pawn

In the game of chess, a 'pion' is the most numerous piece on the board and represents a small soldier. It can move forward one square at a time, with the option to move two squares from its initial position. Unlike other pieces, a 'pion' can only capture opponent pieces diagonally. When a 'pion' reaches the opposite side of the board, it can be promoted to any other piece (except a king), which adds strategic depth to the game.