Britannica Sources used in this answer

How does the queen move in chess?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

In chess, the queen is the most powerful and mobile piece on the board. It moves by combining the powers of the rook and the bishop, meaning it can move any number of squares horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, provided its path is not obstructed by other pieces.1

Like other pieces, the queen captures enemy pieces by moving to the square occupied by the opponent's piece and removing it from the board.2