Arabian Mate
A rook checks along the edge while a nearby knight protects the rook and covers the king's remaining escape square.
A rook checks along the edge while a nearby knight protects the rook and covers the king's remaining escape square.
An Arabian mate is a compact rook-and-knight mating net against a king on the edge of the board. The rook gives the final check, while the knight protects the rook and controls the diagonal escape square the rook cannot cover.
The rook controls the king's rank or file and occupies a square beside the king. The knight supports that rook from a safe distance while covering another escape square. Map both pieces' attacks together: neither piece completes the net alone.
In the playable position, White's rook moves from h1 to h7 and checks the king on h8. The rook controls the h-file and seventh rank, while the knight on f6 protects h7 and covers g8. With no capture or escape, Rh7 is checkmate.
When a knight settles near a cornered king, check whether it protects a rook entry square and covers the only diagonal exit. Defenders should contest that entry square, capture or dislodge the knight, or create space before the rook arrives. Waiting until the final check is usually too late.
The rook gives the final check. The knight protects the rook and covers a key escape square near the cornered king.
Their attacks cover different shapes. The rook controls ranks and files, while the knight protects close squares the rook cannot safely control by itself.
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