Know the grade.
See the standard.

A Mint 10 card’s attributes include 50/50 or better centering, sharp focus, sharp and tight corners, no marks or stains, no breaks in surface gloss, and no visible wear.

A Mint 9.5 card’s attributes include 60/40 or better centering, no creases, sharp corners, no surface scratches, and sharp overall presentation.

A Mint 9 card’s attributes include 60/40 or better centering, sharp focus, and sharp corners. Very minor imperfections may be seen on close examination, such as a light scratch in one corner, a slight surface scratch, or a small print defect.

A Near Mint / Mint+ card has 65/35 or better centering and sharp corners. A few minor flaws may exist upon close examination, including a slight nick to one corner, a small gloss break or surface scratch, a minor print or refractor line, a minor focus or color imperfection, or a small print spot.

A Near Mint / Mint 8 card has 70/30 or better centering. Corners appear sharp to the naked eye but may show slight imperfections. Small flaws may include minor wear on one corner, a surface scratch or gloss imperfection, a print spot, or a color imperfection.

This grade has 70/30 or better centering and a few noticeable small flaws. Minor wear on one or two corners, a gloss imperfection or surface scratch, a print or refractor line, or a focus or color imperfection may be seen.

A Near Mint 7 card has 70/30 or better centering and may show slight wear on corners, minor scratching, print spots, image imperfections, a minor stain, print lines, slightly rough edges, or slight card degradation.

This grade has 75/25 or better centering, slight wear on some corners, minor scratching, or some print spots. Up to two corners or edges may be frayed or slightly creased.

A 6 graded card has 75/25 or better centering. Corners or edges may include chipping, fraying, or slight fuzzing. Print lines, slight focus issues, and print imperfections may exist.

A 5.5 card has 80/20 or better centering. Edges or corners can show slight fuzzing or creasing, very minor chipping, tiny scratches, print lines, slight focus concerns, or print imperfections.

An Excellent card has 80/20 or better centering. Minor corner or edge fraying, roughness or chipping along an edge, one slight surface crease, dull gloss with surface scratching, minor discoloration, or imperfections may be present; major stains are not expected.

A 4.5 card has no major damage, though corners or edges are more rounded and creases are more noticeable. Small marks, stains, or ink may be present on the front or back.

A 4 graded card can have four slightly rounded corners with modest surface wear, edge nicks or creases, discoloration, a slight crease on one or both sides, a light tear or surface break, minor marks, or slight tearing.

A 3.5 card has rounded corners with surface wear, edge nicks, discoloration, minor creases, a light tear or surface break, and may have marks, scuffs, ink, or slight tearing.

A Very Good 3 card has 85/15 or better centering and rounded corners with surface wear, edge nicks, discoloration, minor creases, a surface break, noticeable print spots, marks, scuffs, ink, slight tearing, or staining.

A 2.5 card is heavily rounded with surface wear, several edge nicks, discoloration, more creases on one or both sides, a light tear or surface break, and may have more marks, scuffs, ink, or slight tearing.

A 2 graded card is heavily rounded with more surface wear, several edge nicks and chips, discoloration, major creases, a small tear or surface break, more marks or ink, or a slight hole.

A Fair+ card is in poor condition, heavily rounded with major surface wear, edge nicks and chips, possible miscutting, discoloration, major creases, a tear or surface break, marks, scuffs, ink, or a slight hole.

A Fair card is in poor condition, heavily rounded with major surface wear, edge nicks and chips, possible miscutting, discoloration, major creases, tears or surface breaks, marks, scuffs, ink, a slight hole, or substantial overall wear.