What Is A Chess Variation or Opening?

Variation is a combination or sequence of opening moves positions and plays. In Chess, there are many variations that are possible. Often known as ‘openings’, there are hundreds of named chess variant openings.

Although there are hundreds of opening moves, one should always aim for moves which are least likely to threat ones pieces and should aim for positioning one’s self in a way that future moves will lead to a checkmate.

There are books on various famous openings and the different openings available. Sometimes these books are in the form of catalogues, encyclopedias, or just book of moves. The moves are noted using the algebraic notation system.

New sequences of moves are called theoretical novelty and are kept secret until they are applied in a competitive game often referred to as a ‘prepared variation’.