How to Tackle a Puzzle Like a Pro, According to a World Puzzling Champ
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In a world where it can be disconcertingly hard to disconnect, nothing quite sets a put-down-your-phone tone like a dining table or game table outfitted with a fresh-out-of-the-box puzzle. This recreationally inclined activity encourages fellow houseguests of all generations to congregate. (No excuses, Grandpa!)
Whatever the puzzling preference—underwater dogs, classic condiments, vintage-inspired seed packets—everyone knows that as soon as someone unboxes that 500- or 1,000-piecer, it’s so on.
As far as multigenerational pastimes go, there’s simply not much that can rival this all-hands-on-deck diversion. There’s always one family member whose hunkered down around the pieces morning, noon, and night—usually related to the mischievous one who decides to hide that one piece (where did it go?!) until finally forced to ’fess up.
Should you be looking to up your puzzle potential in the near future, we enlisted the expertise of competitive speed puzzler Rebecca Taylor of the USA Jigsaw Puzzle Association, who can thank the chicken pox for her puzzling prowess. When she came down with the illness at age 5, her parents gave her a 5,000-piecer to distract her from scratching. Since then, she’s gotten quite efficient—her record is 500 pieces in 29 minutes and 35 seconds (that’s about 17 per minute!). Rebecca and her teammates were also the first to earn a gold medal for the United States in the World Jigsaw Puzzling Championship, so she clearly knows a thing or two.
Below are a few of Rebecca’s tips for reaching your peak puzzling potential:
Piece together the past.
It never hurts to know a little history. First known as as a “dissected map,” the jigsaw puzzle was invented by cartographer John Spilsbury, who printed maps onto cardboard pieces that had to be reassembled—a practice that helped kids learn which counties were side by side. For 30 to 40 years, geography-centric puzzling was the norm until American advertisers caught on to the concept and started using puzzles for advertising purposes. “A ‘dissectologist’ is still the technical name for a puzzle enthusiast,” says Rebecca.
Pick the proper puzzle.
The more engaging the subject matter, the more you may be able to get others on board. For example, a 1980s theme could be fun for a blast-from-the-past college reunion weekend, or a pop culture-themed puzzle may win over a family of Yellowstone enthusiasts. You can also give a nod to the holiday if that’s the reason for the get-together, or pay tribute to a destination with a regionally-inspired selection. “The World Jigsaw Puzzling Championship has been in Spain for the past few years, so I always do a Spanish puzzle before attending,” says Rebecca.
Rebecca, who is also the Vice President of the USA Jigsaw Puzzle Association, says a few of her personal-favorite puzzle makers include New York Puzzle Company and Pomegranate Puzzles. Retailer-wise, “there are many amazing puzzle shops where you can order from brands all over the world,” says Rebecca, who cites Puzzledly and Puzzle Warehouse as her two U.S.-based favorites.
Consider a vintage puzzle...
Rebecca also collects vintage puzzles dating all the way back to the 19th century, although op art puzzles from the 1960s are some of her personal favorites. Sourcing-wise, “there’s a booming community of vintage puzzling enthusiasts on social media who can provide leads, and you can find a lot of Springbok puzzles on eBay,” she says. Rebecca also notes that she has learned a ton about seeking out vintage puzzles from a 2004 book by Anne Williams. “She sourced a lot from flea markets and antiques shows.”
...Or, better yet, a wooden one.
Rebecca happens to be a huge enthusiast of wooden jigsaw puzzles, which tend to be laser- or hand-cut with intricate, often whimsical, shapes. Although they’re more expensive, they’re worth the investment thanks to their handcrafted quality. They’re also a great option for multi-generational get-togethers, because wooden puzzles are more friendly to older family members who may suffer from arthritis. “My mother is in her late 80s, and I’ve started giving her wooden puzzles because it’s easier for her to pick up the pieces,” says Rebecca, whose favorite wooden puzzle purveyors include Colorado-based Liberty and Washington’s Artifact.
Challenge yourself.
If you’re not looking to take the easy route, Rebecca recommends black and white puzzles, such as those featuring MC Escher artwork. “I also recommend double-sided puzzles where it’s not obvious which side is which,” she says.
Tackle by task.
To save your eye from scanning the entire pile each time, Rebecca recommends arranging pieces by edges, color, or shape. “When you have a giant mass of pieces, it’s helpful to break them down into smaller piles so that your eye is not scanning the entire pile. Sorting them out—by edges, by color—is a great way to start. If you are working on a large monochrome section like sky or a repeating pattern like tree leaves, you can also sort out pieces by similar shapes.”
Speaking of shape, it’s worth noting that most puzzles you likely encounter are ribbon-cut puzzles, which means they’re more grid-like. “Random-cut puzzles are more wonky and challenging,” says Rebecca. “It’s not as easy to scan for a certain shape.”
Get competitive.
There are certain people who simply crave the adrenaline rush of a rivalry. Rebecca gets it. She is a globally recognized competitive speed puzzler, after all. “Puzzling has become a real sport,” says Rebecca, whose team was the first American team to win the gold medal in the world championship. To up the intensity, consider buying two of the same puzzle (or with the same amount of pieces) and seeing which team can complete theirs first. May the best dissectologists win.
Form your team.
If you’re looking to casually complete a puzzle over the course of a weekend, team size doesn’t matter so much. If you’re looking to compete with a timer counting down the seconds (see above!), it does. Rebecca notes that in the speed puzzling world, four people tackling a 1,000-piece puzzle is the standard. “That’s already eight arms in a fairly confined space,” says Rebecca, noting that any more can get a little crowded. When it comes to 500-piece puzzles, she prefers to tackle those in pairs.
Make it portable.
As much as we love a dedicated game table, you may be able to enlist more participants if the puzzle is planted wherever the action is. “I do sometimes [casually] puzzle on the couch in front of a movie, and in those instances, I’m puzzling on a puzzle board by ZAKCO. Zak [Hill] is a Northeastern woodworker who makes a wonderful series of puzzle accessories and is beloved within the speed puzzling community,” says Rebecca.
Easter Eggs 1,000-Piece Puzzle
Country Cottage 1,000-Piece Puzzle
Wildflowers 1,000-Piece Puzzle
Kitchen Sink 1,000-Piece Puzzle
Gee’s Bend Quilts 1,000-Piece Puzzle
Seed Packet 1,000-Piece Puzzle
Classic Paperbacks 1,000-Piece Puzzle
Typewriter 750-Piece Puzzle
Painter's Palette 1,000-Piece Puzzle
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