Aaron Nolan was first introduced to the Pokémon Trading Card Game when he was seven. The concept of the competitive card game based on the Japanese brand Pocket Monsters, came easily to Aaron.

He began by collecting booster packs containing some of the more than 400 fictional species that make appearances in the role-playing game. The trading game first debuted in Japan in 1996 and later in North America in 1998. The game soon became the most sought after card games in history.

Now eight, Aaron understands its appeal.

“I learned the game pretty fast,” he said. “You don’t have to practice, but I practice because I want to win. I now have more cards than I can count.”

The card game is centered on the Pokémon battle, a point system based on each Pokémon specie and its “powers.” The goal is to knock out the opponent’s Pokémon or to cause them to run out of cards.

Aaron recently earned a second place ranking at the 2009 Pokémon Trading Card Game City (TCG) Tournament in Renton and came in third place at the Junior Division of the Mukilteo City Championships.

Tournament prizes include Pokémon hats, booster packs, binders and scholarships.

“When I first started playing I never won, but now I win a lot,” Aaron said. “It’s fun.”

According to the young player, he doesn’t have a favorite Pokémon, but says he likes different ones for different reasons.

The winning game is determined by three components.

“It’s how good the deck is, good luck, and how good the player is,” Aaron explained. “I hope to keep winning.”

Aaron practices the card game, along with his friends, at Uncles Games in Crossroads Bellevue Mall.

Lindsay Larin can be reached at 425-453-4602.