Three-feature trios: rules and printable materials

Find three cards that are all the same or all different on each of three printed features.

Players

2–6

Plan for

10–15 minutes

Bring

Nine feature cards, scissors and checking sheet

Use this nine-card set

Cut the nine cards and place all face up. Each has a count of 1, 2 or 3; a circle, triangle or square; and a plain, dotted or double frame. The labels explicitly name the frame, so printer quality or color does not determine an answer. Read the three feature types together before searching. Two to six people share one set.

Test exactly three cards

A valid trio has, for each feature independently, either three equal values or three different values. Two equal and one different fails. Count can be all different while shape is all the same; the choices do not have to match across features. Any three distinct cards may be proposed. Do not accept a pair, and do not count the same card twice.

Worked examples

Cards 1, 4 and 7 have counts 1–2–3, all circles, and plain–dotted–double frames: valid on all three tests. Cards 1, 2 and 4 have counts 1–1–2, so they fail immediately even if another feature looks promising. The card numbers identify material only; they are not a fourth matching feature.

Take equal proposal turns

Go around the table. On your turn name one trio and explain all three checks, or pass. A recorder lists accepted card-number triples in ascending order. Keep cards in place so everyone can inspect them; an already recorded trio earns no further point. Award one group tick per distinct valid trio, with no speed race or personal ranking.

Finish with a checked list

Stop after two complete circuits or the agreed ten minutes, then compare the host key. This set contains twelve valid trios; the key lists all twelve. You do not need to find every one to finish. A helper can read labels aloud. For a gentler introduction, inspect one proposed trio together instead of searching freely.

Printable materials

Preview at 100% scale, with browser headers and footers off. Cut with suitable help. Keep host keys separate. This is a manual tabletop kit, not an online opponent, automatic judge or solver.