At a tournament, sleeves are more than protection: they make sure no card can be recognised by its back. Each publisher has its own rules, but they agree on the essentials.
This guide sums up common principles. The exact rules are those of each game (for example the Play! Pokémon tournament rules or the Magic Tournament Rules) and of your organiser: check them before an important event.
Identical sleeves across the deck
Every card in the deck must be in sleeves of the same model, the same colour and in the same condition. This is the most important rule: if a few sleeves are more worn, lighter or damaged, the cards inside them become recognisable.
An opaque back
The back of the sleeves must not give away the card. Sleeves with a coloured, opaque back, like Day Two Midnight Black sleeves, meet this requirement.
Marked cards
A card is “marked” when it can be told apart without seeing its face: a bent corner, a scratch, a stain, a split sleeve. Even when accidental, a marked card can lead to a penalty, especially if it follows a pattern (for example all your strongest cards).
- Check your deck before every tournament, sleeve by sleeve.
- Replace damaged sleeves with sleeves from the same box.
- If the wear is general, change all the sleeves at once.
What a judge can ask
A judge can inspect your deck and ask you to change your sleeves if they consider them marked, too worn or not compliant. Keeping spare identical sleeves in your bag sorts this out in a few minutes, without losing playing time.
Your pre-tournament checklist
- Every card in the deck is in identical sleeves from the same box.
- No split, stained or noticeably more worn sleeve.
- Spare sleeves from the same box in your bag.
- The deck shuffles smoothly and fits its deck box.
In short
Identical, opaque sleeves in good condition: that’s what every tournament rulebook asks for. To know when to renew yours, read when to replace your sleeves.