Worksheet: Passed Pawns

Topic: endgame | Level: 3

A passed pawn has no enemy pawn in front of it on its file or the next files, so it can become a star of the endgame.

Why This Matters

Passed pawns matter because no enemy pawn can stop them from straight in front or from the next file over.
They become stronger when your king or rook can stand behind them and help them march.
Sometimes the best way to create one is to trade pawns at just the right moment.

Write the definition of a passed pawn using the words “same file” and “next file.”
Why can an outside passed pawn be extra annoying for the defender?
Solve the practice positions and label each new passed pawn as center, side, or outside.

Step 0: Starting Position

Step 1: d6

Step 2: Kg8

Step 3: d7

Step 4: Kf7

Step 5: d8=Q

Step 6: Kg6

Find each move on paper, then check the Answer Key at the end.

Practice 1

Push the pawn so it becomes a real passed pawn.

Practice 2

Create a passed pawn by capturing the blocker.

Practice 3

Black to move: push the pawn so it becomes passed.

Practice 4

Use a capture to make an outside passed pawn.

Play this with a partner. Every time a pawn move happens, stop and ask: “Is it passed yet? If yes, how can we support it?”

A passed pawn has no enemy pawn in front of it on its own file or the files next to it.
It can drag the enemy king far away from the rest of the pawns and pieces.
Practice 1 and 2 create center passed pawns, Practice 3 shows Black doing the same, and Practice 4 makes an outside passed pawn.

Practice 1: d5 — After d5, no black pawn stands in front of it on the c-, d-, or e-files. That makes it a passed pawn.
Practice 2: cxd5 — The capture lands on d5 and removes the only pawn that was stopping White from having a passed pawn.
Practice 3: e4 — Black’s pawn on e4 has no white pawns ahead of it on the d-, e-, or f-files, so it becomes a passed pawn too.
Practice 4: axb5 — After axb5, White owns a passed pawn far from the kingside. Outside passed pawns can pull the enemy king away.