How To Paint The Mona Lisa Checkmate
"You probably won't encounter anything more shocking on a chessboard, possibly ever." This was the comment made by GM Aman Hambleton just after executing what is likely one of the most astonishing checkmates in chess history.
You probably won't witness anything worse on a chessboard, possibly even in your entire life. — GM Aman Hambleton
Aman’s incredible checkmate has rapidly gained popularity online, with analyses from Gothamchess, Agadmator, and more. During a recent blitz match, his International Master opponent refused to give up even though the game was clearly lost. In a remarkable move, Hambleton turned all his remaining pawns into pieces, effectively recreating the original position of the white pieces. But that was only the beginning. Hambleton had already planned a series of 20 moves in advance, all aimed at achieving checkmate by repositioning his entire set of pieces back to their starting arrangement at the end of the game.
The most remarkable aspect of this unusual checkmate is that Hambleton had already planned out the last 20 moves beforehand. He executed the entire series of plays and patiently observed as his opponent’s king moved towards its inevitable fate, cutting it very close! Aman wrapped up the game with just 0.9 seconds left on his timer. You can see him in action here.
So, how did the grandmaster manage it? How was he able to anticipate his moves to bring his "Mona Lisa" to life? If you're looking to replicate this incredible work on your own, here are some simple, step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process.
Promote Your Pawns To Strengthen Your Back Rank
This is the arrangement that Hambleton reached in his match. Remember, it's important for your bishops to be on squares of different colors when you make a promotion!
Move Your Queen To G2
Aman pointed out that you shouldn't jump ahead to step two, as it's crucial to steer clear of a stalemate or an early checkmate. You have to consider how your queen reaches g2. For example, if the black king were positioned on g3, Aman's move Qd1-e2 would have ended in a stalemate. He noted that since the black king was located on the queenside, his queen's route was effective in the game.
Move H1-rook To F3; Push Black King Up
In the f-file, the rook will consistently have the support of the queen as they advance up the board, taking control of one row at a time. While it's possible to push all the way to the eighth rank and deliver checkmate to the black king, we're aiming for a more elegant approach.
"Push Black's King To The Queenside With Rook & Queen"
The rook and queen work together to trap the black king on the queenside. The white rook on a1, along with the queen and the bishop on f1, control the fifth rank, which means the black king is confined but will never be left with no legal moves.
"Push The King To The B-File"
Next, White dominates the d- and c-files using the rook and queen. When the king gets trapped on the b-file, confined to the b4 and b3 squares, we can bring the rook back to its original position.
"Return The Rook Home"
Aman opted for the Rd6-d2-h2-h1 route. While it's perfectly acceptable to move the rook straight to the h-file, it's crucial to take the three moves needed to get to the corner. This ensures that our next move goes smoothly.
"Queen To D6 And D1: Completing The Artwork"
The last two moves add the perfect finishing details to our masterpiece. By playing Qd6, we control the b4-square and free up the c2-square, forcing Black's king into the trap. Finally, the move Qd1# delivers a flawless checkmate. We've effectively set up the back rank for a stunning conclusion.
"Mastery Comes With Consistent Practice"
Having grasped the concepts behind this piece of art, do you feel ready to give it a try? Hit the button below to practice the checkmate. You don't need to plan every move in advance—remember, even the most talented artists had to put in a lot of practice before they perfected their skills.
Did you manage to finish the Mona Lisa checkmate? Share your thoughts in the comments!
