Novice Level Queens
Tiny 4×4 boards to learn the rules and spot patterns.
0 of 26 solved
Master Novice Level
- 01
Start with small regions
Look for color regions with only one possible cell for a queen.
- 02
Use elimination
Mark cells that can't have queens due to row/column constraints.
- 03
Check diagonals
Remember queens can't touch diagonally - use this to eliminate options.
- 04
Take your time
There is no time limit. Focus on learning the patterns at your own pace.
Explore Other Difficulties
About Novice Queens
Novice is where Queens starts making sense. The 4×4 board is small enough to hold in your head all at once, so you can learn the four rules (one queen per row, one per column, one per colour region, and no two queens touching even diagonally) without juggling much else.
Most novice puzzles fall in a minute or two, and that speed is the point: you want enough repetitions that checking rows and columns becomes automatic before the boards grow. The technique to take away from this tier is the single-cell region. Find a colour region with only one open square and you have a queen for free. On a 4×4 there is almost always one, and spotting it instantly is the habit every later tier is built on.
Game Rules
- Each row must have exactly one queen.
- Each column must have exactly one queen.
- Each color region must have exactly one queen.
- Queens cannot touch, not even diagonally.
Difficulty Info
- Grid Size
- 4×4
- Average Time
- 1-2 min
- Total Puzzles
- 26
Stuck on a board? Our complete Queens strategy guide walks through the elimination techniques that solve every difficulty, from 4×4 boards up.