Arabian Mate

The Arabian mate is a rook and knight mating a king in the corner. The knight protects the rook and covers the escape square. It is one of the oldest known patterns.

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Start

Pieces: Rook + knight
Level: Beginner
Mating side: White
Also known as: arabian mate, kale ve at köşe matı

Moves

1.Rh7#

Black's king is on h8. 1.Rh7 gives check; the rook is protected by the f6 knight, so the king can't take it. The knight also covers g8 and the rook covers g7: mate.

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How to recognise Arabian Mate

The king is in the corner.
The rook checks right next to the king and the knight protects it.
The knight also covers the diagonal escape (g8).

How to defend

Don't leave your king alone in the corner; stop rooks from reaching the seventh rank.
Trade off a knight sitting on f6 (f3).

Frequently asked questions

Why is it called the Arabian mate?

Because it is one of the oldest mates, found in manuscripts from the era when chess was played in the Arab world.

Arabian vs Anastasia's mate?

In the Arabian mate the king is in the corner and the rook checks next to it; in Anastasia's the king is on the edge and the rook mates from along the file.

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Similar checkmate patterns

Anastasia's Mate — In Anastasia's mate a knight covers the king's escape squares and a rook mates along the edge file.
Corner Mate — In the corner mate a rook cuts off the g-file and a knight checks the cornered king.
Smothered Mate — In a smothered mate every square around the king is occupied by its own pieces and a single knight gives mate.

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