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Leonid Stein

LEONID STEIN (born Nov-12-1934, died Jul-04-1973, 38 years old) Ukraine (federation/nationality Russia) PRONUNCIATION: [what is this?] Leonid Zakharovich Stein was born in (the) Ukraine. He became a master at the age of twenty-four--unusually late for one who goes on to become a player of his caliber. Three years later, Stein qualified for the Soviet Championship for the first time, placing third and gaining the International Grandmaster title (1962). He played board one for the Soviet team at the Helsinki 1961 Student Olympiad, scoring a strong +8, =3, -1, and helping his team to the overall gold medals. He also represented the USSR at the Tel Aviv Olympiad (1964) scoring a fine 10/13, and winning an individual gold medal on the first reserve board. Again, he was in the Soviet side at the Havana Olympiad 1966, scoring 9/12, winning an individual silver medal on board four. Both times, the Soviet Union won the team gold medals. In the 1960s, he accumulated a string of strong tournament victories, including three U.S.S.R. Championships 1963 [rusbase-1], 1965 [rusbase-2] and 1966/7 [rusbase-3]. Although Stein never qualified for the Candidates, he came extremely close in 1962 and 1964 (when he would have qualified if not for a rule restricting the number of candidates from one country) and again in 1967 (where he was eliminated after drawing a tie-break playoff with Vlastimil Hort and Samuel Reshevsky due to the latter's better tiebreaks). Two outstanding international tournament victories were attained at Moscow 1967 (commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1917 October Revolution), and Moscow 1971 (Alekhine Memorial, equal with Anatoly Karpov). Both of the Moscow tournaments were considered to be among the strongest tournaments in chess history up to that time. Further international tournament victories were scored at Sarajevo (Bosna) 1967, equal with Borislav Ivkov, Hastings 1967/68 shared, Kecskemet 1968, Tallinn 1969, Parnu 1971, and Las Palmas 1973, equal with Tigran Petrosian. As Stein was preparing to leave for Bath, England (1973) for the European Team Championship, he collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack in the Rossiya Hotel in Moscow, aged 38. Stein defeated many of the top players of his era. He was one of the few players who had an even score against Vasily Smyslov, Tigran Petrosian, and Mikhail Botvinnik. He had plus records against Mikhail Tal, Boris Spassky, and Paul Keres. Garry Kasparov wrote that Stein "went beyond the bounds of Botvinnik-Smyslov harmony, expanding the limits of our understanding of the game, changing our impressions of the correlation of material and quality of position, of situations with disrupted material and strategic balance, and created the grounds for the emergence of modern, ultra-dynamic chess". (My Great Predecessors Vol. 3, p. 231) Wikipedia article: Leonid Stein Last updated: 2024-05-27 17:29:59

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page 1 of 41; games 1-25 of 1,022  Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. V Golembo vs Stein 1-0 21 1948 Category IV Tt C34 King's Gambit Accepted 2. Stein vs V Golembo   ½-½ 34 1950 Lvov A15 English 3. V Shiyanovsky vs Stein   1-0 27 1950 UKR-chT B03 Alekhine's Defense 4. Stein vs V Golembo   1-0 49 1950 Lvov E40 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 5. Stein vs V Golembo   ½-½ 53 1951 Lvov E26 Nimzo-Indian, Samisch 6. E Lazarev vs Stein 0-1 34 1951 Ukrainian Junior Championship C05 French, Tarrasch 7. O Yurasov vs Stein   ½-½ 29 1951 Ukrainian Junior Championship B88 Sicilian, Fischer-Sozin Attack 8. V Golembo vs Stein   ½-½ 36 1952 Lvov B65 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer Attack, 7...Be7 Defense, 9...Nxd4 9. Stein vs V Golembo   1-0 43 1952 Lvov Region Championship C19 French, Winawer, Advance 10. B Vorobets vs Stein   1-0 24 1953 Lvov B95 Sicilian, Najdorf, 6...e6 11. Stein vs Lutikov   0-1 32 1955 Soviet Army Championship C77 Ruy Lopez 12. L Goltsov vs Stein 0-1 33 1955 RSFSR Young Candidates E69 King's Indian, Fianchetto, Classical Main line 13. G Kanayan vs Stein   0-1 35 1955 15th Ch RSFSR (sf) E62 