Check is in the Mail
This month we take over the helm as Games Editor. Having recently lost as Black to a King’s Gambit Accepted (KGA) in a Golden Knights Final (not by some tactical shot but a clerical error, more on that someday), I thought it would be interesting to see how many KGA games have been played in US Chess CC events. Searching the ICCF games database, I was able to find 134 games played over the past 25 years, from all levels of competition. Of course, this database does not include those played through the “traditional” mail or email. Let’s dive in!
Return of the King(‘s Gambit)
“Theory regards this opening as incorrect, but it is impossible to agree with this. Out of the five tournament games played by me with the King’s Gambit, I have won all five.” – David Bronstein
Our first game is from the 2016 Absolute Correspondence Chess Championship featuring the Modern Defense 3. … d5, also known as the Abbazia Defense. CC heavy weights Keith Rodriguez and Danny Horwitz settle for a 25-move draw.
Bobby Fischer wrote a famous article, “A Bust to the King’s Gambit”, in which he stated, “In my opinion the King’s Gambit is busted. It loses by force.” and offered his Fischer Defense (3. … d6) as a refutation.
Here, Richard Title takes down Eric Pedersen in the 2004 Absolute with the Fischer Defense.
“It doesn’t require much for misfortune to strike in the King’s Gambit – one incautious move, and Black can be on the edge of the abyss.” – Anatoly Karpov
A year earlier, Title essayed the Classical Variation: 3.Nf3 g5, Kieseritzky Gambit against Michael Calogridis.
Moving down the rating ladder, Errol Acosta’s name appears in 60 of the database games! Here, Acosta plays the Bishop’s Gambit: 3. Bc4 from a 2016 Walter Muir E-Quad against David Wright.
A 2022 Walter Muir E-Quad features two 1800-rated players — Jose Beauvais and Jay Hall — splitting the point as the KGA quickly transposes into a Vienna Game.
Our final game sees Errol Acosta on the losing side to Daniel Garnett in a 2024 Victor Palciauskas Round Robin Tournament.
“The King’s Gambit was my bread and butter growing up as a teenager! Although I understand the landscape has changed a bit in the neural net age.” JJ Lang, Digital Editor, US Chess.
All games annotated using Stockfish. Please email Click here to show email address or snail mail (US Chess, P.O. Box 775308, St. Louis, MO 63177) your games for possible publication!
Next month we will look at the King’s Gambit Declined. Stay tuned.
News from the Front Office
Golden Knights National Finals 2021
The 2021 National Finals will commence August 7, 2026, with two sections of seven each doing battle. One hundred and sixty-one players competed in 23 preliminary sections with 42 players advancing to 6 semi-final sections. The National Finals qualifiers are:
Name
Prelim
Score
Semi
Score
Weighted Points
Michael Buss
21N19
5.5
21Ns03
6
18.7
Steven O’Connor
21N19
5.5
21Ns04
5.5
17.6
David Drevinsky
21N05
5.5
21Ns04
5.5
17.6
Steven O’Connor
21N11
5.5
21Ns06
5.5
17.6
Jerald Pinto
21N11
5.5
21Ns05
5.5
17.6
David Porter
21N16
6
21Ns02
5
17
Brad Baldridge
21N13
4.5
21Ns05
5.5
16.6
David Drevinsky
21N04
5.5
21Ns02
5
16.5
Joseph Kuspa
21N21
5.5
21Ns03
4.5
15.4
Allen Woollen
21N15
5
21Ns01
4.5
14.9
Timothy Randall
21N13
4.5
21Ns03
4.5
14.4
Paul Ott
21N10
6
21Ns04
3.5
13.7
Steven Smith
21N01
6
21Ns05
3.5
13.7
Thomas Babcock
21N16
5
21Ns06
3.5
12.7
Correspondence Chess ratings and results
We are planning for the Correspondence Chess ratings and results migration into the MUIR system early next spring 2027. Players will be able to access Correspondence Chess events, check results, and progress in the event. The top 100 Correspondence Chess rating list will also be available.
USPS News and Updates (The following is from the USPS website.)
What is a Postmark?
A postmark is a marking applied by the Postal Service™ to a mailpiece (letter, flat or package). A postmark displays the following:
The name or location (city and state) of the processing facility or retail unit that applied the postmark The date of the first automated processing operation performed on that mailpiece, if the postmark was applied at a processing facility The date it was accepted at a retail unit, if the postmark was applied at retail
Cancellation markings, where necessary, to cancel postage so that it may not be reused, which will typically be seen as lines or bars printed over the postage.
Postmarks are generally applied by the Postal Service via automation on machines in processing facilities or manually applied by employees at those facilities. Postmarks may also be applied manually by employees at a retail unit upon request from the customer.
While we are not changing our postmarking practices, we have made adjustments to our transportation operations that will result in some mailpieces not arriving at our originating processing facilities on the same day that they are mailed. This means that the date on the postmarks applied at our processing facilities will not necessarily match the date on which your mailpiece was collected by a letter carrier, dropped off at a retail location, or placed in a collection box.
The Postal Service does not postmark every piece of mail in the normal course of operations. For example, Marketing Mail, Presort First-Class Mail, and metered mail presented to the Postal Service in trays will bypass originating processing operations, including machine cancellation. While the Postal Service intends to postmark letters and flats that are entered as Single-Piece First-Class Mail and processed on automated cancellation machines, there are circumstances when mail will not receive a postmark, including where a mailpiece is stuck to another mailpiece when it runs through the cancelling machine, or where the machine runs out of ink or smears when applying postmarks.
