| name | grade-tcg-card |
| locale | caveman |
| source_locale | en |
| source_commit | 82c77053 |
| translator | Julius Brussee homage — caveman |
| translation_date | 2026-04-24 |
| description | Grade a trading card using PSA, BGS, or CGC standards. Covers observation-first assessment (adapted from meditate's unbiased observation), centering measurement, surface analysis, edge and corner evaluation, and final grade assignment with confidence interval. Supports Pokemon, MTG, Flesh and Blood, and Kayou cards. Use when evaluating a card before professional grading submission, pre-screening a collection for high-grade candidates, settling condition disputes between buyers and sellers, or estimating the grade-dependent value spread for a card.
|
| license | MIT |
| allowed-tools | Read Grep Glob WebFetch WebSearch |
| metadata | {"author":"Philipp Thoss","version":"1.0","domain":"tcg","complexity":"intermediate","language":"natural","tags":"tcg, grading, psa, bgs, cgc, pokemon, mtg, fab, kayou, cards, collecting"} |
Grade TCG Card
Assess + grade trading card, professional grading standards (PSA, BGS, CGC). Observation-first protocol from meditate skill prevents grade anchoring — most common grading bias.
When Use
- Evaluate card before professional grading service submission
- Pre-screen collection for high-grade candidates worth submitting
- Settle disputes about card condition between buyers + sellers
- Learn to grade consistent with structured assessment protocol
- Estimate grade-dependent value spread for specific card
Inputs
- Required: Card identification (set, number, name, variant/edition)
- Required: Card images or physical description (front + back)
- Required: Grading standard to apply (PSA 1-10, BGS 1-10 with subgrades, CGC 1-10)
- Optional: Known market value at different grades (grade-value analysis)
- Optional: Card game (Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, Flesh and Blood, Kayou)
Steps
Step 1: Clear Bias — Observation Without Prejudgment
From meditate Step 2-3: observe card without anchoring to expected grade or market value.
- Set aside any knowledge of card market value
- Do NOT look up recent sales or population reports before grading
- Know card is "valuable"? Acknowledge bias explicit:
- "I know this card is worth $X in PSA 10. I am setting that aside."
- Examine card as physical object first, not collectible
- Note initial gut impression but do NOT let it anchor assessment
- Label premature grade thoughts as "anchoring", return to observation
Got: Neutral starting state. Card assessed purely on physical condition, not market expectations. Grade anchoring (knowing value before grading) = #1 source of grading inconsistency.
If fail: Bias sticky (high-value card makes you want to see 10)? Write bias down explicit. Externalizing reduces influence. Proceed only when can examine card as physical object.
Step 2: Centering Assessment
Measure card print centering on both faces.
- Measure border width all four sides of front face:
- Left vs right border (horizontal centering)
- Top vs bottom border (vertical centering)
- Express as ratio: 55/45 left-right, 60/40 top-bottom
- Repeat for back face
- Apply grading standard centering thresholds:
