Stock Puzzle based on the rules of chess. A grid representing a subsection of a chessboard is shown, and the puzzle solver must place a certain number of queens on it so that none of them threatens the others: that is, none can share a rank, file, or diagonal. The standard puzzle is "Place N queens on an NxN board," with a value of N between four and the standard eight of a full board. The puzzle can't be solved for N = 2 or 3.
Sub-Trope of Grid Puzzle, the general trope for puzzles solved by arranging the elements of a grid. Compare Magic Square Puzzle (a square array of integers that sum the same in each row, column, and main diagonal).
Examples:
Alternate Reality Games
- Perplex City: This is the puzzle found in one of the cards.
Fan Works
- Puzzle Hunt Precure: The Eight Queens' Lands are based on the Queens Puzzle.
Literature
- "The Most Precious of Treasures": A room-sized version of this puzzle appears. The protagonists must solve it to enter the next room of the dungeon; however, it's not intended to be difficult. It's really a test of sentience, not intelligence.
Live-Action TV
- The Crystal Maze: In the tenth episode of the fourth series, the team of the week is tasked with solving one of these puzzles in the Medieval Zone.
Video Games
- The 7th Guest has the Eight Queens puzzle in the games room on the second floor.
- Adventure Escape: Murder Inn uses checker pieces to represent the eight queens. The puzzle needs to be solved in order to open a drawer.
- Core: An N=6 variant appears in the Tower Core flash game, inside one of the three towers.
- Empress of the Deep: The Darkest Secret has one in the Vault of War.
- Professor Layton and the Curious Village: The puzzles given by the chess player in the tavern are N=4 and N=5, and one of the bonus puzzles is a full 8. The hints for the bonus puzzle tell you to not bother buying more hints, as you should know how to do it by that point.
- Safecracker: The N=6 version appears on one of the safes in the attic. Slightly easier than most examples because every square follows a pattern, as your character is quick to point out.
- Splinter Cell: Double Agent has a 3D version of this. Genre Shift, anyone?
- The Whispered World: You have to solve this puzzle in the second chapter.
