In 1972 he won, equal with Alvis Vītoliņš and Šmits, the Riga Chess Championship.

Gutman emigrated from the Soviet Union to Israel in 1980, later moving to Germany.

In 1986, he tied for 1st–4th with Viktor Korchnoi (winner on tie-break), Nigel Short, and James Plaskett in the strong Lugano Open.

He also lost to Judit Polgar in Brussels in that year, making him the first GM she beat.

In September 2015, on the occasion of the 70st birthday of Lev Gutman, the chessclub Schachverein Lingen 1959 organised a tournament, the Lev Gutman 70 GM-Turnier in Lingen.