Checkmate patterns
Hook mate
Rook, knight and pawn lock the king in a tight box on the edge.
What is the hook mate?
The hook mate uses a rook, a knight and a supporting pawn together. The rook checks the king on the edge, the knight defends the rook and takes a flight square, and a pawn nails down another escape — the pieces "hook" into each other for support.
Why the hook mate matters
It is a more advanced edge mate than Anastasia's, and spotting it marks a real step up in attacking vision. Because every piece protects the next, it is a model for building a mating net the defender cannot simply capture apart.
How to use it to win
Look for an enemy king on the edge with one of its own pawns restricting it. If you can post a knight to defend a checking rook while a pawn covers the last exit, the hook snaps shut.
Try an example puzzle
A real hook mate puzzle from the app. White to move — find the idea, then reveal the line.
6 
3 
Show solution
1. Rd5#
Drill the hook mate on thousands of real puzzles, matched to your rating.