How to Play Set
A set consists of three cards satisfying all of these conditions:
- They all have the same number or have three different numbers.
- They all have the same shape or have three different shapes.
- They all have the same shading or have three different shadings.
- They all have the same color or have three different colors.
The rules of Set are summarized by: If you can sort a group of three cards into "two of ____ and one of ____", then it is not a set.
For example, these three cards form a set:
- One red striped diamond
- Two red solid diamonds
- Three red open diamonds
Given any two cards from the deck, there is one and only one other card that forms a set with them.
Standard Game
Given a board of cards for set, there will always be at least one set on the board unless the game is over. A complete game goes through the whole deck looking for sets. When a set is found (by tapping each of the cards), it is removed from the board, and is replaced by cards in the deck.
A game is played with typically 12 cards from the deck drawn and shown on the board. 81 cards in the deck, minus 12, leaves 69 cards in the deck initially. As a set is found, the 3 cards are removed from the board, and replaced by cards in the deck. Occasionally there are no sets on the board and more cards are added onto the board until at least one set is available.
Hints and Assists
There are two buttons:
- Show Sets
- Show Third
"Show Sets" gives a list of all the complete sets found on the board (after scrolling down). This is a great way to get a feel for the game and what "a set" looks like.
"Show Third" shows what the third card must be from two selected cards (after scrolling down). This can help new players to figure out the logic of what the "third" should be for any given pair of cards on the board.
Both of the buttons are considered assistants or being in easy or tutorial mode.