Leonid Stein: Instinctive Romantic

Leonid Stein (1934-1973), who died prematurely on this day 43 years ago, was one of the most dynamic attacking players of his generation.

EPSON MFP image

Krogius – Stein

Kiev 1960

Black to play

 

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Stein – Petrosian

Moscow 1961

White to play

 

E

Gligorić – Stein

Lvov 1962

Black to play

Stein with Karpov

Leonid Stein with  Anatoly Karpov

‘Infinite faith in himself was characteristic of Stein. He had sharp tactical vision and a keen instinct in positions with mutual chances.’

Anatoly Karpov in Eduard Gufeld and Efim Lazarev, Leonid Stein: Master of Risk Strategy (2001)

 

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Stein – Portisch

Stockholm 1962

White to play

E

Gligorić – Stein

Moscow 1967

Black to play

 

E

Ljubojević – Stein

Las Palmas 1973

Black to play

Stein v Smyslov

 Stein – Smyslov

Moscow 1972

White to play

From Stein’s last tournament game:

E

Sveshnikov – Stein

Moscow 1973

Black to play

 

Two books are recommended:

Eduard Gufeld and Efim Lazarev, Leonid Stein: Master of Risk Strategy (Davenport: Thinkers’ Press, 2001)

Raymond Keene, Leonid Stein: Master of Attack (London: TUI Enterprises, 1988)

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EPSON MFP image

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1 Comment

  1. James Pratt says:

    I was told that Stein learnt his craft, in part, in gambling form. He would set up positions where he was loads of material down and ask onlookers what they’d bet he could still win. Was he planning to defect upon arrival at Bath, 1973, and therefore bumped-off by the comrades? He was also due to play in Brasilia in the Interzonal soon after. We will never know how he’d have got on ! Bronstein took his place, nudged by an earlier letter Bronstein had sent to Euwe, then FIDE President, explaining that he’d been gated for ages. He did pretty well too.

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