RULES
Queens Game Rules
Learn the classic N-Queens puzzle rules and become a master
The Goal
One simple rule to master
Place N queens on an N×N chessboard so that no two queens can attack each other. This means no two queens share the same row, column, or diagonal.
How Queens Move
A queen can move any number of squares in these directions:
Horizontal
Vertical
Diagonal ↗
Diagonal ↘
💡 Think of the queen as the most powerful chess piece - it combines the movement of a rook and bishop!
Valid Placement
- ✓ Each row has exactly one queen
- ✓ Each column has exactly one queen
- ✓ No two queens share a diagonal
Invalid Placement
- ✗ Two queens in the same row
- ✗ Two queens in the same column
- ✗ Two queens on the same diagonal
Board Sizes & Solutions
| Board Size | Number of Queens | Possible Solutions | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4×4 | 4 | 2 | Beginner |
| 5×5 | 5 | 10 | Easy |
| 6×6 | 6 | 4 | Medium |
| 8×8 | 8 | 92 | Hard |
Game settings FAQ
When "Markers" is enabled, you can place an X on cells where a queen cannot be placed. This helps you track excluded squares. Right-click or Shift+click a cell to add or remove a marker.
When enabled, placing a queen automatically marks all conflicting cells (cells that queen can attack) with an X. This shows which squares are no longer valid for other queens.
Reset Board clears all queens and markers from the board and restarts the timer. Use it to start the puzzle over from scratch.
Get Hint highlights one cell where you can place the next queen as part of a valid solution. The hint stays visible for a few seconds. If the current placement has no solution, you will see a message suggesting to undo or reset. (Daily Challenge has no hint.)
Reveal Answer shows one complete solution by placing all queens on the board. This button becomes available after 3 minutes of play. It is not shown in Daily Challenge.