Explanation

Arabian mate was used in shatranj, the old Arabian form of chess. In this game, the knight (asb) and rook (rukh) could move as they can in modern chess. Arabian mate was mentioned in an Arabic manuscript more than a thousand years ago, making it the oldest known checkmate pattern!

Examples

White can deliver Arabian mate with Rg8#. This case with the king in the corner, and the knight guarding h7 (the only escape square not covered by the rook) is a "pure" Arabian mate.

White can deliver Arabian mate with Rg8#. Here the knight is adjacent to the checkmated king, but it can't be captured because it is defended by White's king on e6. The escape square on f7 is blocked by the black rook.

In the opening this checkmate is very rare, but here is an example from the Morra gambit:

White can win with the Arabian mate Rd7#. The knight on c7 guards the escape square e8, and the bishop on g5 pins the knight on f6, preventing Nxd7.

How to Spot Arabian Mate

This mate can happen frequently in endgames, but is also possible in middlegames, sometimes after a sacrifice.

Related patterns

In Anastasia's mate, and In Vuković's mate, the rook gives checkmate, and the knight guards escape squares.