Game Tips for SET

4

MrNonRespondo {Avid Gamer}

Aug 22nd, 2011| Strategy

41 of 43 gamers found this helpful

“Rule out impossible combinations”

When playing Set one can sometimes get stuck trying to think of every combination that could go with any card. But a quick scan of the cards can sometimes reveal that there are some impossible combinations.
For example, if you can quickly scan the cards to see that there are no reds, then you can focus only on groups of all greens or all purples because it’s impossible to make a set with 3 colors. If there is only one diamond card, you can more quickly check to see if there’s a set there and if not, rule it out and focus on sets with all the same shape.

2

Jennifer B. {Avid Gamer}

Aug 13th, 2011| Strategy

40 of 44 gamers found this helpful

“Practice and When stuck...”

This is a game that gets better with time. I enjoy that I can play it by myself, as I would a game of Sudoku. By doing so, you become more adept at recognizing the patterns.

When stuck, I start with the numbers. Go through the three of a kind 1s and see if there are matches, if none, then 2s, then 3s. If none of that works, then I go to seeking out numerically different. Anchor to a 1 and work through all of the 2s. Then if none of those have a corresponding 3 I switch to anchor at another 1 and continue. Takes time, but when you’re stuck you’re stuck. Gotta go through it step by step.

4

MrNonRespondo {Avid Gamer}

Aug 28th, 2011| Rule

40 of 44 gamers found this helpful

“Play with extra cards for beginners”

If you’re with a group of all beginners, it may help you to play the first game or two with 15 cards instead of 12 so that you’ll have more chances to find sets.

3

xelepart {Avid Gamer}

Oct 24th, 2011| Rule

42 of 47 gamers found this helpful

“Flip Cards Out”

It’s a common card game rule, but it’s particularly important in Set:

If the dealer flips the cards “in,” then the dealer sees the card first. It’s amazing how much it impacts the outcome — dealers seem to always win until you force them to flip such that they don’t see the cards first, then it’s suddenly a much closer game.

6

Takras {Avid Gamer}

Aug 20th, 2011| Strategy

40 of 45 gamers found this helpful

“Don't just count”

It’s easy to get stuck on counting differences on the cards. But sometimes one has to reset the brain and look at colors, formation and fill instead of how many there are.

Remember that you can have 1 green filled circle, 2 red striped diamond and 3 purple blank wave.

When you focus on the colors and forms instead, the numbers come automatically for me, because they’re easier to spot.

9

Granny {Avid Gamer}

Aug 21st, 2011| Tip

40 of 46 gamers found this helpful

“Practice, Practice, Practice! ~ A Set Tip”

You can go here to learn how to play:

http://www.setgame.com/images/tutorial/flash_version/set_flash_tutorial.htm

And here to actually play (practice):

http://www.setgame.com/set/puzzle_frame.htm

Yes, you can get better at it!!!!

Happy Gaming!

4

Ax_kidson {Avid Gamer}

Feb 20th, 2014| Strategy

43 of 50 gamers found this helpful

“If you want to practice”

Deal out the 12 then pick the first two cards, then work out what would be needed to make it a set, then the 1st and 3rd cards

it will get you used to looking for sets

also
remember the phrase two are x and one is not (this makes it not a set)

7

Richard Malena {Avid Gamer}

Aug 20th, 2011| Tip

40 of 47 gamers found this helpful

“Be careful: SET ruins friendships!”

In general, if someone is too good at a game, no one wants to play that game anymore. That rule is never more true than with SET.

If everyone is playing casually, that’s fine. If everyone is playing semi-pro, that’s fine. If you happen to have a mix… this might be the worst half hour you spend in a night of gaming. Succeeding at this game feels great and sucking at it feels terrible. In a mixed group, why play this when you could play something everyone will enjoy throughout the game?

7

gamerbling {Avid Gamer}

Oct 24th, 2013| Rule

42 of 51 gamers found this helpful

“Handicapping for newer players”

Gamer Bling has found that experience is decisive when playing against new or young players. Thus Gamer Bling instituted a self-imposed handicap: when he spotted a set, he quietly counted to twenty in his head before announcing it.

This worked well when teaching the game to Gamer Bling Expansion #1 and #2. When he first taught them, a 20-second delay kept them reasonably competitive, at least enough so that they didn’t get discouraged. Now Gamer Bling gives them no quarter, as their young minds are agile enough to beat The Old Man on occasion.

6

Takras {Avid Gamer}

Aug 20th, 2011| Tip

40 of 49 gamers found this helpful

“iPad”

This game is avaliable on iPad. It has many game modes to play it solo, not just time challenge. I advise getting it, but might be hard to search for in AppStore. Its full name is SET Pro HD.

2

grumbeld {Power Gamer}

Aug 20th, 2011| Tip

40 of 55 gamers found this helpful

“Vision”

Don’t be colorblind if you want to win. Those greens and reds can get tricky.

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