Vladimir Vukovic showed two versions of a particular kind of Rook and Knight checkmate pattern in his book, THE ART OF ATTACK IN CHESS, (c)1993 by Cardogan Press, Chapter 4: Mating Patterns, under "Typical Mates with Enemy Pieces," page 72, both from within one diagram.

Here is that starting position (note that Vukovic had not placed the White King, however):

click for larger view

The two pending mates were not labelled with names there, but several chess writers have identified them as forms of the Hook Mate. IM Vukovic declares it to be "a typical mating pattern well worth remembering." I have managed to use it in OTB play and like to introduce it to my students as well.

One version of the Hook Mate, which I think of as part of a slash/swoosh, proceeds from the diagram by 1. Rd8+ Kh7 2. Rh8#:

click for larger view

I use the code <SW> for this version of the Hook Mate. The vital chessmen span three files.

Here is the other version, which seems to resemble a sickle or question mark (without the dot at the bottom), as provided by IM Vukovic as a result of 1. Rd8+ Kf7 2. Rf8#:

click for larger view

I use the code <QM> for this version of the Hook Mate. The vital group of chessmen here span only two files.

Note that the Pawn could be on either diagonal "behind" the Knight (away from the opposing King). This point is significant because the SW and QM versions differ only by the positioning of this Pawn.

The code <IV> is for Interesting Variations, those games which do not fit either of those previous types. Most often, a chess piece (not a Pawn) protects the Rook, even from a distance.

This Hook Mate game collection only has games with the defending King and the attacking Rook in the same file, i.e., a vertical orientation, or the same rank, i.e, a horizontal orientation. Of course, this mate most frequently occurs with King and Rook in the same file, but check out this game for the horizontal flavor:

Rouse, Philip vs Henke, Simon
Corr. 2001 23 moves 1-0

CG doesn't have it in their database, so here is its score:

Date "2001"
White "Rouse, Philip (ENG)"
Black "Henke, Simon (GER)"
Result "1-0"
ECO "A45"
Opening "Trompovsky attack (Ruth, Opovcensky opening)"

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e4 Be7 4. Bd3 h6 5. Bh4 Nc6 6. c3 b6 7. e5 Nd5 8. Bg3 Bg5 9. Nf3 Nf4 10. Bf1 Bb7 11. h4 Bxh4 12. Nxh4 Nd5 13. Nd2 Nce7 14. Bd3 Qc8 15. a3 c5 16. Ne4 O-O 17. c4 Nc7 18. Nf6+ Kh8 19. Qh5 Ne8 20. Ng6+ fxg6 21. Qxh6+ gxh6 22. Rxh6+ Kg7 23. Rh7# 1-0

Its mating position is:

click for larger view

Also, there is a game between two girls in the semi-finals of the Ukrainian championship for U14 that also ends with the Hook Mate in the horizontal orientation:

Poshivaylo, K. vs Breslavskaya, Galina
Lvov, Ukraine 1999 32 moves 0-1 <SW>

Again, CG doesn't have it in their database, so here is its score:

Event "Ch Ukraine"
Site "Lvov (Ukraine)"
Date "1999"
White "Poshivaylo, K."
Black "Breslavskaya, Galina (UKR)"
Result "0-1"
ECO "B01"

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bc4 Bg4 5. f3 Bc8 6. Bb5+ Bd7 7. Bc4 b5 8. Bb3 Bc8 9. Qe2 Ba6 10. d3 g6 11. c4 Bg7 12. Nc3 bxc4 13. dxc4 O-O 14. Be3 c6 15. Qf2 cxd5 16. cxd5 Nbd7 17. Bxa7 Ne5 18. Qb6 Nd3+ 19. Kd2 Bh6+ 20. Kc2 Qd7 21. Rd1 Qxa7 22. Qxa7 Nb4+ 23. Kb1 Rxa7 24. Nh3 Rfa8 25. g4 Nd7 26. a3 Bd3+ 27. Ka1 Nc5 28. Ba2 Nc2+ 29. Kb1 Nxa3+ 30. Ka1 Nb3+ 31. Bxb3 Nc2+ 32. Kb1 Ra1# 0-1

Its mating position is:

click for larger view

In any event, note that the defending King can never sit in a corner for this mating pattern. The attacking Rook can be in a corner, however, as seen above.

ChessCoachClark (CCC) originated this game collection prior to 2015 and he updates it on occasion. This project is a work in progress, culling games from various sources, including several chess training books and personal research. The games are ordered by date (oldest first), not by importance.

Be well.
Be safe.