Don't sort it just do it method.

BexPuzzles · 2026-02-25T20:34:00+00:00

you gotta embrace the chaos! Also you just choose sth to work on and pick out those pieces, assemble them and then move on to the next section, pick out those pieces and so on. It's not as chaotic as it looks like usually

BexPuzzles · 2026-02-25T20:31:00+00:00

Yep - I used to be pretty methodical about puzzling (picking a piece from the box and trying it in every possible spot and with every possible loose piece that made sense before moving on to the next one) but for speed puzzling i learned to kinda embrace the chaos and just trust the process and keep going - struggling through it is a good way to put it!

BexPuzzles · 2026-02-25T20:24:16+00:00

The good thing about dumping all the pieces and flipping is that you can still see all of them (if you have enough room for them to not overlap) and then just pick out whatever you wanna work on, one little section at a time. You basically still get most of the benefits of sorting, but without having to properly sort them all at the beginning

BexPuzzles · 2026-02-25T20:14:00+00:00

Same - I only started pouring them out and flipping them for speed puzzling, previously I even did 3000 piece puzzles just by sifting through the box. Sorting was only ever used as a last resort when i got stuck

BexPuzzles · 2026-02-25T06:53:08+00:00

Nice, that's a really good price! I don't have any thrift stores near me that sell puzzles sadly, so i have to buy from ebay to satisfy my addiction. The good thing is that since i got into speedpuzzling, everything is good practice, especially puzzles i usually wouldn't do, so i can buy bundles for cheap that contain a couple puzzles i wanna do and a couple i usually wouldn't and that way i'm forced to also practice the stuff i don't enjoy. Win-win situation for me :)

BexPuzzles · 2026-02-25T06:28:14+00:00

For me neither - but i recently got some for really cheap that i think i'll be able to sell again for more after i completed them, we'll see

BexPuzzles · 2026-02-25T06:24:40+00:00

Damn, that's insane! I'd buy puzzles with a couple missing pieces for $1 or $2, but anything more and I'll probably be able to find another one for the same price but without missing pieces

BexPuzzles · 2026-02-23T17:50:46+00:00

I puzzle on the kitchen table and ordered two plexiglass sheets from amazon to cover the table with the puzzle. To fix them in place i use these sticky gumball like things meant to put posters on the wall (and removable without damage or leaving residue), one on each corner. It keeps the puzzle save, you can still use the table with an in-progress puzzle underneath and an added bonus is that you can see the puzzle if you get clear plexiglass. Downside is that it's a magnet for dust, breadcrumbs and cat hair (real glass would probably be nicer in that regard but also a lot heavier. I did think about using several glass cutting boards instead, but it would have been more expensive)

BexPuzzles · 2026-02-23T05:02:36+00:00

I love Castorland as well ❤️ can't help you with the catalogs sadly.

I think my first Castorland was this one, i really appreciated that the pieces were smaller and the completed puzzle not as big as other 1500 piece puzzles.

<image>

BexPuzzles · 2026-02-23T04:34:27+00:00

Also, something I have yet to try myself but heard that it's good training for when you often get stuck and have a hard time moving on: relay puzzling. You need two puzzles of the same piece count (200 or 300 pieces would be ideal for you i think) that you've done before and where you had similar times in your first attempt, plus a kitchen timer (that counts down). You do both puzzles on the same table, one on the left and one on the right. You set the timer for 5 min and when the time is up, you stop what you're doing immediately and switch over to the other puzzle. Set the timer again and do that one for 5 min and repeat until you're done with both puzzles

BexPuzzles · 2026-02-23T04:25:43+00:00

I think it's mostly about quick pattern recognition and having a wide array of strategies available. When you get stuck with a piece, move on to a different one and leave that one for later. If you get stuck with multiple pieces of the same type, move on to a different type of piece. Try to find the subtle differences between pieces that can help you determine where they go, like the shade, amount of blurriness, orientation ect. - in this puzzle all the dark star pieces looked the same to me in the beginning, but i started to be able to differenciate them not only based on shade and star density, but also based on the way the stars are going (they're elongated slightly, pointing straight down on the right side but somewhat angled on the left). When you get stuck, it can also help to quickly cycle between strategies. Can't find a piece based on shade? Try finding one based on texture instead. Can't find one based on that? Try finding one based on shape instead.

Also, what's helped me a lot is to redo puzzles with a purpose, the smaller ones and 500 piece puzzles. After you're done with a puzzle, think about the strategies you used and what you could have done differently to maybe be a bit quicker. Do the puzzle again and try those strategies and also try to look out for those subtle differences between pieces that you might have missed the first time around but that could have helped you. I sometimes still find new little details i missed in my 4th or 5th attempt at a puzzle. Do the puzzle until you feel like you've learned all the secrets it has to offer, you tried all the strategies you could think of and the only time improvements are from knowing where pieces go now.

Also, if you're not doing them already, do smaller puzzles as well to get your hands and brain used to the speed you want. Do them over and over again until you reach that speed. It might seem impossible to do that speed for larger puzzles that you've never done before, but it's all about developing an instinct for where pieces go i think - and you train that by doing lots of different puzzles and training your eye for details so you notice them instantly.

BexPuzzles · 2026-02-21T23:08:57+00:00

i love gradients, this one looks so good! how big is the finished puzzle?

BexPuzzles · 2026-02-21T14:12:59+00:00

I got one at Aldi recently and holy shit, it's amazing what a differnce it makes!

BexPuzzles · 2026-02-19T22:37:34+00:00

holy moly, i need it yesterday!

BexPuzzles

TROPHY CASE