Check is in the Mail, November 2025: Rockin' Robin!

In this issue we have games from four different sections of the Victor Palciauskas tournament. This tournament, which was also partially covered in the last issue of Check is in the Mail, is a Round Robin ICCF Server-based tournament. Similar to the last issue, you will find games played by some of the winners in the tournament sections provided within the Front Office section.

Reminder: The December issue of Check is in the Mail is our yearly Miniature Games issue. If you have played any game(s) that ended in 25 moves or less that you would like considered for publication in next month's issue, please email the game(s) to me.

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 two games, provided below, are from the 25VP01 Section of the Victor Palciauskas tournament.

Game 1

This game was played by Victor Huffstatler and Jonathan Silverstein using the A17: English Opening: 1. ... Nf6 with ... Bb4. Huffstatler forced a resignation from Silverstein in 23 moves.

Game 2

This game was played by Paul D. Shannon and Victor Huffstatler using the 42: Petroff Defence: 3. Nxe5 and unusual White 3rd moves. Huffstatler forced a resignation from Shannon in 48 moves.

25VP02

The next game, provided below, is from the 25VP02 Section of the Victor Palciauskas tournament.

Game 3

This game was played by Colin O'Sullivan and Joseph Aiken using the C56: Two Knights: 4. d4 exd4 5. 0-0 Nxe4. Aiken forced a resignation from O'Sullivan in 24 moves.

25VP06

The next two games, provided below, are from the 25VP06 Section of the Victor Palciauskas tournament.

Game 4

This game was played by Kevin Green and Micah Alvarado using the D40: Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch with 5. e3. Green forced a resignation from Alvarado in 34 moves.

Game 5

This game was played by Trai Corte and Kevin Green using the B27: Sicilian: 2. Nf3, unusual Black 2nd moves. Green forced a resignation from Corte in 40 moves.

25VP07

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

Game 6

This game was played by Patrick Walsh and Mark McMahon using the B52: Sicilian: Moscow Variation with 3. ... Bd7. From the USCF/WS/25VP07 section of the tournament, Walsh forced a resignation from McMahon in 28 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
O'Sullivan–Aiken	Green–Alvarado	Walsh–McMahon
Latest Move: 23. ... Be5+	Latest Move: 30. ... Nf5	Latest Move: 20. Rb7
White to Move	White to Move	Black to Move

I hope you enjoyed the games and puzzles!

Look for the next issue to be available around December 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

ICCF New Titles 2024-2025

The New Title List can be found here. Our congratulations to the United States CC players.

US Chess-ICCF Webserver CC Events

Tournament Assignment Notification: Sending separate assignment emails outside the ICCF server system for the Electronic Knights, Victor Palciauskas, and Walter Muir CC tournaments have been discontinued. US Chess CC ratings will be included in the tournament information section.

In Passing

Gregory Nolan of Hatboro, Pennsylvania passed away on October 14, 2025.

CCLA 2025 Fall Server Series

Entry fee $8; entries close November 15th. One round, no prizes. Entrants grouped by rating. Players paired as either a 7-player single round robin, or as a 4-, 5- or 6-player double-round robin. The total number of games played is six to ten, depending on the number of entrants and pairing options. Multiple entries permitted. More information can be found here.

Recent Event Winners

John W. Collins Postal Quads
24C05 - Theron Douglas - 5½–½

Victor Palciauskas Round Robin Tournament ICCF
25VP01 - Victor Huffstatler - 5½–½
25VP02 - Joseph Aiken - 5½–½
25VP06 - Kevin Green - 6–0
25VP07 - Patrick Walsh (Konchog Jungney) - 5–1