Lesson
White to move. Main line: 1. Rh8#
Rh8# places the rook beside the king. The knight on f7 protects h8, so the king cannot capture the checking rook. The same knight also demonstrates why this pattern is called a hook: it anchors the rook from an unusual angle.
Black’s own pawn on g7 blocks one escape, while the white king on e6 controls f7 and supports the compact net. The king cannot move to f8 because the rook controls the eighth rank, and it has no interposition against a contact check.
The hook mate often appears after a rook lift, with a knight planted near the enemy king. Look for a rook-check square protected by a knight and then count the defender’s own pawns as part of the mating cage.