Using card sleeves
Most players use card sleeves to protect their cards but it is also advisable to use sleeves if some cards in your deck are slightly damaged or marked in some way. During gameplay it is important that a card cannot be identified when face down or inside a deck as it may give a player an unfair advantage. At normal league meetings this is not too important but when playing in a tournament there are rules that must be followed.
All of the sleeves on a deck must be the same colour, size, and texture.
All of the sleeves must be in the same condition. If one or two sleeves have bent corners this could be used by a player to know what card is in that sleeve and where it is positioned in their deck, giving them an unfair advantage.
The fronts of the sleeves are clear, clean, and free of designs, holograms, and emblems that may obscure card information.
Sleeves made by Ultrapro have a small circular hologram on the front but as long as this does not cover any card information they are acceptable. The newer Ultrapro sleeves have the hologram slightly off centre and these are normally acceptable but the older Ultrapro sleeves had the hologram nearer to the side which could obscure the weakness or retreat cost and so those are not allowed.
The sleeves must completely cover the entire card, leaving no portion sticking out of the open end.
The sleeves are not reflective enough to be used to clearly determine the faces of cards that remain in the deck. A reasonable degree of glossy finish on a sleeve is acceptable, but sleeves that create a mirror-like surface, where the card above it is clearly distinguishable, are not permitted.
Each card sleeve must contain only one card.
The use of sleeves with any form of pattern or artwork on the back of the sleeve is not allowed unless the sleeve is an official Pokémon sleeve, where the colour along all four edges of the sleeve is identical.
At an event, Judges will check sleeves meet these conditions as part of the deck check.
The Head Judge at an event has the final say over whether or not particular sleeves may be used at that event.
In tournaments clear sleeves are normally only used if all the cards are in perfect condition and are not marked or show signs of serious wear and tear. If the card is marked then opaque sleeves must be used.
Remember though that sleeves can get damaged just like cards and if during the game a player splits one of his sleeves or damages the sleeve in any way, such as by bending a corner, then that sleeve must be replaced immediately. For this reason it is always best to have a few spare sleeves to hand.
Players should keep in mind that card sleeves are not a requirement at tournaments or events unless cards are marked or identifable from the reverse. If a judge informs a player that their sleeves may not be used, the player has the option of replacing the sleeves with more suitable sleeves, or playing without sleeves.
When buying sleeves, always bear the above in mind and make sure you buy the right sized sleeves. Pokémon cards fit the 'standard' size sleeves (66mm x 91mm). Some sleeves are smaller and fit Yu-Gi-Oh cards but will be too small for Pokémon cards.
All of the sleeves on a deck must be the same colour, size, and texture.
All of the sleeves must be in the same condition. If one or two sleeves have bent corners this could be used by a player to know what card is in that sleeve and where it is positioned in their deck, giving them an unfair advantage.
The fronts of the sleeves are clear, clean, and free of designs, holograms, and emblems that may obscure card information.
Sleeves made by Ultrapro have a small circular hologram on the front but as long as this does not cover any card information they are acceptable. The newer Ultrapro sleeves have the hologram slightly off centre and these are normally acceptable but the older Ultrapro sleeves had the hologram nearer to the side which could obscure the weakness or retreat cost and so those are not allowed.
The sleeves must completely cover the entire card, leaving no portion sticking out of the open end.
The sleeves are not reflective enough to be used to clearly determine the faces of cards that remain in the deck. A reasonable degree of glossy finish on a sleeve is acceptable, but sleeves that create a mirror-like surface, where the card above it is clearly distinguishable, are not permitted.
Each card sleeve must contain only one card.
The use of sleeves with any form of pattern or artwork on the back of the sleeve is not allowed unless the sleeve is an official Pokémon sleeve, where the colour along all four edges of the sleeve is identical.
At an event, Judges will check sleeves meet these conditions as part of the deck check.
The Head Judge at an event has the final say over whether or not particular sleeves may be used at that event.
In tournaments clear sleeves are normally only used if all the cards are in perfect condition and are not marked or show signs of serious wear and tear. If the card is marked then opaque sleeves must be used.
Remember though that sleeves can get damaged just like cards and if during the game a player splits one of his sleeves or damages the sleeve in any way, such as by bending a corner, then that sleeve must be replaced immediately. For this reason it is always best to have a few spare sleeves to hand.
Players should keep in mind that card sleeves are not a requirement at tournaments or events unless cards are marked or identifable from the reverse. If a judge informs a player that their sleeves may not be used, the player has the option of replacing the sleeves with more suitable sleeves, or playing without sleeves.
When buying sleeves, always bear the above in mind and make sure you buy the right sized sleeves. Pokémon cards fit the 'standard' size sleeves (66mm x 91mm). Some sleeves are smaller and fit Yu-Gi-Oh cards but will be too small for Pokémon cards.