How to play SET for those who hate reading rulebooks

How to Play SET the game of visual perception explained such that you don’t have to read the rulebook and can get started quick.
If you are interested in games like SET, follow our abstract strategy and puzzles game guide.

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SET Game Rules FAQs

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A SET must have 3 cards where features (shape, color, number, shading) are:

• same on each card or
• different on each card

All of the features must separately satisfy this rule.
For example, the shape must either be the same on all 3 cards or different on each of the 3 cards; the colour must be the same on all 3 cards or different on each of the 3, etc. See the examples below.

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How to Play Set Step-by-Step

The dealer lays the cards

• Select a player to be the dealer who shuffles the cards
• Dealer lays 12 face up on the table in a rectangle for all to see

Calling the SET

• There are no turns.
• You compete simultaneously to identify SETs of 3 cards from the laid-down cards
• Whoever calls the SET first controls the board.
• You must call the SET before picking up the cards.
• Once called, you must pick it up within a few seconds.

Verification of the SET

• If you call and pick up a SET, it is verified by the other players.
• If it is correct, keep it.
• If you are unable to pick up the SET after calling it or if the others have verified it as incorrect, you lose one point.
  If you picked up the cards, return them back to the table.

Your SET is correct

You keep the SET and the dealer replaces the cards with 3 from the deck.

All players are not able to identify a SET

If all of you agree, lay an additional row of 3 cards on the table. When the next SET is found, do not replace the additional 3 cards.

Game End and Scoring

Add Step Image

The play continues until there are no more cards in the deck. At the end of the game, there may be cards left that do not form a SET. The number of SETs held by each player is then counted. You score 1 point for each SET. The player with the highest score wins.

SET Solo rules

When playing solo, if you do not find a SET, you get a penalty of 1 SET and lay down 3 more cards. You win the game by removing the penalty and finding a SET.

Examples of SETs

Shape feature: all cards the same
Color feature: all cards the same
Number Feature: all cards the same
Shading Feature: all cards different

All features separately satisfy the rule of all 3 cards being the same (shape, color, number) or all 3 cards being different (shading)

Shape feature: all cards different
Color feature: all cards different
Number Feature: all cards different
Shading Feature: all cards same

Shape feature: all cards different
Color feature: all cards different
Number Feature: all cards different
Shading Feature: all cards different