The kings will experience harsh treatment from beginning to end in Hacking Up The King!
Hacking Up The King is all about trying to checkmate the enemy king, whether castled or still in the center. There are countless books in this genre, but the 2014 work by English International Master David Eggleston is better than most.
If you like Attack with Mikhail Tal (which I reviewed previously) or the Larry Christiansen duo Storming the Barricades and Rocking the Ramparts, this book will be right up your alley.
I’ll go even further and tell you I prefer Hacking Up The King to Art of Attack in Chess, one of the most overrated “classics” in all of chess literature.
Eggleston fills his book with plenty of lines (variations), but also a serious dose of commentary. He put a lot of effort into this book, and a serious read will sharpen your attacking skills.
Eggleston’s book is not for beginners; I suggest at least a 1700 rating to benefit from it.
Higher-rated players can read it without a board to practice your calculation and visualization. It’s tough, but worth it!
Since a picture is worth a thousand words, check out the images below to get a feel for what you’ll encounter.
Hacking Up The King: Contents
Other Images from the Book
Check out this book for a good calculation workout while sharpening your attacking skills!
If you have read Hacking Up The King, what are your impressions of it? Which attacking books do you recommend? Comment below!