Who Amba is
Amba, eldest princess of Kashi, was carried off by Bhishma with her sisters Ambika and Ambalika from their svayamvara, as brides for his half-brother Vichitravirya. She had already given her heart to King Shalva, so Bhishma let her go — but Shalva rejected her as another's prize, and Bhishma, bound by his vow of celibacy, would not marry her. Wronged by all, she undertook terrible austerities to bring about Bhishma's death, and was born again as Shikhandi.
“I was wronged, and I have one aim. Nothing will turn me from it.”
How Amba plays chess
Single-minded: one target, pursued for the whole game, no matter what else happens.
The Classicist: Sound, balanced chess: develops, castles and takes what the position offers.
Opening repertoire: Sicilian, Sozin · King's Gambit, Bishop's Gambit · Dutch, Krejcik Gambit
Defeat Amba in a full game from the normal starting position to earn the achievement The Vow of Amba and open the way to the next guardian.
Sources
- Mahabharata, Udyoga Parva
- Mahabharata, Adi Parva
Placement on the path reflects chess difficulty only — a game-design choice, not a ranking of anyone's spiritual standing.