Check is in the Mail, December 2025: Return of the Mini!

December means it's time for the annual Miniatures Issue. Games containing 25 or fewer moves are presented. Some games may contain variations that extend past the 25-move limitation; however, the main line moves of the game will have no more than 25. Other specific requirements: games have no fewer than 19 moves, and were posted to the ICCF archives this year.

Since the games are all miniatures, I doubled the number of games and puzzles typically provided for an issue of Check is in the Mail.

Also in this issue are two additional games that were played by the co-author of Check is in the Mail. Michael D. Buss always provides the content for the Front Office section. I added two games to the end of the issue. One of the puzzles provided is also from one of these games.

In short, there are a total of fourteen games and six puzzles in this issue. Enjoy!!!

Games

Reminder when reviewing the cross tables:

X^D = result by default
X^E = exceeded time limit

The latest results are displayed in red.

25VP01

The first game, provided below, is from the 25VP01 Section of the Victor Palciauskas tournament.

Game 1

This game was played by Kurt Pearson and Jonathan Silverstein using the B21: Sicilian: 2. f4 and Morra Gambit. Pearson forced a resignation from Silverstein in 19 moves.

25VP03

The next two games, provided below, are from the 25VP03 Section of the Victor Palciauskas tournament.

Game 2

This game was played by Christopher Carlson and Chris Wainscott using the D00: 1 d4 d5: Unusual lines. Carlson forced a resignation from Wainscott in 23 moves.

Game 3

This game was played by Bruce Moskowitz and Michael McCaffery using the D37: Queen's Gambit Declined: 5. Bf4. McCaffery forced a resignation from Moskowitz in 24 moves.

25VP04

The next game, provided below, is from the 25VP04 Section of the Victor Palciauskas tournament.

Game 4

This game was played by Markle W. Butcher and Gary Branton using the B97: Sicilian Najdorf: Poisoned Pawn. Butcher forced a resignation from Branton in 21 moves.

25VP07

The next game, provided below, is from the 25VP07 Section of the Victor Palciauskas tournament.

Game 5

This game was played by Robert Beavan and Christopher Carlson using the A42: Modern Defence: Averbakh Variation. Beavan forced a resignation from Carlson in 25 moves.

25EN03

The next game, provided below, is from the 25EN03 Section of the 2025 Electronic Knights tournament.

Please note: There were still ongoing games in this section and the cross table provided represents the results that were available at the time this issue was edited.

Game 6

This game was played by Egbert Schroeer and Derek Lazzara using the D94: Grunfeld: 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. e3. Schroeer forced a resignation from Lazzara in 25 moves.

23ENs01

The next game, provided below, are from the 23ENs01 Section of the 2023 Electronic Knights Semi-Finals tournament.

Game 7

This game was played by John Wynecoop and Aaden Jenks using the A45: Trompowsky Attack. Wynecoop forced a resignation of Jenks in 25 moves.

23ENs02

The next two games, provided below, are from the 23ENs02 Section of the 2023 Electronic Knights Semi-Finals tournament.

Game 8

This game was played by Stuart Collins and Robert Skipper using the A04: Unusual lines after 1. Nf3 and King's Indian Attack. Collins forced a resignation from Skipper in 22 moves.

Game 9

This game was played by Robert Skipper and Egbert Schroeer using the E71: King's Indian: 4. e4 d6 5. h3. Schroeer forced a resignation from Skipper in 24 moves.

23ENs03

The next game, provided below, is from the 23ENs03 Section of the 2023 Electronic Knights Semi-Finals tournament.

Please note: There were still ongoing games in this section and the cross table provided represents the results that were available at the time this issue was edited.

Game 10

This game was played by Nicholas Chrysanthou and Peter M. Link using the C24: Bishop's Opening: 2. ... Nf6. Link forced a resignation from Chrysanthou in 25 moves.

