Playing Set is a dynamic, visual perception card game where players race to identify unique combinations of three cards, known as a "Set," based on four distinct features. It challenges your ability to quickly spot patterns and relationships between abstract symbols.
Getting Started: Setup and Objective
To begin a game of Set, the cards are shuffled, and 12 cards are laid out face-up on the playing surface, typically arranged in a 4x3 grid. This forms the initial playing field that all players observe simultaneously. The remaining cards form a draw pile.
The primary objective for each player is to be the first to spot and claim a "Set" of three cards from the 12 cards currently displayed. Players continuously scan the cards to identify these valid combinations.
What Makes a "Set"? Understanding the Four Attributes
The core of Set lies in understanding what constitutes a valid "Set." A Set consists of three cards where each of the four attributes, when considered individually across those three cards, must be either all the same or all different.
The four attributes present on each card are:
- Color: Red, Green, or Purple
- Symbol: Oval, Squiggle, or Diamond
- Number: One, Two, or Three symbols
- Shading: Solid, Stripped, or Open (empty)
Let's break down the "all same or all different" rule for each attribute:
| Attribute | Valid for a Set (across 3 cards) | Invalid for a Set (across 3 cards) |
|---|---|---|
| Color | All Red / All Green / All Purple OR One of each (Red, Green, Purple) | Two Red, One Green (neither all same nor all different) |
| Symbol | All Oval / All Squiggle / All Diamond OR One of each (Oval, Squiggle, Diamond) | Two Oval, One Diamond (neither all same nor all different) |
| Number | All One / All Two / All Three OR One of each (One, Two, Three) | Two Two, One One (neither all same nor all different) |
| Shading | All Solid / All Stripped / All Open OR One of each (Solid, Stripped, Open) | Two Solid, One Stripped (neither all same nor all different) |
Example:
Imagine you pick three cards.
- If one card has one symbol, another has two, and the third has three (all different numbers), that works for the "Number" attribute.
- If all three cards have two symbols (all the same number), that also works for "Number."
- However, if two cards have one symbol and one card has two symbols, it does not satisfy the "all same or all different" rule for "Number." This combination cannot be part of a Set.
This rule must apply independently and correctly for all four attributes for the three cards to be considered a valid Set.
Gameplay: Spotting, Claiming, and Replacing
The game proceeds as follows:
- Spotting a Set: All players simultaneously observe the 12 cards displayed. The moment a player identifies a valid Set, they immediately call out "Set!"
- Claiming the Set: The player then points to or picks up the three cards they believe form a Set.
- Validation: Other players or an agreed-upon judge verify if the claimed cards indeed form a valid Set according to the rules.
- If valid: The player keeps the three cards, earning one point. Three new cards are then drawn from the deck and placed into the empty spaces, restoring the playing field to 12 cards.
- If invalid: The player who incorrectly called "Set" typically incurs a penalty (e.g., loses a point, or the next valid Set found goes to the player who spotted it), and the cards are returned to their original positions. Play resumes with the same 12 cards.
- No Visible Sets: If all players agree that no Sets are currently present among the 12 cards, three more cards are dealt from the deck, increasing the number of cards on the table to 15 (or more, if necessary). Play continues until a Set is found, after which the field is reduced back to 12 if possible by not replacing cards.
Scoring and Winning
- Scoring: Each valid Set claimed earns a player one point. Players keep their collected Sets face-down in front of them to easily count their score.
- Winning the Game: The game concludes when there are no more possible Sets to be found, either because the deck runs out and no Sets remain on the table, or all cards have been dealt and all possible Sets claimed. The player with the most Sets (points) at the end of the game is declared the winner.
Tips for Playing Set
- Scan by Attribute: Instead of trying to process three entire cards at once, focus on one attribute at a time. For example, quickly scan for three cards that are all red, all green, all purple, or one of each color. Then, check those three cards for the other attributes.
- Look for Pairs: Sometimes, finding two cards that share an attribute (e.g., two cards with two symbols) can help you determine what the third card needs to be to complete a Set for that specific attribute (in this case, it must also have two symbols).
- Practice Makes Perfect: The more you play, the faster your brain will become at recognizing the intricate patterns required to form a Set.
For more detailed rules and variations of the game, you can visit the official Set game website.
