CRACK OR HOLD
Which slabs are worth cracking and resubmitting, with the breakeven math shown and the answer usually being hold.
Every figure this column quotes comes from our own pulls and re-renders whenever the site rebuilds, so an older piece still shows current numbers. The board behind it is the PSA 9 arbitrage board, and the formulas are written out on the methodology page.
Every piece
8 published-
Crack or HoldGroudon 199 PSA 9: Owning It Changes the Answer
A PSA 9 Groudon 199 needs 16.8% to clear if you hold it and 20.8% if you buy one. The trailing gem rate read 16% this week, so both are a hold.
October 14, 2026
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Crack or HoldMega Dragonite ex 295 PSA 9: A Miss Is Not a Nine
A PSA 9 Mega Dragonite ex 295 clears its breakeven by 1.59 dollars, until a returned eight is priced. Recent grades come back eights 26.9 percent.
October 7, 2026
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Crack or HoldSeismitoad 105 PSA 9: The Insured Value Picks the Tier
A PSA 9 Seismitoad 105 needs 15.7 percent to break even once PSA insured value rules force the Express tier. The trailing gem rate is 11 percent.
September 30, 2026
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Crack or HoldGlaceon ex 150 PSA 10: It Clears, and I Still Hold
A PSA 9 Glaceon ex 150 plus PSA's cheapest tier costs 294.65 dollars and returns 27.18 at a 30 percent gem rate. The gap fell 103.66 in three months.
September 23, 2026
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Crack or HoldCharizard VMAX SV107: PSA's New Tier Moves the Math
PSA's new $59.99 tier drops the breakeven on a PSA 9 Charizard VMAX SV107 from 94% to 74.8%. The trailing gem rate is 68%, so it is still a hold.
September 16, 2026
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Crack or HoldPSA 9 Steven's Metagross ex 289: The Fee Takes Half
A PSA 9 Steven's Metagross ex 289 costs 159.13 dollars to crack and resubmit. Breakeven wants 64.2 percent, the trailing gem rate is 64 percent.
September 9, 2026
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Crack or HoldCracking a PSA 9 Charizard ex 199: Hold, Barely
A PSA 9 Charizard ex 199 costs 474.99 dollars to crack and resubmit. Breakeven wants 14.4 percent and the trailing gem rate is 14 percent, so hold.
September 2, 2026
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Crack or HoldIs Cracking a PSA 9 Worth It? Deoxys VSTAR GG46
A PSA 9 Deoxys VSTAR GG46 costs $135.59 to crack and resubmit. Breakeven wants a 54% gem rate, the trailing rate is 53%, so the answer is hold.
August 26, 2026
Nothing here is financial advice. Graded cards are speculative and illiquid.