pet line meaning

Typically it's a line that someone plays religiously with a very high success rate that usually is some form of sideline.  Not a sideline at move 2, like Anti-Sicilians, but maybe some novelty, like say, the line from "Dangerous Weapons: The Sicilian", in the Taimanov, that goes 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 a6 7.Be3 Nf6 and now 8.a3!?

The "norm" or "Main Line" is 8.O-O, but someone that plays 8.a3 relgiously with great success could say that this is their "pet line".

Playing 30 moves of Main Line Najdorf with 6.Bg5, even if it gives you high success, would not be deemed one's "pet line".  There is always something offbeat (though not necessarily extravegant) about it when referring to one's "pet line".

Hope this clarifies.

Great explanation! Thanks

Nice explanation TF !  One of my own pet lines ( I have more than one ) is the C.A.R.L.  !   Now I wait to see which fellow chess fanatic can tell me what that is an acronym for ?  

Carlsen

No, its an acronym for one of my pet opening lines... 

I know but I looked at the chesstempo opening list and couldn't find it so I figured it might as well be a trick question

I will wait some hours and see if anyone can get it before I give the answer .  

Carocarn't Anthropotological Redirectionalisation Line

Crazy Alcoholic's Ruy Lopez? 1.e4 Nc6 2.Bb5?

It stands for Can't Allow Reb to Lose.  Duh.

Can't Adjust Reb's Lunacy

Calling All Raging Lunatics!

Center Attack Ruy Lopez -- I believe there was a book with this title in the late 70s?

Early 70s actually: http://www.amazon.com/Meet-C-A-R-L-Center-Attack-Lopez/dp/B000NQGG2W

Yes !  I have played this line for a few decades and still enjoy playing it with either 5.d4 or 6.d4 .  The advantage of playing 5.d4 is that you avoid the Open variation but if you dont mind playing the Open variation then 6.d4 is just fine .