D G Baird vs H W Trenchard, 1898
Alapin vs H W Trenchard, 1898

as well as drawing using the Schliemann against Emmanuel Schiffers, a game which is not currently in this Database.

Although one of the weaker players, Trenchard was not afraid to fight.

In this game,however, he is soon on the defensive despite his aggressive intentions. His King can find no safe shelter; his King side is compromised; and he suffers increasingly from weak White squares. Janowsky sacrifices a Knight to drive Trenchard King into the unsafe wastes of the Queen side. He then takes control of both the 7th and 8th ranks which is fatal to Trenchard's game.

<8...Na5!?> Trenchard was condemed for this move "A fruitless deflection of the Knight" by Savielly Tartakower ("500 Master Games", game 116). 8...Bg4 is more usual, but is Trenchard's move so bad?

10...Bxf3!? may redeem <8...Na5!?>s reputation. After 11.gxf3 (11.Qxf3? loses the Bc4) 11...Nxe4 12.Bb5+ Nc6 13.Qxe4 Bxg5+ 14.Kb1 Qd7 Black appears to have a playable game. Additionally <10...Qd7> may be playable as if <11.h3> (Tartakower), then 11...Bxf3 12.gxf3 h6.

<11...Nxc4> is inferior to retreating the Bishop the <h> file and the foremost <g> pawn now cause significant problems for Trenchard's King-side.

<16...c6> is probably a better defence but Trenchard probably saw the potential for Janowsky to sacrifice his rook on <h6> and queen his <g> pawn. Away from the board and the ticking clock, it seems that <c6> was his best if hair-raising course: <17.Qb3> Rf8 <18.Rxh6!?> gxh6 19.g7 Qg4 20.gxf8Q+ Bxf8 21.Kb1 0-0-0 and Trenchard is still in the game.

<19...0-0-0> does not solve his problems as White will penetrate down the <a> file: 20.Qc3 d5 21.exd5 e4!? 22.Nfd4 Kb8 23.Qxa5 Qxd5 and then 24.Qa7 then a5 which wins.

<21...Ne7> fails to 22.Nxe5! and after 22...Bxe5 23.Rxe5 dxe5 24.Rxd7 Kxd7 25.Qd3+ Kc8 26.f4 Janowsky is clearly winning, e.g. <26...Nxg6> (26...Rxf4 27.Qc4 wins with the simultaneous threats against <c7> and <g8>) 27.Qc4 c6? 28.Qe6+ and mates.

<26.Nxd6!> fragmenting Trenchard's cover for his King at the discount price of three pawns for a Knight. It does not lead to a forced win, but the problems of maintaining a defence for his King prove too much for Trenchard.

Tartakower pointed out that <33...Ka6!?> offers "slightly more resistance". Janowsky Black has <34.R8h5> (Neither 34.R8h7 or 34.Qc4+ seem particularly useful); and after <34...Nxg6> Janowsky can start a wide frontal attack: <35.Rxg5> Rf6 36.Rd5 Nf8 37.e5 Re6 38.f4 b6 39.f5 Rc6 40.b4 Kb7 41.b5 Rc7 42.Rd6 Rc5 43.Rxb6+ Kxb6 44.Qd6+ Rc6 45.bxc6 Qxc6 46.Qxc6+ Kxc6 47.Rh8

<35....Ra7?> Trenchard tires through the constant pressure, <35...Qc8> 36.Rxf8 Nxf8 37.Rh8 Ka7 prolongs the resistance, but not the final result.