Check is in the Mail, May 2026: Absolute Success!

This issue of Check is in the Mail contains games (and puzzles) from the 2024 Absolute Championship tournament. As you will also see in the Front Office section, ICCF CCM Timothy Harris won the tournament. This is the first time Timothy has won an Absolute Championship tournament. Congratulations Timothy!

With three of the six games provided in this issue containing a variation of the Ruy Lopez opening, it was clearly the most popular.

Even though the typical six games are provided in this issue, as an added bonus, I have included all twelve games played by ICCF CCM Timothy Harris in the LiChess Study. Please note: Games not included in this issue may still be published in an upcoming issue. For example, there are three miniatures in those twelve games that could potentially show up in the December 2026 issue

Enjoy!

Games

Reminder when reviewing the crosstables:

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

The latest results are displayed in red.

All games were played in the 2024 Absolute Championship tournament.

Game 1

This game was played against Frederick Rhine using the E11: Bogo-Indian. A draw was agreed to on Harris' 31st move.

Game 2

This game was played against Chris Lewis using the C65: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence (3. ... Nf6), unusual lines and 4. 0-0 Bc5. Harris mated Lewis on his 28th move.

Game 3

This game was played against Keith A. Rodriguez using the B76: Sicilian Dragon: Yugoslav Attack, 9. g4 and 9. 0-0-0. A draw was agreed to on Rodriguez's 30th move.

Game 4

This game was played against Ferdinand Burmeister using the B06: Modern Defence. Harris forced a resignation from Burmeister after his 69th move.

Game 5

This game was played against Jeff Reger using the C65: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence (3. ... Nf6), unusual lines and 4. 0-0 Bc5. A draw was agreed to on Harris' 47th move.

Game 6

This game was played against David Porter using the C84: Closed Ruy Lopez: Unusual White 6th moves. Harris forced a resignation from Porter after 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
Lewis-Harris	Harris-Burmeister	Harris-Burmeister
Latest Move: 28. Qf3	Latest Move: 64. ... Ka8	Latest Move: 68. ... Nc6
Black to Move	White to Move	White to Move

I hope you enjoyed the games and puzzles!

Look for the next issue to be available around June 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.

-Jeff

From the Front Office

Michael D. Buss, US Chess Correspondence Coordinator

A Short Look Back

The term "correspondence chess" is somewhat of a misnomer in today's world. Originally correspondence chess was played with postcards or letters, hence why today many still call it "postal chess".

When I re-commenced my postal chess career, I depended upon Modern Chess Openings, Basic Chess Endings by Reuben Fine and many other opening books. I added each volume of the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings to my ever-growing chess library...

I would set up the position on a board and analyze it in depth before moving. Regarding the use of a board, pieces, and keeping the game score, I still have a dozen or so "Post-A-Logs" that the USCF sold back in the day. Descriptive or algebraic notation...

I played off-beat openings the Orangutan, Ponziani and the Nimzowitsch Defense. It's not to say that I didn't have success...

What did it cost to mail a postcard?
March 2, 1974 - 8 cents; September 14, 1975 - 7 cents; December 31,1975 - 9 cents; May 29, 1978 - 10 cents; March 22, 1981 - 12 cents; November 1, 1981 - 13 cents; February 17, 1985 - 14 cents...

It's good to reminisce from time to time.

2020 Electronic Knights National Final

The National Finals began on April 24, 2026, with a final section of seven doing battle.
One hundred and forty players competed in 20 preliminary sections with 42 players advancing to six semi-final sections. The National Finals qualifiers are:

Name	Prelim	Prelim Score	Semi	Semi Score	Weighted Points*
Michael Buss	20N07	6	20Ns04	6	19.2
Rick Johnson	20N11	5.5	20Ns05	6	18.7
Paul Ott	20N16	5.5	20Ns06	5	16.5
Steven O'Connor	20N17	6	20Ns02	4.5	15.9
Jerald Pinto	20N03	6	20Ns01	4.5	15.9
Bruce Weiner	20N19	6	20Ns03	4.5	15.9
Mark Colvin	20N08	6	20Ns02	4.5	15.9

2024 Absolute Championship

ICCF CCM Timothy Harris of Simpsonville, SC is the winner scoring 7½–4½ (+3, =9, -0). This is Timothy's first Absolute championship. One game remains which could impact the second-place finishers. The cross table can be found here. Our congratulations to Timothy!

In Passing

NM Michael Bury of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania passed away on 4/3/26. He held a 2200 CC rating. His obituary can be found here.

Correspondence Chess Tournament Entries

Players are encouraged to use the new online registration:

Recent Event Winners

Victor Palciauskas Round Robin Tournament ICCF
25VP08 - Gregory Hall and William Perry - 4½–1½
25VP10 - Austin Emmons - 6–0
25VP11 - Chris Martinez - 6–0

Walter Muir E-Quads ICCF
25W11 - Nicholas Sloan - 4½–1½
26W01 - Jacob Reeves - 6–0

John W Collins Postal Quads
24C07 - John Bailey - 6–0