A puzzle can be completed in many ways, but some are more efficient than others. I have learned many systems for doing puzzles and all of them are fun, but I enjoy the fastest approaches best. Some tricks work for some puzzles and not for others. The following steps apply to all puzzles.

First, scatter the pieces.

Then arrange the edges with each other to form a border.

Third, find spots of interest to work on, remembering that an essential way to do this is for the pieces to relate to each other and to the edges.

Take one piece at a time and find those pieces connected with each other. These steps apply to electronic puzzles and to paper and cardboard puzzles, too. Whether you like big or little pieces or landscapes or any other style or pattern, the same rules apply. The puzzle is a way to bring order to confusion and doing that efficiently is satisfying.

John Smyth

September 18, 2011