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This question is fairly simple, but simple doesn't mean easy (although for some people it probably is)

Find the fastest possible way to trap a queen in chess from the starting position.

Definition of a queen trap:

  1. The queen must be attacked by an opposing piece.
  2. The queen cannot make a legal move without being captured immediately after.

For example, the following was a queen trap achieved on White's seventh move:

enter image description here

(Note: This isn't even close to the fastest possible. It's just an example.)

Good luck!

Clarification: If the queen can trade itself for the opposing queen, or move to a place where it's defended and the only piece that can take it is the opposing queen, it's not trapped.

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3 Answers 3

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Here's one with three moves:

1. e4 g5
2. Qh5 e6
3. Qg6 h5

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  • $\begingroup$ Whoops. Missed that. Added a clarification to the question. (By normal chess strategy, that isn't trapped because white can play something like Qg3). $\endgroup$
    – Excited Raichu
    Oct 15, 2018 at 17:18
  • $\begingroup$ @ExcitedRaichu Gotcha, edited! $\endgroup$
    – Jafe
    Oct 15, 2018 at 17:31
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    $\begingroup$ Wow. This is actually faster than my intended answer (which had it on white's fourth move.) +1 and accepted XD $\endgroup$
    – Excited Raichu
    Oct 15, 2018 at 17:34
  • $\begingroup$ Another one is rot13(1. p3 o6 2. Dn4 Ap6 3. Dkn7 On6). $\endgroup$
    – Arnaud Mortier
    Mar 18, 2019 at 12:04
  • $\begingroup$ Love it! +1 for you $\endgroup$
    – user71418
    Sep 22, 2020 at 7:20
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Another solution with 3 moves as well, where the Queen is attacked twice.

1. c3 b6 2. Qa4 Nc6 3. Qxa7 Ba6

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Here is one on White's 4th, which you consider faster :)

1.Nf3 d6
2.Nd4 b6
3.h3 Nd7
4.Nc6

But still not as fast as Jafe's!

Here's an answer that probably doesn't meet what you mean either!
Black "traps" white's queen on move 4

1.c4 d6
2.b4 Bd7
3.h3 Ba4 (Note: at this point the queen isn't trapped)
4.g3 Qd7 (But at this point it is)

I'll keep looking :)

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  • $\begingroup$ That's a valid answer. Not the fastest, but valid. $\endgroup$
    – Excited Raichu
    Oct 15, 2018 at 17:30

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