How to Create Total Chaos on Chessboard. Korchnoi vs Stein

The great tactician Leonid Stein gives a masterclass in creating a sudden counterplay in a seemingly passive position. First, he sacrifices a pawn to open a file for his rook, then he sacrifices the second pawn to open a diagonal for his light-squared bishop, but his dark-squared bishop is still passive, so the sacrifice of the third pawn follows. As a result, his opponent, Victor Korchnoi is three pawns up, but Stein's pieces are much more active and create total chaos on the board.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 Nh5 8. Qd2 f5 9. O-O-O Nd7 10. Bd3 fxe4 11. Nxe4 Nf4 12. Bc2 Nf6 13. Nc3 b5 14. Nxb5 Ba6 15. Na3 Rb8 16. g3 N4h5 17. b3 Bb7 18. Nb1 c6 19. dxc6 Bxc6 20. Qxd6 Qe8 21. Re1 Rf7 22. Bd2 Bf8 23. Qd3 e4 24. Qc3 Bg7 25. Nh3 Ng4 26. fxg4 Bxc3 27. Nxc3 Nf6 28. g5 Nd7 29. Nxe4 Qf8 30. Bc3 Rf3 31. Bb2 Re8 32. Kb1 Bxe4 33. Bxe4 Rxe4 34. Rxe4 Rf1+ 35. Re1 Qf5+ 36. Ka1 Rxh1 37. Rxh1 Qxh3 38. Bd4 Qg2 39. Rg1 Qd2 40. Bxa7 Ne5 41. Bc5 Nd3 42. Ba3 Nb4 43. Bxb4 Qd4+ 44. Kb1 Qxg1+ 0-1

[@je9625]

Another great video from Chess Wisdom.
Stein was a fantastic player whose style undoubtedly exerted a profound influence on the game. You can see outlines of Kasparov's future play in his games.

[@user-mn8fp7fx5k]

That was truly chaotic! I think this was the first time I couldn't guess the move you asked us to try to find out.

[@vaccaphd]

I like Stein's piece activity very much.

[@amosdraak3536]

A very complex game for sure. To sacrifice three pawns against Korchnoi and as Black, and to not only survive but win is a great feat.
For pawn sacrifice #1, it seems pretty standard to open a line against the enemy king on the other side of the board and have a file for your rook. Additionally Stein received the white knight’s placement on a3 & still further a pawn concession (b3) which could potentially be exploited later.
@ 3:23, while it was not touched upon, I’m supposing the offer of the a pawn was not accepted because it could have been too dangerous to give Black two open files to the white king. This pawn was not accepted.
For pawn sacrifice #2, the light square bishop’s activation was very influential for much of the middle game and it aided in the final winning combination, and the persistent influence it had over the undeveloped white kingside seems to justify it.
The position that could have occurred after the third pawn sacrifice @ 7:12 is the most interesting one, I feel. It seems that the f3 pawn is too inconveniently defended, as so may be captured. The a7 pawn is protected via Ra8, and the white king position can be weakened too much after Rxa2. But it can be difficult for the extra pawns to be pushed as the ones on the king side are not passed, and 2 P’s vs 2 P’s (assuming the f pawn disappears) doesn’t always tend to produce a breakthrough. And pushing the pawns on the queen side can expose the white king. But because numerous pieces can surround the white king while the pawns are pushed, as occurs in thematic attacks like the Mar del Plata variation of the KID, it’s possible a long grind out with the c pawn being slowly escorted may be the deciding aspect of the game. While it’s great Stein managed to show he could win after many pawn sacrifices, it would have been interesting to see how the game would have played out after the third accepted pawn.

[@DickEnchilada]

It's crazy how the move Qa5 kept showing up as a major resource for Korchnoi but it looks like such a modern "computer" move.

[@Silvermist78]

Wow what a fantastic game!

[@DrAlexandria]

Since we see a lot of excellent videos on the art of attack, sacrificing, dynamic play and couterattack, I think it would be very interesting to also show games of Petrosian, my favorite champion, on the art of defense or positional play for example.
Keep up the good work! 🎉🙌

[@NikoAlex-bc9if]

I agree! Petrosian vs Aronin, Moscow 1961 is brilliant. On the database its named “The immortal retreat game”

[@amosdraak3536]

Indeed, I greatly enjoy games where we see defensive mastery and positional concepts being employed to quell an attack and regroup successfully later on, as opposed to just getting steamrolled ))

[@Duxelles84]

Great Channel. Very instructive and clear analysis.

[@josemarialacarra8554]

Great game. Thanks for your work.

[@chesswisdom]

My pleasure.

[@bahrampourkarimi7524]

Nice.plz show lasker.botonic and carpo more ..

[@amosdraak3536]

Yes, Lasker, Botvinnik, & Karpov are awesome players to behold

[@krishrao2778]

Kasparov like.