en passant

noun

Pronunciation: /ɑ̃ pasɑ̃/

Definition

A special move in chess where a pawn captures an enemy pawn that has just advanced two squares from its starting position, landing on the square the enemy pawn skipped over.

Examples

• He caught his opponent off guard by using the en passant rule to remove the pawn.

• Many beginner chess players are confused when they first encounter an en passant capture.

• The tournament rules clearly state that the en passant move must be made immediately after the opponent's double-step advance.

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