Learn the basicsStep 7 of 13

The pawn

A pawn moves one square straight ahead, and never backwards. On its very first move it may go two squares instead, if you like.

Now the part that surprises everyone at the start: a pawn moves straight but captures diagonally. A piece directly in front of it blocks it completely — it can neither take that piece nor go around it.

Your turn

Use the pawn's first-move option: push it two squares, to e4.

Your turn

White to move

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Move1 / 1

Attempts0

Play your move on the board: drag a piece, or tap it and then tap its destination square.

Standard notation (Bc4, Nxe5, O-O) or plain squares (f1c4). French piece letters work too: R king, D queen, T rook, F bishop, C knight.