King's Indian, Fianchetto 14. V Lyublinsky vs Stein 0-1 34 1955 Soviet Army Championship C63 Ruy Lopez, Schliemann Defense 15. E Bakhmatov vs Stein   1-0 24 1955 RSFSR Young Candidates C59 Two Knights 16. E Poltoranov vs Stein 0-1 25 1955 Soviet Army Championship A49 King's Indian, Fianchetto without c4 17. Stein vs N Golovko   0-1 35 1955 Soviet Army Championship C45 Scotch Game 18. Stein vs Y Shaposhnikov   0-1 28 1955 Soviet Army Championship C45 Scotch Game 19. D Rovner vs Stein   ½-½ 37 1955 Soviet Army Championship B32 Sicilian 20. Stein vs V Zheliandinov   0-1 51 1956 Soviet Army Championship B98 Sicilian, Najdorf 21. A Volovich vs Stein   1-0 47 1956 Moscow Championship semifinal E12 Queen's Indian 22. E Zagoryansky vs Stein 0-1 50 1956 Moscow Championship semifinal E70 King's Indian 23. Stein vs G Goldberg   ½-½ 47 1956 Moscow Championship semifinal C61 Ruy Lopez, Bird's Defense 24. A Lukin vs Stein   0-1 40 1956 Moscow Championship semifinal D11 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav 25. Stein vs V Soloviev   1-0 36 1956 Soviet Army Championship B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack  page 1 of 41; games 1-25 of 1,022

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< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 11 OF 18 ·  Later Kibitzing> Jul-23-08    RookFile: I preferred the play of his brother, one Frank N. Stein. Jul-26-08    chancho: Fischer was already a GM for almost three years by the time Stein finally got his. Jul-26-08    talisman: <RookFile> now is not the time to play <Jim Bartle's> "what hump?". You must use all the pull you have (and we all know You have it!) to put Leonid Stein on the drop down list, if for no other reason that he and Fischer once agreed to a Match. As Fischer once said "between the American champ and the Russian Champ.". Jul-30-08    dx9293: <talisman> If such a match was held in, say, 1967, it would have been very interesting. By 1970 Fischer was already too strong. Jul-30-08    Petrosianic: <LEEUHHNID STYYYUN.with feeling now!> Actually, I think his name was prounounced like Shtain, rather than Stine. Aug-23-08    notyetagm: Stein is another player whose chess I just adore. What a genius this man was. Incredible tragedy that he died at 39. But the good news is that Colin Crouch is writing a book in the EVERYMANCHESS Giant of Chess Series on Attacking Chess which features Kasparov, Tal, and Stein(!). Oh yes! See http://www.everymanchess.com/displa... for details. Oh hell, here are the details. <Chess Secrets: Great Attackers: Learn from Kasparov, Tal and Stein Colin Crouch The chess world has witnessed a great number of wonderfully gifted attacking players, geniuses who have dazzled the chess public with their brilliant masterpieces. Everyone has their own favourites, and in Chess Secrets: Great Attackers, Colin Crouch chooses three of his own: Garry Kasparov, Mikhail Tal and Leonid Stein. <World Champions Kasparov and Tal need no introduction, while Stein was a highly creative and intuitive player with the ability to destroy the world's best players with his vicious attacks.> Crouch examines their differing approaches and styles, and highlights some crucial themes, including the idea of controlled risk - in some sacrificial attacks even the greatest players can't always see everything to the end. A study of this book will help you to enhance your skills in one of the most crucial elements of the game. An entertaining and instructive guide to attacking chess Learn from the greats of the game Discover how famous chess minds work Chess Secrets is a new series of books which uncover the mysteries of the most important aspects of chess study: strategy, attacking play, opening play and gambits, classical play, endgames and preparation. In each book the author chooses and deeply studies a number of great players from chess history who have excelled in a particular field of the game and who have genuinely influenced their descendants. Published October 2008 EU, November 2008 US | ISBN 9781857445794 Format Paperback, 192 pages> Aug-27-08    GrahamClayton: Stein is one of only 3 players to have won at least 3 USSR Championships without becoming World Champion - Belyavsky