Soviet International Master and Brilliant Endgame Study Composer. Champion of Armenia 10 times. One of his early rivals was the young Tigran Petrosian and they had many exciting battles together. He was finalist and semi-finalist in several Soviet championships. In one of these competitions he beat the young Botvinnik. Kasparyan will be remembered chiefly for his studies. He was a world class composer and won many prizes. Author of "Domination in 2545 Endgame Studies."(1980).

The immediate threat is against the Knight but Black is also threatening to queen his a-pawn with ...a2 or ...axb etc. White needs to get his Rook to the queenside to help tackle the pawn. White sacrifices his advanced pawn to bring the Black King on to the f-file where it will be vulnerable to an attacking castling move !! After winning the Black a-pawn White sets up a delightful positional draw.

(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".