12/17/2014 | Posted in: Chess Rules
Black Pawn ~ Harry Potter Wizard’s Chess Set ~ Mattel
“Pawns are such fascinating pieces, too…So small, almost insignificant, and yet–they can depose kings. Don’t you find that interesting?”
– Lavie Tidhar, The Bookman
I think the pawn is the most misunderstood of all chess pieces. Most chess-newbies look at them as a tragic figure, good for nothing more than to be sacrificed. Getting them out of the way so the “real” pieces can get into the action seems to be the common plan. This is the reason for the cliché, “being treated like a pawn”, when referring to someone who seems lowly and unimportant.
In order to correct this misunderstanding, I present you with:
The Top Ten Reasons It Is Great to Be A Pawn
#10 – An unobstructed view at the start of every game.
#9 – Make the first move (except when the Knight gets excited and jumps the line).
#8 – Outnumber all the other pieces on the board.
#7 – Like Ninja, they seem to disappear from sight until you strike.
#6 – The only piece that has two attack moves.
#5 – Moving backwards is for suckers!
#4 – Can kill another pawn without even touching it.
#3 – Capturing a Queen is the sweetest revenge!
#2 – Reaching the end of the row means you can be anything you want – except King.
… and …
#1 – Hanging pawns look awesome in the middle of the board!
In a recent game, I surprised my opponent with an “en passant” capture. He was like, “What was that?!” Know the rules, folks. Treat your pawns with respect.
For exhaustive information on the Rules of Chess, I recommend –
FIDE (from its French acronym Federation Internationale des Echecs), the World Chess Federation: Laws of Chess
For those that need a little lighter version, go to –
Chess.com: How to Play Chess: Rules & Basics
Know the game. Play the game. Enjoy the game.
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