p5/4P2P/3P4/8/8}

]

17.

[Now we're going to have to learn one of the more tricky rules of chess, en passant, French for "in passing." This is how it works. Let's say that a white E pawn has advanced to the 5th rank. Effectively, this pawn is keeping an eye on the F and D pawns of black, because of the following rule. If either of those pawns advances two squares, the white pawn has the option of capturing it diagonally, as if it only moved one square. So if D5, white can play E takes D6.  There are two important stipulations to remember. First of all, this is a one shot deal. If white chooses not to capture the pawn immediately after D5, then he'll lose a chance forever. Also, say white has a pawn on E5 and black has a pawn on D6. If black plays D6 to D5, white cannot capture en passant. This rule only applies if a pawn has moved two squares forward, passing an enemy pawn that is residing on its 5th rank; and don't forget that you only have one chance. Here are a couple exercises that involve en passant.

{B:8/3p1p2/16/4P3/24}{D:9500}{S:e4e5}{D:4000}{H:f7}{D:500}{H:d7}{D:2000}{C}{D:3000}{S:f7f5}{D:3000}{S:e5f6}{X:f5}{D:3500}{B:8/3p1p2/8/4P3/24/8}{D:1000}{S:d7d5}{D:1800}{S:e5d6}{X:d5}{W:j15a32}{D:4500}{B:8/3p1p2/8/4P3/24/8}{D:2500}{S:d7d5}{D:3500}{B:64}{D:1300}{P:WPe5}{D:1500}{P:BPd6}{D:1500}{S:d6d5}{D:1900}{H2:d5}{A:De5d6}{D:2000}{C}{R}{D:500}{B:8/3p4/8/4P3/8/24}{D:500}{S:d7d5}{D:500}{H:d7d5}{A:Td7d5}{D:4500}{C}{R}{S:e5d6}{X:d5}{W:j15a33}{C}{R}

]

18.

[So, in this position, black plays D5. Show me all white's possible captures.

{B:8/3p4/5p2/2P1P3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}{D:2000}{S:d7d5}{W:j15a34}{V:So, in this position, black plays D5. Show me all white's possible captures.;

$The correct moves are cxd6, exd6 and exf6.{B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}{W:j15a34n}{W:sil1000}{J}

$d2d3;Correct!;This is not a capture.;

c5d6ep:$c {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}

  {V:Ok! cxd6 ... What else?{A:Cc5d6}{W:theresmore};

    $The correct moves are cxd6, exd6 and exf6.

      {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}{W:j15a34n}{W:sil1000}{J}

    $a1a2;Corect !!!;This is not a capture.;

    c5d6ep: You have already mentioned this move ...;

    e5d6ep:$c {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}

      {V:Correct! cxd6, exd6 ... What else?{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{W:theresmore};

        $The correct moves are cxd6, exd6 and exf6.{B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}{W:j15a34n}{W:sil1000}{J}

        $a1a2; Correct!;This is not a capture.;

        c5d6ep: You have already mentioned this move ...;

        e5d6ep: You have already mentioned this move ...;

        e5f6:$c Good job !!!  Pawns capture diagonally whether it’s en passant or a normal capture.

             {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}

             {W:j15a34b};

        Pawns only capture diagonally.};

    e5f6:$c {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}

      {V:Correct! cxd6, exf6 ... What else? {A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5f6}{W:theresmore};

        $The correct moves are cxd6, exd6 and exf6.{B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}{W:j15a34n}{W:sil1000}{J}

        $a1a2; Correct!;This is not a capture.;

        c5d6ep: You have already mentioned this move ...;

        e5f6: You have already mentioned this move ...;

        e5d6ep:$c Good job !!!  Pawns capture diagonally whether it’s en passant or a normal capture. 

