Rules for Card Sleeves

Card sleeves are pocket-like covers that fit around cards.  Card sleeves are not required, but players use them because they help protect cards during play and when shuffling.  This may be important to you if you play with rare cards.  NOTE: If you are going to use sleeves, you have to sleeve each card in your deck.

Sleeves are allowed to be used at official Pokémon events, provided that they meet the following requirements:

• All of the sleeves on a deck must be the same color, condition, size, and texture.
  
  
• The fronts of the sleeves are clear, clean, and free of designs, holograms, and emblems that may obscure card information.
  
  
• The sleeves 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.
  
  
• Each card sleeve contains only one card.
  
  
• The use of sleeves with any form of pattern or artwork on the back of the sleeve is strictly prohibited at all Premier Events, unless the sleeve is an official Pokémon sleeve, where the color along all four edges of the sleeve is identical.
  
  

The Head Judge is the final authority in determining whether a card or sleeve in a player’s deck is considered marked.

NOTES:

Players should keep in mind that card sleeves are not a requirement.  They are optional. Should a judge inform a player that his or her sleeves may not be used at an event, the player has the option of replacing the sleeves with more suitable sleeves or playing without sleeves.

Players are responsible for ensuring that their cards and/or card sleeves are not marked in any way. A card is considered marked if some aspect of the card makes it possible to identify it without seeing its face, including scratches, tears, discoloration, bends, and so forth. Players must ensure that their sleeves remain legal throughout the course of the event, not just during initial deck checks.

Sometimes, sleeves get damaged during play.  When this happens, you will be required to re-sleeve in order to keep your deck legal.

If a player’s cards are sleeved, the sleeves are considered to be part of the cards, so the cards must be examined while in the sleeves to determine if there is a marked-card situation.

The Head Judge is the final authority in determining whether a card or sleeve in a player’s deck is considered marked.