Principal variation: a practical example
A PV might show a candidate move, the opponent's strongest reply, and several further moves. As the search deepens or the position changes, the line may change. Multiple-PV analysis displays several candidate lines rather than one definitive script.
How to use the idea in your games
Replay the entire line and explain the resulting position. The opponent can choose a different move, and a truncated PV may end before the strategic point becomes obvious.
A useful study question
Can you explain principal variation in your own words, identify it in a position, and describe when the idea does not apply? Test the explanation on a legal board before relying on it.
Connect the ideas
Stockfish, Evaluation, PGN are useful next concepts. Follow the links to compare definitions and examples, then return to the complete chess glossary whenever an unfamiliar term appears.
Sources & further reading
References checked September 5, 2026. Linked services are independent of ChessRankings.com™.