How to Play the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG)

Here’s a beginner-friendly article-style guide explaining how to play the Pokémon TCG, step by step — from setting up your game, understanding cards, to winning strategies.

1. What you’ll need

Before you play, make sure you have:

• A deck of 60 cards built or bought (the official rule: each player uses a 60-card deck). (tcg.pokemon.com)
• A coin or token for flipping (for “who goes first”). (Pokeflip)
• Damage counters, status markers (like Poison, Burn) if you have them — some effects will require these. (Wikipedia)
• A place to play: a space with room for your Active Pokémon, Bench, prize cards, deck & discard pile.

2. Understanding the cards

There are three main types of cards in Pokémon TCG:

• Pokémon cards – These are the creatures you battle with.
• Energy cards – These power up your Pokémon’s attacks.
• Trainer cards – These provide special effects: Items, Supporters, Stadiums, etc.
  (Pokémon)

Pokémon cards

Pokémon cards can be Basic, Stage 1, Stage 2 (that evolve from basics) or special variants (V, VMAX, etc). When you evolve a Pokémon, you place the higher stage on top of the lower. (tcg.pokemon.com)

Energy cards

These are required to perform most attacks. The symbol(s) on the Pokémon’s attack cost must be matched (or sometimes “Colorless” counts any energy). (Pokeflip)

Trainer cards

Used for support: draw extra cards, search your deck, affect the opponent, etc. They’re important for strategy and consistency.

3. Game setup

Here’s how to start:

1. Each player shuffles their 60-card deck. (tcg.pokemon.com)
2. Each player draws 7 cards to form their initial hand. (Pokeflip)
3. Each player selects a Basic Pokémon from their hand to be their Active Pokémon (face-down or face-up depending on your style) and may place up to 5 more Basic Pokémon on their Bench (if they have them). (YouTube)
4. From the top of the deck, each player sets aside 6 cards face-down as their Prize cards. These will be claimed as you knock out the opponent’s Pokémon. (tcg.pokemon.com)
5. Players flip their Active and Bench Basic Pokémon face-up (if they were face-down). Then determine who goes first (via coin flip). (YouTube)

4. Turn structure

On your turn, you follow a series of steps. The exact wording may vary, but the general flow is:

1. Draw a card from your deck. (GameSpace.com)
2. Perform actions (in any order, unless the rules restrict):
   • Attach one Energy card from your hand to one of your Pokémon (usually once per turn).
   • Play Trainer cards (Items, Supporters, Stadiums) according to their rules.
   • Evolve your Pokémon (if the turn allows) by putting the next stage card on top of the appropriate Pokémon. (tcg.pokemon.com)
   • You may also place Basic Pokémon from your hand onto your Bench (if you have space).
3. Attack your opponent with your Active Pokémon (if it has enough Energy, and no restrictions apply). Your Pokémon deals damage as indicated on its attack cost. Then it is your opponent’s turn.
4. After attacking, if an opponent’s Pokémon is knocked out (damage ≥ its HP), you claim one of your Prize cards. (GameSpace.com)

5. How to win

There are three main ways to win:

• You collect all your Prize cards (usually 6 in standard format) by knocking out opponent’s Pokémon. (tcg.pokemon.com)
• Your opponent cannot draw a card at the start of their turn (because their deck is empty). (The Gamer)
• Your opponent has no Pokémon in play (no Active Pokémon and no Bench) when required. (Pokémon)

6. Key rules & things to watch

• You may only attach one Energy card per turn (unless a Pokémon or Trainer card says otherwise).
• You cannot evolve a Pokémon the same turn you played it as a Basic (unless a card says otherwise). (tcg.pokemon.com)
• Keep track of status conditions (Asleep, Burned, Poisoned, Paralyzed) and damage counters.
• Some Pokémon attacks or abilities may force special rules (for example, extra Prize cards, special evolution rules).
• Deck building rule: In most formats, aside from basic Energy, you may not have more than four copies of a card with the same name in your deck. (Pokeflip)

7. Deck-building basics

Since building a good deck is important, here are some starting tips:

• A valid deck has exactly 60 cards. (tcg.pokemon.com)
• Balanced composition: Many good beginner decks have ~ 20 Pokémon cards, ~ 20 Energy cards, ~ 20 Trainer cards (this is a rough guideline). (Pokeflip)
• Choose a strategy (for example focusing on a particular Pokémon type or evolution line) so your deck is consistent.
• Make sure the types of Pokémon you use are supported by enough Energy cards of the right type.
• Use Trainer cards that help search your deck or draw cards to improve consistency.

8. Beginner-friendly tips

• Start with a Theme Deck (pre-built 60-card deck) if you’re new. These are designed to be ready to play. (Pokeflip)
• Practice playing with friends or casual games before jumping into tournaments.
• Pay attention to weaknesses/ resistances of your Pokémon vs your opponent’s — this matters.
• Don’t worry too much about rare cards at first — learning the rules & playing games is more important.
• Use resources: the official “Learn to Play” guide on Pokémon.com is excellent. (tcg.pokemon.com)

9. Putting it all together: Sample turn

Here’s how a sample turn might go:

• You start your turn, draw one card.
• You attach an Energy card from your hand to your Active Pokémon.
• You play a Trainer card (e.g., draw 2 cards from your deck).
• You evolve a Basic Pokémon on your Bench into a Stage 1 (if you have the card and conditions allow).
• You move a Basic Pokémon from your hand onto the Bench.
• You attack with your Active Pokémon. The opponent takes damage; if their Pokémon is knocked out, you take one Prize card.
• Then your opponent begins their turn.

10. Why this game is fun

• It combines strategy (which Pokémon to play, when to evolve, when to attack) with collection and customization (deck-building).
• The variety of Pokémon, Trainer and Energy cards means each game can feel different.
• It’s social: you play versus someone else, trade cards, test strategies.
• As you learn more, there are tournament formats and deeper rules you can explore (e.g., special cards, alternate formats).

11. Additional resources

• Official quick‐start rules PDF from Pokémon.com. (tcg.pokemon.com)
• Beginner’s guide articles: “A Complete Beginner’s Guide To Playing the Pokémon TCG”. (The Gamer)

• Reddit threads and community advice:

  “You can download PTCG Live. You get a bunch of starter decks that are fairly good…” (Reddit)

• YouTube tutorial: “How to play Pokémon TCG for absolute beginners”. (YouTube)