             {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}

             {W:j15a34b};

        Pawns only capture diagonally.};

    Pawns only capture diagonally.}{R};

e5d6ep:$c {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}

  {V:Ok! exd6 ... What else?{A:Ce5d6}{W:theresmore};

    $The correct moves are cxd6, exd6 and exf6.{B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}{W:j15a34n}{W:sil1000}{J}

    $a1a2;Corect!!!;This is not a capture.;

    e5d6ep: You have already mentioned this move ...;

    c5d6ep:$c {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}

      {V:Correct! exd6, cxd6 ... What else?{A:Ce5d6}{A:Cc5d6}{W:theresmore};

        $The correct moves are cxd6, exd6 and exf6.{B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}{W:j15a34n}{W:sil1000}{J}

        $a1a2; Correct!!!;This is not a capture.;

        e5d6ep: You have already mentioned this move ...;

        c5d6ep: You have already mentioned this move ...;

        e5f6:$c Good job !!!  Pawns capture diagonally whether it’s en passant or a normal capture.

             {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}

             {W:j15a34b};

        Pawns only capture diagonally.};

    e5f6:$c {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}

      {V:Correct! exd6, exf6 ... What else?{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}{W:theresmore};

        $The correct moves are cxd6, exd6 and exf6.{B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}{W:j15a34n}{W:sil1000}{J}

        $a1a2; Correct!!!;This is not a capture.;

        e5d6ep: You have already mentioned this move ...;

        e5f6: You have already mentioned this move ...;

        c5d6ep:$c Good job !!!  Pawns capture diagonally whether it’s en passant or a normal capture.

             {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}

             {W:j15a34b};

        Pawns only capture diagonally.};

  Pawns only capture diagonally.}{R};

e5f6:$c {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}

  {V:Ok! exf6 ... What else?{A:Ce5f6}{W:theresmore};

    $The correct moves are cxd6, exd6 and exf6.{B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}{W:j15a34n}{W:sil1000}{J}

    $a1a2;Correct!!!;This is not a capture.;

    e5f6: You have already mentioned this move ...;

    c5d6ep:$c {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}

      {V:Correct! exf6, cxd6 ... What else?{A:Ce5f6}{A:Cc5d6}{W:theresmore};

        $The correct moves are cxd6, exd6 and exf6.{B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}{W:j15a34n}{W:sil1000}{J}

        $a1a2; Correct!!!;This is not a capture.;

        e5f6: You have already mentioned this move ...;

        c5d6ep: You have already mentioned this move ...;

        e5d6ep:$c Good job !!!  Pawns capture diagonally whether it’s en passant or a normal capture.

             {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}

             {W:j15a34b};

        Pawns only capture diagonally.};

    e5d6ep:$c {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}

      {V:Correct! exf6, exd6 ... What else?{A:Ce5f6}{A:Ce5d6}{W:theresmore};

        $The correct moves are cxd6, exd6 and exf6.{B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}{W:j15a34n}{W:sil1000}{J}

        $a1a2; Correct!!!;This is not a capture.;

        e5f6: You have already mentioned this move ...;

        e5d6ep: You have already mentioned this move ...;

        c5d6ep:$c Good job !!!  Pawns capture diagonally whether it’s en passant or a normal capture.

             {B:8/8/5p2/2PpP3/8/8/8/8 W - d6}{A:Cc5d6}{A:Ce5d6}{A:Ce5f6}

             {W:j15a34b};

        Pawns only capture diagonally.};

  Pawns only capture diagonally. }{R};

Pawns only capture diagonally.

}

]

19.

[In this position, black plays B5. Show me all white's possible captures.

{B:4k3/8/1p1p4/2P5/8/8/8/4K3 w - b6}{D:1500}{S:b6b5}{W:j15a35}{V:{SAVE}In this position, black plays B5. Show me all white's possible captures.;$The only capture is cxd6.  {D:1000}{S:c5d6}  {W:j15a36}{W:sil1000}$c5d6;Good job. The only capture is C takes D6.  {W:gg}{W:sil500}  {W:j15a36}{W:sil1000};$c This move does not result in any captures.{W:notquiteit}{RETRY};c5b6ep:$c White can't capture en passant on B6, because the black pawn only advanced one square.   {P:BPb5}{W:j15a37}{RETRY};Pawns can only capture en passant when the opponent's pawn has moved two squares.}

]

