When I tell people I do “speed puzzling,” they usually have a lot of questions. I started this blog in part to create a place where someone who’s new to speed puzzling (but not jigsaw puzzles!) could get up to speed on the basics quickly.

What is speed puzzling? You assemble a jigsaw puzzle as quickly as you can. You can do this by yourself (solo), with one other person (pairs), or with multiple people (teams, most often four people total). There are variants of each of these, but solo, pairs, and teams are the most common forms. During competitions, all the entrants are assembling the same puzzle.

Where can I try speed puzzling? Some areas have local speed puzzling events at libraries, rec centers, schools, and other places with lots of tables and chairs. The popular website speedpuzzling.com hosts in-person events in many places across the US. There’s also Puzzle Buzz, which partners with local bars to host team competitions. In addition, there are many online options.

What is online speed puzzling? You assemble a physical puzzle at a location you choose, and you often use a camera to capture video of the assembly. Sometimes online puzzling is live, meaning that you and others each connect to the competition site through a service like Zoom, and everyone’s video feeds are monitored as they work on the puzzle. Sometimes online puzzling is not live, meaning that you can do the puzzle on your own schedule. Examples of online puzzling organizers in the US include speedpuzzling.com and the USA Jigsaw Puzzle Association’s Puzzle Club.

What equipment do I need to get started? You don’t need any equipment, just a puzzle! But many people find puzzle box holders to be helpful. A box holder displays your box lid upright so it’s easier to see, and it frees up space on your table. You can find them on Amazon, Etsy, and many other sites. Some people also use puzzle sorting trays, which can be used to hold pieces during competitions, but I found it tough to figure out what kind of tray would be best for me when I was just starting out. Some people buy puzzle timers, either devices or phone apps. When you’re getting started, you can definitely use any timer, including the one built into your phone.

Where can I learn more about speed puzzling? There are many resources out there, but here are the ones I found most helpful when I was getting started:

• I started my journey at speedpuzzling.com and I can’t say enough good things about their online and in-person events, plus all the tips and other info available from their site.
• The USA Jigsaw Puzzle Association has lots of resources and event information. Consider supporting the USAJPA: currently, annual membership is only $24!
• The Piece Talks podcast features fascinating, in-depth interviews with a variety of people in the speed puzzling community, from world-class puzzlers to competition judges and puzzle manufacturers.
• Karen Puzzles is a YouTuber with over 350,000 subscribers and several years of videos delving into her experiences in speed puzzling and puzzling in general, like assembling a 24,000 piece puzzle!

In the coming days and weeks, I’ll be posting more details about how speed puzzling competitions typically work. And I’ll also be sharing my experiences with you as I compete in the Virginia state championship and the USA Jigsaw Nationals, both happening in March!