Hook Mate
In a Hook Mate, a rook gives mate beside the king. A knight protects the rook, and a pawn protects the knight, forming the hook-shaped support chain.
What to look for
Look for a rook check next to the king, a knight that guards the rook, and a pawn that guards the knight.
Recognize the mechanism
Read the support chain backward: the pawn protects the knight, the knight protects the rook, and the rook checks beside the king. Mark each actual attack relation before calculating the final move. This turns the pattern into a verifiable mechanism rather than a silhouette.
Common practical mistake
Do not omit the pawn supporting the knight or replace the adjacent mating rook with an unspecified heavy piece. Similar rook-and-knight nets can belong to a different family.
Training goal
Learn to see how a knight can lock the king in place so a heavy piece can finish the attack.