Gather Pokémon cards, sleeves, and a play area
Choose two players and decide who goes first
Shuffle the deck and place it facedown as the draw deck
Draw 7 cards
Place 1 Basic Pokémon in the Active Spot and up to 5 Basic Pokémon face down in the Bench
If you have no Basic Pokémon or cannot set up, follow the mulligan rule and reshuffle
Place the remaining cards as your draw deck
Place 6 Prize cards facedown to the side (or the number required by your deck/format)
Each turn, draw 1 card (unless a card effect changes this)
Play Trainer cards and Special Energy cards from your hand when allowed
Play Evolution cards to evolve Pokémon in your play area when allowed
Attach 1 Energy card per turn to one of your Pokémon (unless an effect allows more)
Use your Pokémon’s Abilities when allowed
Attack with your Active Pokémon, paying the required Energy cost
Resolve the attack effects, including damage and any additional effects
Place damage counters on the Defending Pokémon
If damage is enough to knock it out, discard it and take Prize cards as instructed
If you knock out a Pokémon, take the correct number of Prize cards and place them in your hand
If your Active Pokémon is knocked out, promote a Bench Pokémon to the Active Spot (if available)
Use Switch/Retreat as allowed to change your Active Pokémon
When you run out of cards to draw, lose the game (unless a card effect changes this)
Win by taking all Prize cards or by meeting the win condition of your format and deck rules