Chess rules · beginner
How the Queen Moves
The queen moves like a rook and a bishop combined: the most powerful piece.
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touch_appLearn it by doing: read the short explanation, then play it on the board.
Quick answer
The queen combines the rook and the bishop: she moves any number of empty squares in a straight line, along ranks, files or diagonals, in all eight directions. She cannot jump over pieces. The queen is the most powerful piece, worth about nine pawns, so losing her for less is usually fatal.
Step by step
Common mistakes
- Bringing the queen out too early, where it gets chased around while the opponent develops with tempo.
- Thinking the queen moves like a knight too. She doesn't: no L-shaped jumps.
- Leaving the queen where a cheaper piece can attack it. Always check what can hit her square.
Tips from the lesson
- Mix straight and diagonal moves.
Where you'll use this
FAQ
Is the queen the most powerful piece?add
Yes. She's worth about 9 points, more than any other piece. The king is more important, but the queen is stronger.
Can the queen move like a knight?add
No. She moves like a rook and a bishop combined, never in an L-shape.
Can you have two queens?add
Yes. A pawn that reaches the far side can promote to a queen even if you still have your first one.
Where does the queen start?add
On her own colour: d1 for White, d8 for Black, next to the king.