The rules, answered simply

A Pokémon Trading Card Game deck is exactly 60 cards. You can include at most four copies of any one card, with the exception of basic Energy cards, which you may include in any number. Every deck must contain at least one Basic Pokémon.

Standard is the main format most tournaments use, and it only allows cards from recent sets. For the 2026 season the legal cards carry Regulation Marks H, I and J, while the older G mark has rotated out. Rotation keeps the game fresh and stops older cards dominating forever. The small letter is printed near the bottom of each card.

There are three ways to win. Take all of your Prize cards by knocking out your opponent's Pokémon, knock out the last Pokémon your opponent has in play so they cannot continue, or win if your opponent has no cards left to draw at the start of their turn.

VGC is the video game championship, played on the handheld Pokémon games rather than with cards. Matches are Double Battles at Level 50, with team rules about which Pokémon and held items you can bring. It runs the same Junior, Senior and Masters divisions and the same events ladder as the card game, so families often follow both.

Play! Pokémon splits competitors into three age divisions so children play people close to their own age. For the 2026 season: Junior is players born in 2014 or later, Senior is born 2010 to 2013, and Masters is born 2009 or earlier. Your division is set by your year of birth and fixed at the season changeover on 1 September, not by your age on the day. Cut-offs move each season, so confirm against the current rules before registering.

Bring a legal 60-card deck in sleeves, a printed or written decklist where required, damage counters or dice, a couple of coins or a damage marker, and a way to keep score. A water bottle, a snack and a comfy bag help too. Arrive early to register and settle in.

Weekly league play is often free or a few dollars. A ready-to-play starter or a pre-built deck is an affordable way in, and many stores lend demo decks so a child can try before buying. Sanctioned tournaments charge a small entry fee. You do not need expensive rare cards to start and have fun.

At sanctioned tournaments players write out a decklist, the exact 60 cards they are using, and hand it in before play. Judges may run a deck check to make sure the cards on the table match the list and that the deck is legal. It keeps things fair. Help your child fill the list in neatly and accurately before the day.

Most events use Swiss rounds, where every player keeps playing each round regardless of wins or losses, matched against someone on a similar record. After the Swiss rounds the top players often move into a single-elimination top cut. It means your child plays a full set of games even on a tough day.

League play is the casual, welcoming entry point run weekly at local stores. League Challenges and League Cups are small sanctioned tournaments that award Championship Points. Regionals and International Championships are the large premier events. Most kids start at league nights and build up from there.

Championship Points are earned by placing well at sanctioned events through the season. Collecting enough can earn a travel award or an invitation to the Pokémon World Championships. For most families the points are simply a fun way to track progress across the year.