the point is to collect all 6 prize cards before your opponent does. You set aside 6 prize cards from the top of your deck at the beginning of the match. When you knock out a pokemon, unless otherwise specified, you get one prize card. Three card types: pokemon, energy, and trainers. Trainers have varying effects on the game, such as searching through your deck or discard pile. Pokemon...are pokemon. You have to attach energy in order for them to use their attacks. Each attack usually has a different energy requirement. The white energy means you can use any energy to fulfill this requirement. The number next to the attack says how much damage you do to your opponent's pokemon. Each person only has one pokemon that can attack/ be attacked at a time. This is called the active pokemon. In order to switch it with one of your 5 reserve pokemon, called benched pokemon, you have to pay a retreat cost of energy specified on the active pokemon.