May 30th

John Brown (30-05-1827 - 17-11-1863) British composer

John Brown's headstone
refurbished by Brian Gosling
[source: Keverel Chess]

John Brown published his problems as “J. B. of Bridport” and was one of the outstanding chess
problem composers of the nineteenth century.
John D. Beasley made a book review of "John Brown / The forgotten chess composer?" by Brian Gosling (2011) which can be read here.

Here is an example of John Brown's style:

Brown, John
???? 1860

#3

4 + 3

Show Solution

1.Rf6! waiting, with two variations:
1...Kd4 2.Bf3 ZZ

2...Ke3 3.Bc5#
2...Kc4 3.Rf4#
2...Ke5 3.Bc3#

1...Ke2 2.Bd2 ZZ b4 3.Bc4#

Only waiting moves.

Jean Bertin (30-05-1901 - 03-11-1988) French composer

Jean Bertin collaborated with "Themes 64" since its creation and he also edited a compilation of Georges Legentil's works "Problèmes d'échecs". He found time for other monographies in the 1980s: "P.Drumare" and "J.Morice" in 1981, "A.Caresmel" in 1983, "F.Fraenkel" in 1984, "G.Fuchs" in 1984 and "J.M.Trillon" in 1986. His most famous book remains "Initiation au problème d'échecs" (1964), the chess composition reference book in French.

Bertin, Jean
Histoires extraordinaires sur 64 cases, 1980 (1193)
After T.R.Dawson

ser-h#7

2 + 8

Show Solution

1. Qe5 2. Bd5 3. Rf4 4. Sf5 5. Rd3 6. Be3 7. Sd4 Sg5#
Self-blocks, with a move order defined by the avoidance of interferences.

Nils Adrian Bakke (30-05-1939) Norwegian composer and International Master

Nils Adrian Bakke, 2010
[Wikimedia]

Nils Adrian Bakke collected Norwegian problems in "Problemsjakk I Nord" in 1976 and also wrote "Meritter - en samling sjakkproblemer" and numerous articles on selfmates and reflexmates: indeed  Nils Bakke favours longer selfmates.

Bakke, Nils Adrian
The Problemist, 1988
2^nd Prize

r#3

tries

10 + 12

Reflexmate in 3:
Show Solution

Tries:
1.Re1? [2.Rc4] but 1…Rf5! 2.e8=Q#
1.e8=Q+? but 1…Kf5! 2.Re1 Rg4 3.Sd6#
1.e8=S+? but 1…Kg6! 2.Re1 Rh5 3.Qf6#
1.e8=R+? but 1…Kf7! 2.Re1 Rg6 3.Qe7#
1.e8=B+? but 1…Ke6! 2.Re1 Rh5 3.Qf6#
1.Qd6+!
1…Kf5,Kf7,Se6 2.Re1 [3.Rc4 b1=Q#]

2…b1=Q+ 3.Kc4 Sd2#
2…b1=S+ 3.Kd3 Qc3#
2…b1=R+ 3.Kc2 Sxe1#
2…b1=B+ 3.Kb3 Sd2#
2…Qb1 3.Rc1 bxc1=Q#
2…Qxe1 3.Kc2 b1=Q#
2…Qa2 3.Kd3 Qb3#
2…Qc1+ 3.Kb3,Kd3 b1=Q#

AUW, King's cross, Rook's cross and a wealth of play after a counter-intuitive key.

Виктор Яковлевич Абросимов (30-05-1941 - 24-08-2016) Russian composer (Viktor Yakovlevich Abrosimov)

Viktor Abrosimov
[popovgl.narod.ru]

Viktor Abrosimov is a helpmate composer. He often composes in collaboration with Aleksandr Pankratiev and they had some brilliant successes together.

Абросимов, Виктор Яковлевич
Shakhmatnaya Poeziya, 1999 (512)
2^nd Prize

h#3

2.1.1...

3 + 9

Show Solution

1.Bd7 Be6 2.Be3 Bb3 3.Bf4 Bd1#
1.Bb6 Bc5 2.Kf4 Bf8 3.Bf3 Bh6#
Chameleon echo mates, Bishop Bristol.