Check is in the Mail, March 2026: Man the Outposts!

The focus of this issue is games featuring outposts. The definition of an outpost in chess can refer to different pieces sitting on different squares (primarily in enemy territory), defended by virtually any piece. For the purposes of this issue, we are going to be a bit more specific; an outpost occurs when a knight sitting on a center square in enemy territory and is, at least, initially protected by a pawn.

The games provided in this issue all feature an outpost for the player that won the game. Some games also feature an outpost for the player that lost the game. There are no drawn games.

Enjoy!

Games

Reminder when reviewing the crosstables:

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

The latest results are displayed in red.

The next two games were played in Section 5 of the 2025 Electronic Knights tournament.

Game 1

This game was played by Errol Acosta and Anthony King using the ECO: B23: Closed Sicilian: Lines without g3. Acosta mated King in 34 moves.

Game 2

This game was played by Connor Izard and Lynn Molzahn using the ECO: C47: Scotch Four Knights and Four Knights with 4. g3. Izard forced a resignation from Molzahn on his 24th move.

Game 3

The next game was played in Section 7 of the 2025 Electronic Knights tournament.

This game was played by Robert Irons and Stuart Collins using the ECO: A46: 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6: Torre, London and Colle Systems. Irons forced a resignation from Collins on his 36th move.

Game 4

The next game was played in Section 3 of the 2025 Victor Palciauskas Round Robin tournament.

This game was played by Chris Wainscott and Gordon Picotte using the ECO: B28: Sicilian: 2. Nf3 a6 (O'Kelly Variation). Wainscott forced a resignation from Picotte on his 21st move.

Game 5

The next game was played in Section 6 of the 2025 Victor Palciauskas Round Robin tournament.

This game was played by Kevin Green and Tony Delgado using the ECO: E51: Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein: 4. ... 0-0 5. Nf3 d5. Green forced a resignation from Delgado on his 27th move.

Game 6

The next game was played in Section 1 of the 2023 Electronic Knights Semi-Final tournament.

This game was played by Robert L. S. Angres and Patrick Walsh using the ECO: A01: Nimzowitsch-Larsen Opening. Walsh forced a resignation from Angres on his 31st 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.

Please note: The puzzles below do NOT focus on outposts, but instead on good tactical or strategic responses during the games.

Puzzle 1	Puzzle 2	Puzzle 3
Image	Image	Image
Irons-Collins	Green-Delgado	Angres-Walsh
Latest Move: 18. ... b4	Latest Move: 13. Nxc4	Latest Move: 20. ... f5
White to Move	Black to Move	White to Move

I hope you enjoyed the games and puzzles!

Look for the next issue to be available around April 1st, 2026 ... I'm not fooling.

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

Abraham "Abe" Lincoln Wilson

It is with profound sadness to report that our good chess friend Abraham Wilson of Mililani, Hawaii passed away on January 19, 2026, after a 10-year battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Abraham was a two-time Golden Knights champion (2000 & 2005). His obituary can be found here.

From the October 2023 column of Check Is In The Mail, Abe Wilson, Aloha Nui a Hui Hou Kakou | US Chess.org, was dedicated to him on his retirement from correspondence chess after 36 years of competition.

Rest in peace Abe.

Correspondence Chess Tournament Entries

Players are encouraged to use the new online registration:

We think the new sites are much easier to use and navigate!

Two-player matches (Postal or email)

2023 Golden Knights Semi-Finals

Four sections have begun play. We wish all good skill and chess.

Name	Prelim	Prelim Score	Semi

Steven O'Connor	23N01	6.0	23Ns01
Allen Woollen	23N12	5.5	23Ns01
Paul Ott	23N07	5.5	23Ns01
Randolph Oliver	23N17	5.5	23Ns01
Richard Aiken	23N06	4.5	23Ns01
Joseph Kuspa	23N04	4.5	23Ns01
Brian Flowers	23N10	4.5	23Ns01

Steven O'Connor	23N18	6.0	23Ns02
Oswaldo Olivio	23N06	5.5	23Ns02
Paul Ott	23N12	5.5	23Ns02
Alan Yeomans	23N03	5.0	23Ns02
Allen Woollen	23N02	4.5	23Ns02
Greg Whitlock	23N05	4.5	23Ns02
Nicole Niemi	23N07	4.5	23Ns02

David Porter	23N16	6.0	23Ns03
Steven O'Connor	23N11	5.5	23Ns03
Michael Butler	23N05	5.5	23Ns03
Thomas Babcock	23N19	5.0	23Ns03
Allen Woollen	23N07	4.5	23Ns03
Joseph Kuspa	23N15	4.5	23Ns03
Edwin Carrero	23N06	4.5	23Ns03

Claude Corbett III	23N19	6.0	23Ns04
Allen Woollen	23N17	5.5	23Ns04
James Chessing	23N11	5.5	23Ns04
Scott Beaver	23N18	5.0	23Ns04
Steven O'Connor	23N16	4.5	23Ns04
Paul Ott	23N15	4.5	23Ns04
Randall Smolensky	23N14	4.0	23Ns04