Note: If you want to ensure that your mail receives a postmark and that the date on the postmark aligns with the date of mailing, you can go to any USPS retail counter and request a postal employee to manually postmark, or “hand-cancel”, up to 50 items for free.
Postage Rate Increase
First‑Class Mail Changes (Effective July 12, 2026)
Forever stamp: 78¢ → 82¢
Domestic postcard: 61¢ → 65¢
In Passing
Don Collins of Parma, Ohio passed away on June 19, 2026. Mr. Collins was a CC master with a 2548 rating.
Recent Event Winners
Walter Muir ICCF E-Quad
25W16 – Alex Strobhein – 5-1
26W03 – Michael Flaherty – 5-1
Enter a US Chess Correspondence Chess Event
Two-player matches (Postal; ICCF; or email)
Victor Palciauskas Round Robin ICCF
Until next month – Good chess and skill!
Check is in the Mail: A Dive into the King’s Gambit in Correspondence Chess
This month, we proudly step into the role of Games Editor, bringing fresh insights and analysis to the world of correspondence chess. Recently, I faced a disappointing defeat as Black in a King’s Gambit Accepted (KGA) during the Golden Knights Final—not due to a tactical blunder, but rather a clerical error. This experience sparked my curiosity about the prevalence of KGA games in US Chess Correspondence events. A deep dive into the ICCF games database revealed a treasure trove of 134 KGA games played over the past 25 years, spanning all levels of competition. Notably, this count excludes games played via traditional mail or email. Let’s explore!
Return of the King’s Gambit
David Bronstein once remarked, “Theory regards this opening as incorrect, but it is impossible to agree with this. Out of the five tournament games played by me with the King’s Gambit, I have won all five.” This sentiment captures the essence of the King’s Gambit—a bold and aggressive opening that continues to intrigue players.
Our journey begins with a notable game from the 2016 Absolute Correspondence Chess Championship, where heavyweights Keith Rodriguez and Danny Horwitz faced off. They settled for a 25-move draw, showcasing the strategic depth of the Modern Defense 3. … d5, also known as the Abbazia Defense.
Bobby Fischer famously critiqued the King’s Gambit in his article, “A Bust to the King’s Gambit,” asserting, “In my opinion, the King’s Gambit is busted. It loses by force.” He proposed the Fischer Defense (3. … d6) as a counter. In a 2004 Absolute event, Richard Title demonstrated this defense effectively, taking down Eric Pedersen.
Anatoly Karpov warned, “It doesn’t require much for misfortune to strike in the King’s Gambit – one incautious move, and Black can be on the edge of the abyss.” Title again showcased his prowess in the Classical Variation: 3.Nf3 g5, Kieseritzky Gambit, against Michael Calogridis in 2003.
As we move down the rating ladder, Errol Acosta emerges as a prolific player, featuring in 60 games within our database! In a 2016 Walter Muir E-Quad, Acosta played the Bishop’s Gambit: 3. Bc4 against David Wright.
Fast forward to a 2022 Walter Muir E-Quad, where two 1800-rated players, Jose Beauvais and Jay Hall, split the point as the KGA quickly transposed into a Vienna Game.
In our final game, Acosta faced Daniel Garnett in a 2024 Victor Palciauskas Round Robin Tournament, showcasing the ongoing relevance of the King’s Gambit in modern play.
JJ Lang, Digital Editor at US Chess, reminisced, “The King’s Gambit was my bread and butter growing up as a teenager! Although I understand the landscape has changed a bit in the neural net age.”
All games have been annotated using Stockfish. We invite you to share your games for potential publication—reach out via email or traditional mail at US Chess, P.O. Box 775308, St. Louis, MO 63177. Next month, we’ll delve into the King’s Gambit Declined. Stay tuned!
News from the Front Office
Golden Knights National Finals 2021
Mark your calendars! The 2021 National Finals will commence on August 7, 2026, featuring two sections of seven players each. A total of 161 players competed across 23 preliminary sections, with 42 advancing to six semi-final sections. Here are the qualifiers:
| Name | Prelim | Score | Semi | Score | Weighted Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Buss | 21N19 | 5.5 | 21Ns03 | 6 | 18.7 |
| Steven O’Connor | 21N19 | 5.5 | 21Ns04 | 5.5 | 17.6 |
| David Drevinsky | 21N05 | 5.5 | 21Ns04 | 5.5 | 17.6 |
| Jerald Pinto | 21N11 | 5.5 | 21Ns05 | 5.5 | 17.6 |
| David Porter | 21N16 | 6 | 21Ns02 | 5 | 17 |
| … | … | … | … | … | … |
Correspondence Chess Ratings and Results
We are gearing up for the migration of Correspondence Chess ratings and results into the MUIR system, set for early spring 2027. Players will soon have access to event results and progress, along with the top 100 Correspondence Chess rating list.
USPS News and Updates
What is a Postmark?
A postmark is a marking applied by the Postal Service™ to a mailpiece, indicating its processing location and date. While postmarks are generally applied automatically, some mailpieces may not receive them due to various operational circumstances.
Postage Rate Increase
Effective July 12, 2026, the Forever stamp will increase from 78¢ to 82¢, and domestic postcards will rise from 61¢ to 65¢.
In Passing
We mourn the loss of Don Collins of Parma, Ohio, who passed away on June 19, 2026. Mr. Collins was a distinguished CC master with a 2548 rating.
Recent Event Winners
Walter Muir ICCF E-Quad
- 25W16 – Alex Strobhein – 5-1
- 26W03 – Michael Flaherty – 5-1
Enter a US Chess Correspondence Chess Event
Join the action! Participate in two-player matches via postal, ICCF, or email. Check out the upcoming events and register today!
Until next month—good chess and skill!