The four Queens Game rules
- One queen per row.No horizontal row can contain a second queen.
- One queen per column.No vertical column can contain a second queen.
- One queen per colored region.Each irregular colored area needs exactly one queen.
- No queens may touch.Two queens cannot sit in neighbouring cells, including diagonally.
A reliable solving method
01
Scan each colored region
Find regions that fit inside only one or two rows or columns. These give you the strongest opening constraints.
02
Mark impossible cells
Use X marks in rows, columns, regions, and neighbouring cells ruled out by a placed queen.
03
Place forced queens
When a row, column, or region has only one possible cell left, place its queen.
04
Repeat across the board
Every new queen removes possibilities elsewhere. Continue until each row, column, and region is complete.
What should you do when stuck?
Stop looking for a queen and look for exclusions. Compare two regions that share the same rows, identify narrow regions at the edge, and check which cells are blocked by diagonal adjacency. A useful X is often easier to prove than a queen.
Ready to practise? Start with a 6×6 unlimited Queens puzzle.