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Practical guides to buy, check and store your cards.

HOW TO READ A CARD'S CONDITION (NM, EX, LP…)

Condition directly affects price. Common abbreviations: M or Mint, a perfect card; NM or Near Mint, almost new with at most a tiny flaw; EX or Excellent, light marks visible up close; GD or Good, clear wear on edges or surface; LP, MP and HP stand for light, moderate and heavy play. Always ask for front and back photos and check corners, edges, surface and centring. At POKIVEN TCG the condition is stated on every product page.

GRADED CARDS: WHAT THE GRADE MEANS

PSA, BGS (Beckett) and CGC assess a card and seal it in a slab with a grade from 1 to 10. BGS also uses half-points and gives four sub-grades: centring, corners, edges and surface. A high grade increases value, but a graded card is not meant to be reopened: check the certification number on the grading company's website before buying. We show it on every graded card.

SEALED DISPLAYS AND BOXES: BUYING AND STORING WELL

A Pokémon display usually holds 36 booster packs; an Elite Trainer Box (ETB) combines boosters and accessories. Check that the original shrink-wrap is intact with no sign of reopening. To store sealed products: away from direct light, humidity and heat, lying flat or upright with nothing heavy on top.