/** * File: n_queens.java * Created Time: 2023-05-04 * Author: krahets (krahets@163.com) */ package chapter_backtracking; import java.util.*; public class n_queens { /* Backtracking algorithm: n queens */ public static void backtrack(int row, int n, List> state, List>> res, boolean[] cols, boolean[] diags1, boolean[] diags2) { // When all rows are placed, record the solution if (row == n) { List> copyState = new ArrayList<>(); for (List sRow : state) { copyState.add(new ArrayList<>(sRow)); } res.add(copyState); return; } // Traverse all columns for (int col = 0; col < n; col++) { // Calculate the main and minor diagonals corresponding to the cell int diag1 = row - col + n - 1; int diag2 = row + col; // Pruning: do not allow queens on the column, main diagonal, or minor diagonal of the cell if (!cols[col] && !diags1[diag1] && !diags2[diag2]) { // Attempt: place the queen in the cell state.get(row).set(col, "Q"); cols[col] = diags1[diag1] = diags2[diag2] = true; // Place the next row backtrack(row + 1, n, state, res, cols, diags1, diags2); // Retract: restore the cell to an empty spot state.get(row).set(col, "#"); cols[col] = diags1[diag1] = diags2[diag2] = false; } } } /* Solve n queens */ public static List>> nQueens(int n) { // Initialize an n*n size chessboard, where 'Q' represents the queen and '#' represents an empty spot List> state = new ArrayList<>(); for (int i = 0; i < n; i++) { List row = new ArrayList<>(); for (int j = 0; j < n; j++) { row.add("#"); } state.add(row); } boolean[] cols = new boolean[n]; // Record columns with queens boolean[] diags1 = new boolean[2 * n - 1]; // Record main diagonals with queens boolean[] diags2 = new boolean[2 * n - 1]; // Record minor diagonals with queens List>> res = new ArrayList<>(); backtrack(0, n, state, res, cols, diags1, diags2); return res; } public static void main(String[] args) { int n = 4; List>> res = nQueens(n); System.out.println("Input the dimensions of the chessboard as " + n); System.out.println("Total number of queen placement solutions = " + res.size()); for (List> state : res) { System.out.println("--------------------"); for (List row : state) { System.out.println(row); } } } }