FoxyChess › Checkmates › Hook Mate
Hook Mate
A rook, knight and pawn hook together: the rook gives check, the knight protects the rook, and the pawn protects the knight. The king's own pawn blocks the last flight square.
How to spot it
When your knight and rook can both reach squares next to the enemy king, see whether a pawn can hold the chain together.
How it arises
Typically in a rook and knight ending, or after a rook has reached the back rank with a knight and pawn nearby. The rook gives check on the edge, the knight protects it and the pawn protects the knight.
A worked example
1.Re8#. The king on e7 is hooked: the knight on d6 covers f7 and is protected by the pawn on e5, which also covers f6; the rook covers d8, f8 and e6; the pawn on d7 blocks the last square.
How to defend against it
A knight on d6 or e6 next to your king, supported by a pawn, is the signal. Capture it, or move the king off the back rank before a rook can reach it.
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