Leonid Stein (1934-1973), who died prematurely on this day 43 years ago, was one of the most dynamic attacking players of his generation.
Krogius – Stein
Kiev 1960
Black to play
Stein – Petrosian
Moscow 1961
White to play
Gligorić – Stein
Lvov 1962
Black to play
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)
Stein – Portisch
Stockholm 1962
White to play
Gligorić – Stein
Moscow 1967
Black to play
Ljubojević – Stein
Las Palmas 1973
Black to play
Stein – Smyslov
Moscow 1972
White to play
From Stein’s last tournament game:
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)
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.