SET Game Tutorial

Learn the rules and master the strategies of SET

Game Rules

Objective

Find three cards that form a SET

What is a SET?

Three cards form a SET when each attribute (color, shape, shading, number) is either all the same or all different across the three cards.

Card Attributes

Color

Color: Red, Purple, Green

Shape

Shape: Oval, Squiggle, Diamond

Shading

Shading: Solid, Striped, Outlined

Number

Number: One, Two, Three

✅ Valid SET Example

red oval solid
red oval striped
red oval striped
red oval outlined
red oval outlined
red oval outlined

Explanation:

All three cards have the same color (red) and shape (oval), but different shading (solid, striped, outlined) and different numbers (1, 2, 3). Each attribute is either all the same or all different across the three cards.

❌ Invalid SET Example

red oval solid
purple squiggle striped
purple squiggle striped
red diamond outlined
red diamond outlined

Explanation:

This is NOT a valid SET. The colors are red, purple, red (not all same, not all different). The numbers are 1, 2, 2 (not all same, not all different). For a valid SET, each attribute must be either all the same or all different across all three cards.

Practice Examples

Example 1: Can you find the SET?

green diamond solid
purple oval striped
purple oval striped
red squiggle outlined
red squiggle outlined
red squiggle outlined
Check Answer

✅ Correct! Well done!

This IS a valid SET! All attributes are different: colors (green, purple, red), shapes (diamond, oval, squiggle), shadings (solid, striped, outlined), and numbers (1, 2, 3).

Example 2: Can you find the SET?

red oval solid
red oval solid
red squiggle solid
red squiggle solid
red diamond solid
red diamond solid
Check Answer

✅ Correct! Well done!

This IS a valid SET! The color (red), shading (solid), and number (2) are all the same, while the shapes are all different (oval, squiggle, diamond).

🎯 Strategy Tips

  • Start by looking for obvious patterns - cards that share most attributes
  • Focus on one attribute at a time to verify SET validity
  • Practice recognizing when two cards could form a SET with a third
  • Don't get fixated on one potential SET - scan the entire board

🧠 Quick Reference

Valid SET Rule

Each attribute must be either ALL THE SAME or ALL DIFFERENT across the three cards

Total Cards

A complete SET deck contains 81 unique cards (3⁴ = 81)

Game End

Game ends when no more SETs can be found in the remaining cards