Hey Decorah chess enthusiasts! It was good to see a new face last week at the club and we hope to see more new faces this week. We will be playing again at Pulpit Rock Brewing Company on Wednesday 9/15/2021 at 6:30 pm.
We have a few sets to play on, so bringing a set isn’t necessary. However, having one in your vehicle just in case there are more players than usual can never hurt. All skill levels welcome!
En Passant
You may have heard of the move En Passant in chess before, but if you haven’t, it is a move to become familiar with! This move can save and/or win a game, and it can also lose a game if you don’t know about it.
For white, when you have a pawn on the fifth rank, and black moves one of the pawns in the columns to the left or right of your pawn for the first time two space to the fifth rank right beside your pawn, you are allowed to capture that pawn en passant (which means “in passing”).
Long ago, pawns were only allowed to move one space forward even on their first moves. In the interest of getting the game going a little more quickly, they allowed a pawn to move two squares forward on its first move.
However, as a caveat, if the other side’s pawn had already advanced up far enough, the opponent’s pawn could not simply pass by the capture zone of another pawn by moving two squares. It must be done immediately (in passing) though. You cannot wait a move to take a pawn en passant.
Still confused? Come to chess club and ask questions! Google it for more on the move. Hope to see you Wednesday.
Decorah Sjakklubb 