Pawns are the most numerous piece in chess, but also the weakest in power. With the exception of their first turn, they can only move one space at a time and can only capture another piece that is diagonal to it. However, pawns can be of great use to any chess strategy, as they are not only useful for causing a distraction, but can also be exchanged for other, more valuable pieces if they make it all the way through. board without being captured.
These pieces are unique in the fact that they are the only piece that can never move backwards on the board. The pawn can only advance, sometimes diagonally, if it is making a capture. Any piece directly in front of a pawn prevents it from moving, whether it is a friendly piece or not. The only time a Pawn can move if there is a piece directly in front of it is when the Pawn can diagonally capture an opponent’s piece. However, the strategic placement of pawns can be of great help to a player, as they can prevent an opponent from moving successfully, as if they were to capture the pawn, another piece could easily take them. Pawns are most commonly useful as obstacles, allowing the player to shape the chessboard in a way that could be temporarily beneficial.
If the pawn can successfully navigate to the complete opposite end of the board, then it is eligible for promotion. Having a promoted Pawn can be one of the biggest benefits in a Chess game, as it allows that Pawn to become any other piece in the game except the King. With the Pawn promotion, players can have multiple pieces on the board of any rank, usually a Queen. As Queens are the most powerful pieces available in a Chess game, it is rare that any other piece is chosen. However, when it does happen, a knight piece is usually selected due to its unique movement pattern. Frequently, when a Pawn can be promoted, the end of the game is in sight. Having two pieces available with the power of a Queen is not an easy thing for any player to overcome, and often the best the player who failed to successfully promote a Pawn can hope for is a stalemate.
Pawns have been a part of Chess since its original conception long ago and have appeared in every version of Chess that has been independently developed around the world. The piece is generally considered to have the rank of the “common man” in the game, who make up the royal infantry representing the King, Queen, and Royal Court. The pieces are generally considered expendable, as the entire game revolves around protecting the King from damage. The word Pawn itself is generally considered to mean “someone easily manipulated” or “someone who sacrifices himself for a greater purpose”, making Pawns generally the most unloved pieces in the game. However, these pieces can still stand on their own, as it is not easy to win a game without the successful strategy of manipulating pawns.