Check is in the Mail, July 2025: Reader's Games!

The theme for this issue of Check is in the Mail is Reader's Games. Since I began editing this column, I have received games from readers. I felt the time was right to publish some of those games. Please note: If you have submitted one or more games and you don't see it/them present in this issue, reset assured, I still have your submissions. Upcoming issues will also contain reader's games.

Games

Game 1

This game was played by Richard Aiken and Oswaldo Olivia using the E01: Catalan - Early deviations. From the 2023 Golden Knights, Section 23N06 tournament, this game ended in a draw after Aiken's 27th move.

Game 2

This game was played by Larry Cox and Allen Woollen using the B86: Sicilian Scheveningen/Najdorf: 6. Bc4, without early ... b5. From the 2023 Golden Knights, Section 23N15 tournament, Cox forced a resignation from Woollen after his 29th move.

Game 3

This game was played by Christian Von Huene and Jon Leisner using the D11: Slav Defence: 3 Nf3 sidelines and 3. ... Nf6 4. e3 Bg4. From the 2020 Golden Knights Semi-Finals, Section 20Ns06 tournament, the game ended in a draw after Leisner's 23rd move.

Game 4

This game was played by Larry Cox and John Wynecoop using the C36: King's Gambit Accepted: 3. Nf3 d5. From the 2019 Golden Knights, Section 19N07 tournament, the game ended in a draw after Cox's 49th move.

Game 5

This game was played by G. Gallagher and J. Kuspa using the B99: Sicilian Najdorf: 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. 0-0-0 Nbd7. From the 2024 Golden Knights, Section 24N01 tournament, the game ended in a draw after Kuspa's 33rd move.

Game 6

This game was played by Michael Miller and Mark McMahon using the B30: Sicilian: 2. ... Nc6 3. Bb5, lines without ... g6. From the 2025 Electronic Knights, Section 25EN03 tournament, McMahon mated Miller on his 41st move.

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
Larry Cox-John Wynecoop	G. Gallagher-J. Kuspa	Michael Miller-Mark McMahon
Latest Move: 33. ... Kc6	Latest Move: 15. ... Nd5	Latest Move: 34. Bb6
White	White	Black

I hope you enjoyed the games and puzzles!

Look for the next issue to be available around August 1st, 2025.

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.

-Jeff

From the Front Office

Michael D. Buss, US Chess Correspondence Coordinator

2024 Electronic Knights Semi-Finals
Three Semi-Final sections commenced play on 5/31/2025. All games are being played on the ICCF webserver (Correspondence Chess | US Chess.org)

24ENs01

Name	Player #	Rating	Preliminary Section	Score
Benjamin Hoback	1	1947	24EN01	6
John Richardson	2	2123	24EN08	5.5
John Walton	3	2382	24EN08	5.5
Egbert Schroeer	4	2123	24EN02	5
Robert Irons	5	2172	24EN03	4.5
James Flesher	6	2035	24EN06	4.5
Julius Simon	7	2199	24EN11	4

24ENs02

Name	Player #	Rating	Preliminary Section	Score
Dean Barclay	1	2299	24EN10	5.5
James Leonard	2	2020	24EN11	5.5
Lawrence Crittenton	3	2005	24EN05	5
Joshua Miller	4	1278	24EN09	5
Timothy Julkowski	5	2076	24EN03	4.5
Patrick McCartney	6	2017	24EN06	4.5
John Finnegan	7	1870	24EN02	4.5

24ENs03

Name	Player #	Rating	Preliminary Section	Score
Robert Irons	1	2172	24EN10	5.5
Patrick Walsh	2	1992	24EN08	5.5
Michael Buss	3	2407	24EN11	5
Johnny Owens	4	2141	24EN02	5
Robert TeVrucht	5	2117	24EN06	4.5
Lawrence Crittenton	6	2005	24EN04	4.5
John Finnegan	7	1870	24EN05	4

In Passing

Life member Allyne L. Smith of Des Moines, IA passed away on June 20, 2025. He was an active correspondence chess player competing in US Chess and ICCF events.

Time Complaints & Disputes

Please submit the following when submitting a time complaint:
a. The violator's name and address.
b. The Tournament Section.
c. Date of last move sent.
d. Date of repeat move sent.
e. Reflection time usage.

Please submit the following when submitting a dispute:
a. Section and game numbers.
b. Name of both players.
c. Game score.
d. Reflection time usage.
e. Supporting documentation (photocopies, scans, etc. are acceptable unless otherwise advised).

If you do not submit reflection time totals, a player cannot claim a win on time.

Time complaints can be submitted via email to [email protected] (PREFERRED) or mailed to:
US Chess
Attn: Correspondence Chess
P.O. Box 775308
St. Louis, MO 63177

USPS Postage Rate Increases

The next USPS postage rate increases will take effect on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Here are the highlights of what changes to expect in July:
- A five-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail Forever stamp, from 73 cents to 78 cents
- An increase from 28 to 29 cents for additional-ounce prices of single-piece letters
- A six-cent increase for domestic postcards, from 56 cents to 62 cents

Recent Event Winners

John Collins Memorial
23C09 - Allen Woollen - 6–0
23C11 - Wesley Underwood - 5½–½

Walter Muir E-Quads
24W23 - Robert Angres - 5–1
24W25 - Thomas Hutson - 4–2