The young Trifunovic was also an excellent scholar, obtaining a law degree in 1933, followed by a doctorate.

Later, he concentrated more on positional play and defensive technique, his style becoming less adventurous but difficult to refute.

His international tournament successes included: Zlín 1945 (first), Prague 1946 (tied for second after Najdorf), Lima 1950 (first), Cheltenham 1951 (tied for second after Gligorić), Belgrade 1954 (third after Bronstein and Matanović, but ahead of Gligorić and Petrosian).

At Noordwijk in 1965 he finished second to Botvinnik (ahead of Flohr, Larsen and Donner).

The Trifunovic Variation is identified by the move 5...Bf5 as a counter to White's Four Pawns Attack (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4).