Soviet International Master and Brilliant Endgame Study Composer. He was finalist and semi-finalist in several Soviet championships. In one of these competitions he beat the young Botvinnik. He won the Armenian championship many times. One of his rivals was the young Tigran Petrosian and they had many exciting battles. Kasparyan will be chiefly remembered for his studies. He was world class in this field and won many prizes. Author of "Domination in 2545 Endgame Studies."(1980).

The ending NNBvB is usually winning for the stronger side as indicated by Tablebases. But in this position White is going to lose a Knight. Both the  Knights are threatened by the Bishop at "a6". Which Knight to save? White works out a wonderful winning manoeuvre based on the idea of surrounding the Black Bishop. Yes, the Knight at "f1" will be saved . The other Knight will be used as bait; the Black Bishop will be trapped in the top left-hand corner of the board. The ending BNvB is usually drawn but in this study Kasparyan shows an exception where the imprisoned Bishop of the weaker side is captured leading to a won ending.

Em. Lasker vs Steinitz WC, Moscow, 1896  White to play and WIN After 1.g4! was played Black resigned. Steinitz had no wish to test Lasker's superb knowledge of basic endgames. Notice how the White Rook cuts off the enemy King from the g-pawn. The Black Rook is forced to give up control of the e-file because it has to track the g-pawn. White will achieve the winning Lucena position as follows: 1...Kd4 2.g5 Rg1 3.Ke6 Ke4 4.Ra5 Kf4 5.Kf6 Ke4 6.g6 Rf1+7.Kg7 Rh1 8.Kg8 Rh2 9.g7. White will now win in Lucena style by building a bridge with his Rook so that the King can escape and the pawn can queen.

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I would like to briefly summarise the type of endings found on the site. These are; (a) Basic endings. (b) Practical chess endings. (c) The Endgame study.

(a) Basic Endings. These are theoretical positions in which we know the correct result with optimum play by both sides. They may consist of three pawns or less and also include all the non-pawn and five piece endings which have now been extensively analysed by computer and of which we have tablebases. In the days when we had adjournments some of these endings could be looked up in text books to give us some idea how to play the position. As we no longer can do this, knowledge and memory of these endings has become important in practical play. Fundamental Chess Endings (2001) by Muller and Lamprecht and Basic Endings (1992) by Balashov and Prandstetter and the earlier A Pocket Guide to Chess Endgames (1970) by David Hooper are good introductions to these endings.

(b) Practical Endings. These occur in over-the-board play where usually more pawns are present. The above ending is an example of this type. Some of these endings are in the process of being transformed to basic endings but often they finish before this stage is reached. Endgame strategy is very different from the middlegame and has its own set of rules and exceptions. Fine's book Basic Chess Endings (1941,2003) recently revised by Pal Benko and Batsford Chess Endings (1993) by Speelman, Tisdall and Wade are about basic and practical endings and both can be recommended.

(c) Endgame Studies. These are positions which have been composed and will contain elements of one or both of the above types of endings. But there are important differences between these types and the study, such as artistic form and economy of construction. An endgame study has to follow strict rules of composition, especially if it is entered into a composing competition. One of these rules states there should only be one solution. If there is an unintended second solution then the study is unsound and said to be "cooked".