The Daily Review, Sunday, September 15, 1968

Chess

by richard shorman

THE TRENBERTH SYSTEM

Over the years Robert Trenberth, a former CFNC Expert from Oakland, has evolved an original opening system to suit his personal playing style. Win, lose or draw, his approach to chess helps produce interesting, enjoyable games.

White: Arthur Wang. Black: Robert Trenberth. CFNC League Match, Richard, July 15, 1958.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 g6 4.e5 Bg7 5.Bd3 Ne7 6.f4 Nbc6 7.c3 b6 8.Ne2 Bb7 9.0-0 a6 10.Nf3 Qd7 11.Bd2 h5 12.h3 Nf5 13.Kh2 Nce7 14.b4 Nh6 15.a4 Nef5 16.Qe1 Ng4+ 17.hg hg+ 18.Kg1 gf 19.Rf3 0-0-0 20.Bf5 gf 21.Kf2 f6 22.Be3 Rdg8 23.Ng1 Qe7 24.Rh3 fe 25.de d4 26.cd Be5 27.de Rg2+ 28.Kf1 Rg1+ 29.Bg1 Rh3 30.Rc1 Qh7 31.Bb6 Rh1+ 32.Bg1 Rg1+ 33.Kg1 Qh1+ 34.Kf2 Qf3+ 35.Kg1 Qg2mate.

White: Richard Shorman. Black: Robert Trenberth. Oakland YMCA Club Tournament, May 13, 1960.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 g6 4.e4 dc 5.Bc4 Bg7 6.Nf3 Ne7 7.Be3 Nbc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.0-0-0 a6 10.Bh6 b5 11.Bg7 Kg7 12.Be2 Bb7 13.h4 b4 14.Na4 b3 15.ab h5 16.Ng5 a5 17.Nc5 Bc8 18.g4 hg 19.Bg4 e5 20.Bc8 Qc8 21.de Qb8 22.Qf4 Qb5 23.Nd3 Qb3 24.Qf6+ Kg8 25.h5 Nd4 26.Rd2 Qa2 27.Kd1 Qa1+ 28.Nc1 Nb3 29.Ke2 Nc1+ 30.Rc1 Qc1 31.h6 Qc4+ 32.Kf3 Resigns.

White: James Ulrich. Black: Robert Trenberth. CFNC Berkeley Open, October 23, 1966.

1.d4 e6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 Ne7 5.Be3 d5 6.Nf3 Nbc6 7.Qd2 de 8.Ne4 Nf5 9.0-0-0 Ne3 10.fe 0-0 11.Bd3 b6 12.h4 h6 13.Rdg1 Qe7 14.g4 Bb7 15.Bb1 Qb4 16.Qd3 Na5 17.b3 f5 18.gf ef 19.Ned2 Rae8 20.Rg6 Be4 21.Qe2 Qc3+ 22.Kd1 Bf3 23.Nf3 Re3 24.Qg2 Rf3 25.Rg7+ Kh8 26.Rg1 Qd4+ 27.Qd2 Rf1+ 28.Rf1 Qd2+ 29.Kd2 Kg7 30.Rf5 Rf5 31.Bf5 Nb7 Drawn.

Comprehensive opening knowledge is a valuable asset in the hands of a good chess player. But his book study does more than just provide him with a grandmaster precedent for each move, an understanding of the ideas behind the openings, or even a "feel" for correct opening play. His initial moves also set the mood for the next phase of the struggle, dictating its pace and personality. The middle game produced by a Gruenfeld Defense possesses a different character and tempo than a King's Indian. A Scotch Game leads to a fight quite unlike that of a Ruy Lopez.

Hence, to play your best you should discover openings that agree with your individual temperament, a process which may require years of experimentation and refinement paralleling your progress as a chess player.

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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS

The third annual Northern California Championship Tournament, directed b International Chess Master George Koltanowski, will take place in the LERA Main Auditorium (corner of N. Mathilda Ave. and Java St., seven blocks north of the Bayshore Freeway, opposite Sunnyvale), Saturday and Sunday, September 21-22. A total of $500 and 18 trophies will be awarded in five divisions. Entry fees are $10 plus membership for the USCF Open Division, $7 plus membership for the CFNC Divisions, and $3 for the Junior Sections. Round one of this five-round Swiss system tourney begins at noon, September 21.