diff --git a/DroidFish/res/values/strings.xml b/DroidFish/res/values/strings.xml
index cf2fa94..ed93399 100644
--- a/DroidFish/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/DroidFish/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -347,6 +347,8 @@ you are not actively using the program.\
     <string name="prefs_viewNAG_summary">Include numeric annotation glyphs (NAGs), such as ! and ?</string>
     <string name="prefs_viewHeaders_title">Headers</string>
     <string name="prefs_viewHeaders_summary">Show PGN header lines</string>
+    <string name="prefs_showVariationLine_title">Show Current Variations</string>
+    <string name="prefs_showVariationLine_summary">Show current variations in status area</string>
     <string name="prefs_viewPieceType_title">Piece Names</string>
     <string name="prefs_viewPieceType_summary">Control how chess piece names are displayed</string>
     <string name="prefs_pgn_import">PGN import</string>
diff --git a/DroidFish/res/xml/preferences.xml b/DroidFish/res/xml/preferences.xml
index 6eabebc..fcac8df 100644
--- a/DroidFish/res/xml/preferences.xml
+++ b/DroidFish/res/xml/preferences.xml
@@ -565,7 +565,13 @@
                     android:summary="@string/prefs_viewHeaders_summary"
                     android:defaultValue="false">
                 </CheckBoxPreference>
-            </PreferenceCategory>
+                <CheckBoxPreference
+                    android:key="showVariationLine"
+                    android:title="@string/prefs_showVariationLine_title"
+                    android:summary="@string/prefs_showVariationLine_summary"
+                    android:defaultValue="false">
+                </CheckBoxPreference>
+                </PreferenceCategory>
             <PreferenceCategory
                 android:title="@string/prefs_pgn_import">
                 <CheckBoxPreference
diff --git a/DroidFish/src/org/petero/droidfish/DroidFish.java b/DroidFish/src/org/petero/droidfish/DroidFish.java
index 2cd59a4..e77031d 100644
--- a/DroidFish/src/org/petero/droidfish/DroidFish.java
+++ b/DroidFish/src/org/petero/droidfish/DroidFish.java
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ public class DroidFish extends Activity implements GUIInterface {
     private boolean animateMoves;
     private boolean autoScrollTitle;
     private boolean showMaterialDiff;
+    private boolean showVariationLine;
 
     private final static String bookDir = "DroidFish";
     private final static String pgnDir = "DroidFish" + File.separator + "pgn";
@@ -882,6 +883,7 @@ public class DroidFish extends Activity implements GUIInterface {
         pgnOptions.view.headers     = settings.getBoolean("viewHeaders",        false);
         final int oldViewPieceType = pgnOptions.view.pieceType;
         pgnOptions.view.pieceType   = getIntSetting("viewPieceType", PGNOptions.PT_LOCAL);
+        showVariationLine           = settings.getBoolean("showVariationLine",  false);
         pgnOptions.imp.variations   = settings.getBoolean("importVariations",   true);
         pgnOptions.imp.comments     = settings.getBoolean("importComments",     true);
         pgnOptions.imp.nag          = settings.getBoolean("importNAG",          true);
@@ -1483,7 +1485,7 @@ public class DroidFish extends Activity implements GUIInterface {
             thinking.append(Html.fromHtml(s));
             thinkingEmpty = false;
         }
-        if (variantStr.indexOf(' ') >= 0) {
+        if (showVariationLine && (variantStr.indexOf(' ') >= 0)) {
             String s = "";
             if (!thinkingEmpty)
                 s += "<br>";