Queen

The queen is the most powerful piece in the game of Chess. It can move any number of squares vertically, horizontally or diagonally, combining the movement of the Rook and the Bishop. Each player starts with one queen located in the middle of board next to the King. A Queen has the highest value in the game at 9 points and is represented in algebraic notation by the letter "Q".

Placement & Movement

Placement

Both players start with one Queen located in the center of the board next to the King.

White's Queen starts on d1 while Black's Queen starts on d8.

A good way to memorize the placements of the King and Queen is to follow a popular mnemonic: "The Queen gets her color." which means that the White Queen should be located on a White square and vice versa. It is important to note that this only works if the chessboard is correctly oriented.

Movement

The Queen can move any number of unoccupied squares in a straight line vertically, horizontally or diagonally. It is the combination of the movement of the Rook and the Bishop.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Movement of a Queen.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Initial placement of the Queens (d1 and d8).

Strategy

Queen Development

A player should generally delay from developing the Queen as developing it too quickly can expose it to attacks by enemy pieces, which causes the player to lose turns and/or time removing the Queen from danger. Despite this, beginners often develop the Queen very early in the game hoping to annihalite the opponent's position and deliver an early checkmate such as the |scholar's mate

Queen Exchange

A Queen exchange often marks the beginning of the endgame, though there are Queen endgames, and there are cases where Queens are exchange at the beginning of the game. In all situations it is still common to try to promote a Pawn to a Queen to ensure a set of strong pieces and to deliver a checkmate.

Queen Sacrifice

Main article: Queen sacrifice

A Queen sacrifice is often regarded as a legendary tactic to sacrifice the Queen in order to gain a more favorable position. An example has been given below with Alexander Alekhine versus Milorad Vasic Miles where Alekhine sacrifices his Queen to deliver a checkmate with two Bishops on the very next turn.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Position before the sacrifice

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Alekhine plays Qe6+, taking Vasic's Pawn.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Vasic takes the Queen with e6.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Alekhine delivers a double Bishop checkmate with Bg6#.