PGN

I was having a discussion with a friend of mine and he told me that until I learn PGN and be able to look at PGN and move the pieces in my head my game would be limited and I would never reach master standings. Is this true and if so where do I begin?

This is a PGN. PGN stands for Portable Game Notation. It contains all the major information in a game and the moves played. As you see below. I would say that it is much more important to learn Algebraic Notation. Such as how to read and understand what this means 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6. They look the same yet aren't Algebraic Notation is how we write out the moves PGN is how we write out the entire game, with who played, their ratings, when, etc, etc.

[Event "ch-US jr"]

[Site "Lincoln"]

[Date "1955"]

[Round "4"]

[White "Fischer Robert"]

[Black "Ames D"]

[Result "1/2"]

[ECO "C55"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bc4 Nxe4 5.Bxf7+ Kxf7 6.Nxe4 d5

7.Neg5+ Kg8 8.d4 h6 9.Nh3 Bg4 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nf4 c6 12.h3

Nxf3+ 13.gxf3 Bf5 14.Be3 Bb4+ 15.c3 Ba5 16.Rg1 Qe8 17.Nxd5 Qf7

18.Nf4 Re8 19.Qb3 Bc7 20.Qxf7+ Kxf7 21.Nh5 g6 22.Ng3 Bxh3 23.O-O-O Rd8 24.Rxd8 Bxd8 25.Rh1 Bg2 26.Rxh6 Rxh6 27.Bxh6 Bxf3 28.Be3 1/2-1/2

You have to listen to friends but I believe he is exaggerating, maybe he thinks you need a good kick-start. Don't forget to feed back in two years if you become a master.

It's not true, just old wives tales, yo!

As JJBooy pointed out, your friend probably meant to refer to algebraic notation rather than PGN.

As far as whether following algebraic notation in your head is necessary to become a better player, I think that's inverting cause and effect.  As you improve your game by playing more, reading comments, working out lines, and reviewing games of others, you will as a consequence also become more comfortable and familiar with algebraic notation.  You'll find that a written line of a few moves that you once had to play out on a board to follow is now understandable just by reading the moves, and your ability will improve as your experience improves.  At the same time, you'll be able to look at a position and picture a continuation of a few moves in your head and write or type out the algebraic notation on the fly without physically making the moves.

So I think it's better to say that becoming more adept with algebraic notation is a result of continued play, experience, and improvement, rather than the other way around.