Correspondence Chess for Slow Players: ICCF and Postal Chess for Older Adults

Correspondence chess is the slow-cooker version of the game. Each player has 1 to 30 days per move, depending on the format. There is no clock pressure, no rush, and no need to be at the board at any particular time. The format was originally played by mail with postcards, dating back to the 1820s. A move would be written on a postcard and dropped in the mail. The opponent would write the reply and mail it back. A single game might take 1 to 3 years to finish. The format is the perfect fit for an older adult who wants a thoughtful game without time pressure, who travels often, or who has limited daily energy.

The International Correspondence Chess Federation, called ICCF, is the global governing body of the format. The website is iccf.com. The ICCF was founded in 1951 and now uses a web-based server for almost all play. The postcards of the past have been replaced by a simple web interface where each player logs in, sees the games in progress, types the move, and clicks submit. The opponent receives an email and has 10 to 30 days to reply. The ICCF runs world championship tournaments, national team matches, and friendly events for any rating. Annual membership is around 30 dollars and gives access to the rating system, the magazine, and the entry forms for all events.

A senior who wants a casual entry into correspondence chess does not need to start at ICCF. Both Chess.com and lichess.org offer daily chess sections that work the same way. On Chess.com, the daily section has each player picking 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, or 14 days per move. Most casual players pick 3 days. A typical game lasts 4 to 8 weeks. Lichess offers a correspondence section with the same time-control options. Both platforms are free and a senior can have 10 to 30 games running at once, with the platform sending an email when an opponent has moved. The asynchronous nature means a senior can travel, take a vacation, or have a slow week without losing on time.

Postal chess by mail is still played in 2026 by a small group of dedicated older players. The Correspondence Chess League of America at correspondencechess.com runs postal events for members. The format uses preprinted postcards that come in packets from the league. Each postcard shows a chess board diagram for the move and a line for writing the move in algebraic notation. A senior who likes the ritual of writing a postcard, walking to the mailbox, and waiting for a reply will enjoy postal chess. The cost is around 25 dollars per year for membership plus the cost of postcards and stamps.

A few practical tips help a returning player succeed at correspondence chess. First, use a real board at home to study the position. Online correspondence is allowed by the ICCF and by most casual leagues to use a real board, a chess book, or a personal database during the game. Engines, meaning chess software that plays moves, are banned in most events but allowed in some computer-assisted events. Second, take notes on the plan for each game. A small notebook with one page per game helps a senior track what was planned three weeks ago when the opponent's reply finally arrives. Third, play 5 to 10 games at a time, not 30, until the format feels comfortable. Sources include iccf.com slash documents, correspondencechess.com, and the Chess.com daily chess help page at support.chess.com.