25W05

The next two games, provided below, are from the 25W05 Section of the 2025 Walter Muir E-Quads tournament.

Game 11

This game was played by Gregory Hall and Nicholas Sloan using the B15: Caro-Kann: 3. Nc3: 3. ... g6 and 3. ... dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6. Sloan forced a resignation from Hall in 25 moves.

Game 12

This game was played by Ray D. Kappel and Nicholas Sloan using the A46: 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6: Torre, London and Colle Systems. Sloan forced a resignation from Kappel in 25 moves.

Puzzles

Here are some puzzles from the provided games. Answers can be found by scrolling to the very end of the issue.

Reminder: Puzzles can be solved online. Click/tap on a puzzle diagram below to access the interactive version of the puzzle. Once a puzzle is displayed, the last move will be shown and then the puzzle will wait for a move to be entered. It is not necessary to return to this page in order to access the other puzzles and games for this issue. However, clicking/tapping on a diagram below will take you directly to the puzzle selected. Note: Interactive puzzles are provided beginning with the June 2025 issue.

Puzzle 1	Puzzle 2	Puzzle 3
Image	Image	Image
Pearson – Silverstein	Moskowitz – McCaffery	Schroeer – Lazzara
Latest Move: 18. ... Rh8	Latest Move: 23. Rd6?	Latest Move: 24. ... f5
White to Move	Black to Move	White to Move

Puzzle 4	Puzzle 5	Puzzle 6
Image	Image	Image
Buss – Skipper	Chrysanthou – Link	Hall – Sloan
Latest Move: 18. ... g6?	Latest Move: 18. Nxd4	Latest Move: 24. Rf1?
White to Move	Black to Move	Black to Move

I hope you enjoyed the games and puzzles!

Look for the next issue to be available around January 1st, 2026.

Feel free to send me US Chess Federation correspondence games for potential inclusion in future issues of Check is in the Mail. My email address is: Click here to show email address.

Best wishes for the holidays and stay safe! We'll be back next year.

-Jeff

From the Front Office

Michael D. Buss, US Chess Correspondence Coordinator

"Like a good chess match, the holidays are best enjoyed with patience, strategy, and a touch of surprise."

Recent Event Winners

Walter Muir E-Quads ICCF
25W04 - Desmond Ligeralde - 5½–½
25W10 - William Perry - 4½–1½

Victor Palciauskas Round Robin Tournament ICCF
25VP09 - Nathan Rogers - 6–0

In Passing

James G. Kesey - Stockton, California passed away on October 10, 2025.

Douglas U. Fischer - Chambersburg, Pennsylvania passed away on September 28, 2025.

"Checkmate to the year's worries – it's time for joy, peace, and a board full of bright possibilities."

"Miniature games are not just short – they're intensely tactical, often decided by a single mistake or brilliant idea."

Something Extra

The two additional games, mentioned in the introduction, are provided below.

Mike's Game 1

25EN06

The next game, provided below, is from the 25EN06 Section of the 2025 Electronic Knights tournament.

Please note: There were still ongoing games in this section and the cross table provided represents the results that were available at the time this issue was edited.

This game was played by Michael D. Buss and Robert Skipper using the A07: Reti Opening: New York and Capablanca Systems. Buss forced a resignation from Skipper in 24 moves.

23ENs02

The next game, provided below, is from the 23ENs02 Section of the 2023 Electronic Knights Semi-Finals tournament.

You can find the cross table just before Game 8 above.

Mike's Game 2

This game was played by Michael D. Buss and Michael McCaffery using the A13: English Opening: 1. ... e6. Buss forced a resignation from McCaffery in 21 moves.

Puzzle Answers

Puzzle 1 - 19. Nh4
Puzzle 2 - 23. ... Rc1+
Puzzle 3 - 25. Rd7
Puzzle 4 - 19. Nb5!
Puzzle 5 - 18. ... Bxa3!
Puzzle 6 - 24. ... Nxf4