A passed pawn is a pawn that has no opposing pawns blocking its path to promotion. This means it can advance toward the eighth rank without being stopped by enemy pawns. Passed pawns are valuable in chess because they can create threats and force the opponent to divert resources to stop them. In endgames, a passed pawn can become a significant advantage. If it reaches the eighth rank, it can be promoted to a more powerful piece, usually a queen. Players often prioritize advancing their passed pawns while trying to block or capture their opponent's passed pawns to maintain control of the game.