Easy Queens puzzles
Twelve gentle boards for learning Queens, starting at 6×6. Each has one answer and needs no guessing, only the two moves below.
The rules, and the two moves
Put one queen in every row, every column and every colored region. No two queens may touch, not even at a corner.
- Start with the smallest region. A region of one square holds its queen. A region whose squares all sit in one row owns that row, so every other square in the row is out.
- Cross out around every queen. A queen rules out its row, its column, its region and the eight squares around it. After each queen, look for a region with only one square left.
The full method, with a worked example, is in How to solve Queens.
Twelve to play
Questions
What makes a Queens puzzle easy?
Small boards and regions that give themselves away. On a 6×6 most regions are short, so the first queen is usually in a region of one or two squares, and each queen you place rules out the squares around it.
Where do I start?
Find the smallest region. If it has one square, the queen goes there. If its squares all sit in one row, that row’s queen must be in that region, so cross out the rest of the row.
Is it OK to guess?
You never need to. Each of these has exactly one answer you can reach by logic. If you’re stuck, look for a region squeezed into one row or column.
What comes after easy?
Today’s Queens grows through the week, from a small Monday board to a 9×9 on Saturday. When these feel quick, try today’s puzzle or unlimited at a bigger size.