and Keres are the only two other players to have achived this feat. Aug-27-08    brankat: V.Korchnoi was the USSR champ 4 times, without becoming a WC. Aug-27-08    jakaiden: Hey Stein lovers, does anyone have the complete game - Kotlerman vs Stein 1958, Kirovograd (Ukrainian Spartakaid)? If so please upload it so my collection can be complete. In the book "Master of Risk Strategy" it is the 1st ending fragment that begins with 22...Rxf2 23. Kxf2 e4! and goes on to move 41...Bxf2 and then it says in a few moves white resigned. Somebody help me out. Thanks! Aug-28-08    Benzol: <jakaiden> I possess both Ray Keene's "Master Of Attack" and Gufeld's & Lazarev's "Master Of Risk Strategy" and have recently submitted the following games into the DB: Stein - Matanovic 1965 Borisenko - Stein 1964 Ustinov - Stein 1965 Lazarev - Stein 1951 Stein - Padevsky 1965 but I have been unable to find the full scores of Shianovsky - Stein 1950 Kotlerman - Stein 1958 and Gipslis - Stein 1959. Perhaps <Resignation Trap> or <Sneaky Pete> might be able to help you out here. Aug-28-08    whiteshark: <jakaiden> I have checked megabase 2008 and rusbase for Kotlerman vs Stein 1958, Kirovograd, but without success. :( Aug-29-08    jakaiden: Thanks 4 the effort guys, I appreciate it. Aug-29-08    Dionyseus: <jakaiden> Hi there, I noticed you have the Data avatar, I uploaded it and was wondering if you'd be willing to switch out so I can use it? I understand if you're not willing to do so. Please let me know either here or at my forum, thanks. Nov-12-08    brankat: I find it hard to believe that it's been 35 years since a very premature passing of this extraordinarily talented GM. At the age of 39. Would have been 74 today! R.I.P. GM Stein. Nov-12-08    talisman: happy birthday to the guy no WC wanted to play.one of the few men who died doing what he loved to do. Nov-20-08    ketchuplover: In January he'll be featured in a book on attacking chess with Kasparov and Tal. Dec-10-08    parisattack: <ketchuplover: In January he'll be featured in a book on attacking chess with Kasparov and Tal.> Stein definately belongs in the Alekine-Tal-Kasparov lineage - but his style had a hypermodern spin as well - he liked the double-finachetto as White and played the English and KIA. To my thinking Stein was one of the great players who could have been WC - along with Pillsbury, Rubinstein, Keres and perhaps Flohr, Reshevsky, Fine as well. I'm sure there would be votes for Bronstein and Korchnoi. Others? Jan-01-09    M.D. Wilson: Rubinstein should have been given the opportunity, but WW1 really threw a spanner in the works. Korchnoi was a great contender, and it took Karpov to beat him, so there's no shame in that. Stein played a solid brand of attacking chess, like Spassky and the pre-1958 and 1970s Tal, making dynamism the key to his play. Jan-02-09    M.D. Wilson: It must be said that Bronstein got the closest to the title, but to no avail. He could only hold a relatively out-of-form Botvinnik to a draw, although he often outplayed Botvinnik until the endgame. Feb-02-09    talisman: STEIN! STEIN! STEIN! CONGRATULATIONS! to chessgames for righting this wrong. STEIN is back on the Drop Down List!! Feb-02-09    whiteshark: <talisman: <STEIN! STEIN! STEIN! <CONGRATULATIONS! <to chessgames for righting this wrong. <STEIN is back on the Drop Down List!!>>>>> Those are the Days of Magic Miracles !!! Feb-02-09    talisman: <whiteshark> that's a great quote. is that paul simon or yours? thanks to <whiteshark> who led the Movement. thanks to everybody who ordered t-shirts and bumper stickers to get STEIN back on the drop down list. Feb-03-09    whiteshark: <talisman> 'Those are the Days of Magic Miracles' © :D Mar-06-09    talisman: "Infinite faith in himself was characteristic of Stein." ...Karpov Apr-13-09    parisattack: Anyone have a personal review of the new book by Colin Crouch (mentioned some time back on this board) Chess Secrets of the Attackers - Kasparov, Tal, Stein? I have ordered it but not here as yet. Jump to page #    (enter # from 1 to 18) search thread:    < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 11 OF 18 ·  Later Kibitzing>

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