The hook mate is lesson 6 of 9 in Mating patterns II, a checkmate course suited to players rated around 1100 (improving players). Rook, knight and pawn hook together: the rook checks next to the king, the knight guards the rook and a pawn guards the knight. It has 10 interactive exercises: 10 calculated lines from real positions. You play every move on a board and get feedback straight away. The lesson is free.
What you practise
Black to move: mate in 2. (3 positions)
White to move: mate in 2. (2 positions)
Black to move: mate in 3. (3 positions)
Black to move: mate in 4. (2 positions)
Worked examples
Black to move: mate in 2. 1...Rd1+ 2.Kg2 Rg1#. Hook mate: the rook on g1 mated, guarded by the knight on f3, which a pawn protects in turn. Mate in 2.
Black to move: mate in 2. 1...Rh4+ 2.Kf5 Rf4#. Hook mate: the rook on f4 mated, guarded by the knight on e6, which a pawn protects in turn. Mate in 2.
chessGM