How to convert a chess scoresheet to PGN

By the Kibitzz team · · 2 min read

The short answer

To convert a chess scoresheet to PGN, write the game as a short header of tags followed by the moves in standard algebraic notation and the result. You can type that by hand, or photograph the sheet and let a scanner such as Kibitzz produce the PGN for you.

What is a PGN file?

PGN stands for Portable Game Notation. It is a plain-text format for chess games that nearly every engine, database and chess website can open. Because it is just text, you can store it, email it or paste it into an analysis board.

What does a PGN look like?

A PGN has two parts: header tags in square brackets, then the moves. Here is a complete, very short example:

[Event "Club Night"]
[Site "Bengaluru"]
[Date "2026.10.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Player A"]
[Black "Player B"]
[Result "1-0"]

1. e4 e5 2. Qh5 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Qxf7# 1-0

The seven tags above (Event, Site, Date, Round, White, Black and Result) are the standard set. The game ends with the result: 1-0 for a White win, 0-1 for a Black win, 1/2-1/2 for a draw, or * if the game is unfinished.

How to convert a scoresheet to PGN by hand

  1. Copy the header details from the top of the sheet: players, event, round, date and result.
  2. Write the moves in order as White move, Black move, with the move number before each pair.
  3. Use the PGN spelling for special moves: O-O and O-O-O for castling (the capital letter O, not the digit zero), x for captures, = for promotion such as e8=Q, + for check and # for checkmate.
  4. End with the result token, matching the Result tag.
  5. Paste the text into a chess board or database and replay it. An illegal move means you miscopied something earlier.
  6. Save the file with a .pgn extension.

Common mistakes when writing PGN

  • Using zeros instead of the letter O for castling.
  • Omitting a move, which makes every later move illegal in the replay.
  • Mixing up similar-looking characters, such as b and 6 or 1 and l.
  • Writing piece letters from another language, such as S for a knight, instead of the English N.
  • Forgetting the result, or giving a Result tag that does not match the last move.

Converting a scoresheet to PGN automatically

A scoresheet scanner, such as Kibitzz skips the typing. You photograph the handwritten sheet and the app reads the moves, rebuilds the game, validates every move against the rules of chess and gives you a game you can export as PGN. Kibitzz supports PGN export, so the digitized game opens in any engine or chess database.

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