En passant--why only available to pawns?
Originally, pawns were only allowed to advance one square at a time.
To expedite matters, pawns were permitted an initial additional move,
e.g.
two squares at a time.
Since the intention was only to speed up the game, but not merely to
avoid
combat, if one used the option of advancing a pawn two squares, the
opponent could act as if two separate moves were made, intercept/capture
the pawn right away--when it was fresh in all players minds that the
position was a result of the pawn having advanced two squares.
Kings, that normally only move one square, are by exception allowed to
make two moves during castling but are not permitted to castle through a
square that is in check for similar reasons--it's two separate moves
done
at once.
As I was teaching my six-year-old son about en passant I realized that I
utilized the pawn's two-square perogative to avoid combat with his
bishop
by overstepping the square he was attacking! While he didn't question
my
move nor denigrate or impugn my integrity, I can forsee that one day he
might recognize the inconsistency of a rule that grants pawns the power
to
intercept en passant but not other pieces.
What is the rationale for emasculating pieces from excercising en passant
power?
En passant--why only available to pawns? Originally, pawns were only allowed to advance one square at a time. To expedite matters, pawns were permitted an initial additional move, e.g. two squares at a time.
Since the intention was only to speed up the game, but not merely to avoid combat, if one used the option of advancing a pawn two squares, the opponent could act as if two separate moves were made, intercept/capture the pawn right away--when it was fresh in all players minds that the position was a result of the pawn having advanced two squares.
Kings, that normally only move one square, are by exception allowed to make two moves during castling but are not permitted to castle through a square that is in check for similar reasons--it's two separate moves done at once.
As I was teaching my six-year-old son about en passant I realized that I utilized the pawn's two-square perogative to avoid combat with his bishop by overstepping the square he was attacking! While he didn't question my move nor denigrate or impugn my integrity, I can forsee that one day he might recognize the inconsistency of a rule that grants pawns the power to intercept en passant but not other pieces.
What is the rationale for emasculating pieces from excercising en passant power?
RSVP
JTS
player since 1970s,
rated around 1600.