There are so many great puzzle competitions and gatherings online, but it can be a bit nerve-wracking to get started. I know I was lost during my first online competition. So here’s a primer for you on what you might want to include in your home setup, with the caveat that each event organizer does things a bit differently.

This is a picture of my setup for my most recent online competition. I have a white table for my surface, with all the tools I’ll need on the surface. (More on each of those below.) I also have coffee and lip balm so I can finish caffeinating and moisturizing before starting time. My phone should also be on the surface, but I’m using it to take the picture.

So…why do I have ALL of these particular things just to do a puzzle?

• The white table provides what’s considered the best surface for puzzling. It’s generally easiest to see pieces on a white background. I ordered mine from Ikea for $180. It’s great for online competitions. And because it’s less than an inch shorter than the regulation size for most in-person competitions, it’s perfect for team practice, and I can put a strip of painters’ tape down the middle and invite folks over for pairs’ practice!
• The laptop (top center) has the Zoom app open and will provide continuous video of me and my puzzling surface throughout the event. I’m going to move my table closer to the laptop next time, but some distance is needed. I sat it on top of a pile of puzzle boxes to elevate it enough to be able to see the whole surface I’ll be using.
• The blue board (far left) is something I got for free in a Ravensburger 200 XL box. It’s a poster holder. I keep it handy along with a binder clip in case a poster has the main puzzle image (instead of the box). Most folks don’t have poster holders, but I’m a big fan because I have old eyes that can’t focus well on small box pictures.
• The white rectangle (next to the blue board) is a puzzle tray from ZAKCO. I can sort and assemble pieces on it and use it to transfer pieces and assembled chunks because it only has three raised edges and one flat edge. I have the tray standing by in case I want it, otherwise I can move it to the floor.
• The white bag with the pink sticker (right side) is the puzzle. It’s sealed and the sticker tells me not to open it until directed to do so. The scissors are for opening the bag and any seals on the box. As soon as I’m done using the scissors, I put them away. In my first online competition, I had no idea I’d need something to cut with, and I had to waste time and get flustered trying to open the seals while everyone else was already working on their puzzles.
• The stand (far right side) with the odd shape is a puzzle box stand. It has a slot near the bottom that you can insert a box lid into. This lets you see the picture better and minimizes space taken up on your surface.
• The chair is lightweight and easy to move so I can get up or change my location quickly if needed.
• Finally, my phone provides the timer I will start when the event organizer says “go” so I can track my time.

Not pictured, but incredibly important, is lighting. That’s a whole other subject that I’m still trying to conquer. Glare will be the death of me yet.

Also, I use a setup similar to this for in-person competitions that also includes a large, heavy-duty bag on the floor next to me with extra trays, clips, etc. And whatever I don’t need can be thrown in the bag in a few seconds to clear the puzzling surface. I could do the same thing at home too.

The point of this post isn’t to say that you have to have this setup. (You absolutely don’t.) It’s to make you aware of some of the things you might want to consider. And when I was getting started, I didn’t use trays and didn’t have a poster board. I didn’t even have a box holder, but that put me at a definite disadvantage. And with most box holders costing less than a single good-quality puzzle, to me it was well worth purchasing one right away as soon as I knew it existed!

Do you have any other must-haves for your home setup? Add a comment below, or email me at karen@puzzled.blog and share your thoughts, and I may feature them in an upcoming post (with all credit to you!)