In chess, 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 any enemy pawns. Passed pawns are valuable because they can create threats and force the opponent to divert resources to stop them. Strategically, passed pawns can be powerful assets in the endgame. They can pressure the opponent and create opportunities for promotion to a more powerful piece, such as a queen. Players often aim to create and support passed pawns while simultaneously blocking their opponent's passed pawns to gain a competitive advantage.