Check is in the Mail September 2026: Enduring the King('s Gambit)

Check is in the Mail

The King’s Gambit Declined is a chess opening that arises after 1. e4 e5 2. f4, when Black chooses not to accept White’s pawn sacrifice. Instead of playing 2. ... exf4, Black often develops actively with moves such as 2. ... Bc5 or strikes back in the center with 2. ... d5. By declining the gambit, Black avoids some of the sharpest attacking lines of the King’s Gambit Accepted while aiming for sound development, central control, and pressure against White’s slightly weakened king position.

The most common way to decline the gambit is the Classical Defense, 2. ... Bc5, where Black develops the bishop to an active diagonal and helps prevent White from easily playing d2-d4. 

In a 2018 Walter Muir E-Quad game, Brian Hey faced Paul Shannon, who claimed the full point.

In a 2021 Walter Muir E-Quad game, former CIITM Games Editor Robert Irons chose the Classical Defense against Joseph Hawkins and prevailed after 42 moves.

Another way to decline the gambit is the Falkbeer Counter-Gambit, 2. ... d5, which immediately contests White’s center. Black may also choose quieter setups with 2. ... Nc6, 2. ... d6, or 2. ... Nf6. In a 2013 Walter Muir E-Quad game, Kendrick Aung defeated Christopher Nelson.

Black can also decline with the flexible 2...Nc6. King’s Gambit players must be ready for declined lines as well as accepted ones. In this 2013 Walter Muir E-Quad game, prolific King’s Gambit essayist Errol Acosta faces Mark Swisher.

“Nobody ever beat a gambit by declining it!” JJ Lang, Digital Editor, US Chess (and others!).

A 2004 Absolute Tournament game between correspondence heavyweights Lawrence Coplin and Wesley Brandhorst, the 2002 Absolute champion and 2003 co-champion with Corky Schakel. The game begins as a Falkbeer Counter-Gambit before transposing to the King’s Gambit Accepted.

We close this month’s games with another Falkbeer Counter-Gambit that transposes to the KGA, from a 2025 Correspondence Chess League of America Winter Server series game between William Smiley and Ethan Civan.

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!

News from the Front Office

Electronic Knights National Semi-Finals 2025

The Semi-Finals began on August 31, 2026, with 14 qualifiers competing in two seven-player sections. They advanced from a field of 63 players across nine preliminary sections.

In Passing

Life member Peter Cavaliere of Staten Island, NY, passed away on December 2, 2025. An active participant in many US Chess correspondence chess events, he held an 1875 rating. His obituary is available here.

Recent Event Winners

John W. Collins Postal Quads

24C02: Jon Leisner, 5–1

24C10: Gary Gallagher, 5½–½ 

Walter Muir E-Quads ICCF

25W17: Jon Leisner, 5–1

26W11: Brian Perry, 6–0

Enter a US Chess Correspondence Chess Event

Two-player matches (Postal; ICCF; or email)

• 2 games
• 4 games
• 6 games
• Golden Knights
• Electronic Knights ICCF
• Victor Palciauskas Round Robin ICCF
• Walter Muir E-Quads ICCF
• John W. Collins Postal Quads

Until next month – Good chess and skill!