Portable Game Notation (P.G.N.) is the current international standard for storing chess game scores (the moves, players, venues, dates, etc.) in a format that can be read by just about any computer chess program (and chess-oriented humans). A P.G.N. file is a simple text file (with the extension ".pgn" instead of ".txt") that can be created with a simple text editor or word processor. Many chess programs will also export game scores to a ".pgn" file. A single file can include one game or multiple games.

Before creating P.G.N files, one should be familiar with Standard Algebraic Notation for keeping scores of chess games.

P.G.N. Summary
This is a brief tutorial that I put together for those who want to quickly learn how to create P.G.N. files (8 pages, 28KB). Learn it, love it, live it. -Stef

Portable Game Notation Specification and Implementation Guide
This is the comprehensive manual regarding P.G.N. standards, coordinated by Steven J. Edwards and revised on 1994.03.12 (64 pages, 122KB).

Portable Game Notation Specification and Implementation Guide (Supplement)
This is a supplement to the above guide, revised on 2001.09.08 (8 pages, 20KB).

Here's the Wikipedia article on Portable Game Notation.



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