SET it up

I haven't done Crossword puzzle in ages. I guess maybe because I don't usually get the NYT on weekdays. But I have been a little obsessed with the game SET. (Try not to get turned off by the cheesy web site.)

I'm pretty sure I used to play this game in elementary school during Math. I had forgotten about it until it turned up at a friend's brunch a few weeks ago. I ordered my own set of SET immediately.

The rules of SET:

A 'Set' is 3 cards in which each individual feature is either all the SAME on each card... OR all DIFFERENT on each card. That is to say, any feature in the 'Set' of three cards is either common to all three cards or is different on each card. The Features are:

• Symbols: Each card has ovals (I call these pills), squiggles, or diamonds on it;
• Color: The symbols are red, green, or purple;
• Number: Each card has one, two, or three symbols on it;
• Shading: The symbols are solid, striped or open.

I personally have noticed when playing that my eye tends to move toward making sets where the features are all different. When it comes to shading, I prefer the ones with the lines in them because for some reason they appeal to my eye the most. I'd imagine that everyone's brain works a little differently and that's what makes it fun to play against people.

So I implore you... try the NYT puzzle online here. Practice up. And then we can have SET parties.