What is centering on a Pokemon card?

Centering is how evenly a card's printed image sits between its borders, judged on the front and the back. It's written as a ratio of opposite borders, like 55/45, where 50/50 is perfect. Each grader sets a limit per grade: a PSA 10 allows about 55/45 on the front and 75/25 on the back, and so does a CGC Gem Mint 10. An off center (OC) card has one border visibly wider than its opposite, and PSA can add an OC qualifier after such a card's grade.

It's also the one flaw a straight-on photo shows well, which makes it the first thing to check on any listing.

Before you buy one

• Measure it in the photo. Compare the left border with the right and the top with the bottom, on the front and the back.

• Don't let Near Mint settle it. Raw condition scales mostly ignore centering. TCGplayer lets a card sit up to 70/30 without affecting its condition, and calls anything worse Damaged, so a Near Mint card can still be a poor candidate for a high grade. If you're buying raw with a grade in mind, judge the centering yourself.

• Know how the limit loosens. PSA allows about 60/40 on the front for a PSA 9 and about 70/30 for a PSA 7, plus a small variance at its grader's discretion when eye appeal is strong. TAG publishes its own numbers for TCG cards, such as about 55/45 front and 65/35 back for Gem Mint. Check the grade you're after against its limit before you buy.

• Read the label for OC. A title like "PSA 8 OC" names a card PSA marked off center. Look for the qualifier on the label in the photo.

• Treat centering words as the seller's eye. Sellers write "off center", "off-center", "OC", "well centered" and "50/50". The last two are opinions, so check them against the borders yourself.

A ChaseBoard graded watch doesn't read qualifiers, so a PSA 9 watch also takes "PSA 9 OC" titles. If you'd rather skip them, add "OC" as an exclude word.