Chess Rules

The queen is, without doubt, the most powerful piece on the chessboard. She can move as many squares as she desires and in any direction (barring any obstructions).  She captures in the same way that she moves, replacing the unlucky opposing piece that got in her way. She must, of course, stop in the square of the piece she has captured - unlike the knight the queen does not jump other pieces.

The queen's power is so great that she is considered to be worth more than any combination of three other pieces (excepting the king). Thus it would be better, under normal circumstances, to sacrifice two rooks and a bishop than to give up a queen.  It is generally thought to be unwise to bring the queen out too early. The cluttered board makes her more vulnerable to entrapment.