Pawns, capturing, and promotion · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Pawns, capturing, and promotion

Chess · Chess basics · ages 6-10
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. A pawn can move backward.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. After its first move, how many squares does a pawn go forward at a time?

    Answer: ______________

  3. How many squares can a pawn move on its very first turn?

    Answer: ______________

  4. When a pawn promotes, which piece do players usually choose?

    • Queen
    • Knight
    • Bishop

  5. What happens when a pawn reaches the far end of the board?

    • It becomes a stronger piece
    • It is removed
    • It stays a pawn

  6. A pawn can capture the piece directly in front of it.

    Circle one:   True   False

  7. How does a pawn capture?

    • One square forward on a diagonal
    • Straight forward
    • Sideways

  8. A pawn is blocked by a piece right in front of it, with no pieces on its forward diagonals. What can it do?

    • It cannot move
    • Capture the piece ahead
    • Move backward
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Pawns, capturing, and promotion W1-ct_4XOtOIhTbws-s1

  1. False · Pawns only go forward, never back toward their own side.
  2. 1 · Only the first move can be two squares, after that it is one.
  3. 2 · On its first move a pawn may go one or two squares forward.
  4. Queen · The queen is the strongest, so most players pick her.
  5. It becomes a stronger piece · The pawn promotes and turns into a stronger piece.
  6. False · Pawns capture on the diagonal, so a piece straight ahead is safe from it.
  7. One square forward on a diagonal · A pawn takes on the diagonal, not the way it normally moves.
  8. It cannot move · It cannot take straight ahead and has no diagonal targets, so it is stuck.
Worksheet · LightMySky