8 Queens Puzzle
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Challenge your students to solve this free printable version of the 8 queens puzzle, a classic chess puzzle from the 1800s.
I shared a Halloween version of this puzzle called the 8 Bats Puzzle back in October, and many of you asked me for a non-seasonal version that could be used all year round with students.
Instructions
Place eight queens on the chessboard so that no queens are in conflict with one another. This means that no two queens are on the same line, either vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.
Prepping this Puzzle for the Classroom
Each student or group of students will need a copy of the puzzle page as well as a set of eight queens.
If you don’t have a surplus of chess pieces lying around in your classroom, I have created a set of printable queen pieces that can be printed, laminated, and cut out.
Puzzle Source
This classic Eight Queens chess puzzle was first published by Max Bezzel in 1848.
Alternate Version with Circles
If your students aren’t familiar with chess or you think the chess queens might be too intimidating for them, I created an alternate printable version with just circles.
Like with the 8 queens version above, I created a printable version with the gameboard and printable circles.
I chose circles because you could then easily use bingo chips as playing pieces instead of having to cut out paper circle pieces. Work smarter, not harder, right?!?
Seasonal Versions
You could easily turn this into a seasonal activity by changing what type of piece you are arranging on the board.
I created an 8 Bats Puzzle for Halloween. You could do 8 Ornaments for Christmas or 8 Hearts for Valentine’s Day.
I have uploaded editable files at the bottom of this post that will allow you to edit this puzzle for your own classroom.
Free Download of Eight Queens Puzzle (8 Circles Puzzle)
This eight queens puzzle and the eight circles variation is available to download as a PDF and as an editable PowerPoint file.
PDF Versions
8 Queens Puzzle (PDF) (33 downloads )
8 Circles Puzzle (PDF) (19 downloads )
Editable PowerPoint Versions
Puzzle Solutions
I intentionally do not make answers to the printable math puzzles I share on my blog available online because I strive to provide learning experiences for my students that are non-google-able. I would like other teachers to be able to use these puzzles in their classrooms as well without the solutions being easily found on the Internet.
However, I do recognize that us teachers are busy people and sometimes need to quickly reference an answer key to see if a student has solved a puzzle correctly or to see if they have interpreted the instructions properly.
If you are a teacher who is using these puzzles in your classroom, please send me an email at sarah@mathequalslove.net with information about what you teach and where you teach. I will be happy to forward an answer key to you.
Not a teacher? Go ahead and send me an email as well. Just let me know what you are using the puzzles for. I am continually in awe of how many people are using these puzzles with scouting groups, with senior adults battling dementia, as fun activities in their workplace, or as a birthday party escape room.
