---
title: "Classic mating patterns: chess lesson · Chess Goat"
description: "Five mates worth knowing by sight: smothered, Anastasia, Arabian, Boden and hook. 12-minute lesson with puzzles at your level."
canonical: "https://trychessgoat.com/learn/lesson/mating-patterns/"
last_updated: 2026-10-09
---

Level 2 · Win material on purpose · 800–1100 · 12 min

# Classic mating patterns

Five mates worth knowing by sight: smothered, Anastasia, Arabian, Boden and hook.

## The rule to take into your games

**When the enemy king is boxed in by its own pieces, look for the pattern that closes the last door.**

Part of Goat Pass: 5 steps on the board, 3 guided examples, then puzzles at your level, and the ones you miss come back until they stick. The first 3 lessons are free.

[Open this lesson →](https://trychessgoat.com/learn/#/lesson/mating-patterns)

Not sure this is your leak? Your free [Goat Card](https://trychessgoat.com/u/) reads your chess.com games and puts the lessons that fix your biggest mistakes first. Next lesson: [A simple White repertoire](https://trychessgoat.com/learn/lesson/white-repertoire/).