Reading a pokemon card - what's the trick?

Two more on the bottom edge. The small letter in a box (G, H and so on) is the regulation mark, and that's what decides whether the card is legal in Standard right now. The illustrator's name is down there as well, if you ever end up collecting by artist.

Top: name, HP and the type symbol. Top left says if it's Basic or Stage 1/2 and what it evolves from. Middle is the attacks, energy cost on the left of each one and damage on the right. Bottom row is weakness, resistance and retreat cost. The tiny symbol near the card number at the bottom is rarity, circle common, diamond uncommon, star rare. Are you reading them to play or to work out what they're worth?