What we’ve learned from this video is that Kristin would destroy me, but I can hold my own against her mom 😅 If you want to support me continuing to make videos like this, head over to Patreon for all kinds of bonus puzzle videos! This week, I recorded a commentary track to the full solve of the final puzzle: patreon.com/karenpuzzles

Leave it to humans to take a calming, relaxing activity and make it as stressful as possible, lolll. Loved this

As an specialist in times analysing (I cover personally a lot of spanish speedpuzzling championships), I tell you Karen that if you participated in the Spanish Championship, you'd be top 10 without a doubt! You are comparing yourself with Alejandro, Kristin, Katerina and other stars from the top-top, but I think that if you work on some training, you'll be even better at this kind of competition, with a lot of skill to gain. If you haven't tried speedpuzzling before, besides the exhibition with Tammy, I tell you the results are EXCELLENT and I'm sure you would make a great career out of this. The strategies are correct, you don't have to look at the box, the building is really natural and most of us are faster at real championships that at home. Putting all pieces up nearly costs 3-4 minutes, for example, and you do this also well. I was during 3 years top 10 in Spain in speedpuzzling (2016-2018) and compare to my times in those puzzles, you are definitely better! (0:52-1:00-1:08-1:07) I encourage you to go on on this!! In San Diego you'll make it big, like the Beach Boys sing.

LMAO that little clip comparing the alejandro and kristin energy was so funny! I did not expect it at all, but it was such an accurate (and funny) way to show each one’s strategy

I’m 46 years old and don’t think I’ve done a jigsaw puzzle since I was a teen, but because of your channel I just ordered the Floral Reflections puzzle (using your link!). I will time myself and then edit this comment with my embarrassing time. I figure if nothing else it should be a nice ego boost for you :) Edit (several days later): Okay, so I just finished, and it took me 4 hours, 3 minutes, and 32 seconds. My *strategy* was to separate the pieces into colors (that part alone took me 33 minutes!). Like you, I started with red and did each color separately from left to right, water first. The blue was the easiest and the purple was the hardest. My back hurts. Haha

For training, I would have a friend pick up several new puzzles for you and put each in a bag, so you're going into practice blind. Maybe have them peruse your Ravensburger collection first so they don't pick out ones you've completed before, or set up a shared Amazon wishlist of puzzles you've never worked before that they can select from. You'll improve with each one, I'm sure!

i discovered Karen about a month ago, and since have watched pretty much every single one of her videos for the past two years, so I’m so happy there is finally a new video!!

Lol that edit at 22:30 between Alejandro & Kristin was so unexpectedly hilarious🤣

It would have been so funny had Kristin raced the Try Guys. Alejandro would have beat them by even more but the energy contrast between Kristin and them would have been hilarious.

KZfaq randomly suggested this channel about....3 weeks ago. I've now watched nearly every video from the last 3 years, renewed my love of puzzles, gotten a puzzle rental subscription, joined JPAUSA, and started thinking about how I can puzzle faster. Its all your fault, Karen. Thank you ☺

Alejandro looks like one of the 2% of humans who can actually multitask. It’s a very good example of a mind working on 2 things at once successfully.

*You forgot the two puzzle trays that you're allowed in the competition. It makes a big difference.* *Use the Clear Acrylic Tray so you can see through as you move it around and over the puzzle.*

Speed puzzling is soo different than just doing puzzles. I don't think I have it in me to do speed puzzling at all!! I'm super impressed with how you did. I was going to ask if your back and neck hurt from puzzling all of the time. I know I definitely get more stiff when I'm doing puzzles several days in a row.

I think Speed Puzzling is really funny because Puzzling itself is like a calm and relaxing activity and then Speed Puzzlers are like "Yeah but what if puzzling was stressful instead??" :D

I kind of want to do this! I honestly have no idea how fast I’d be since I rarely do 500 piece puzzles. 45-55 minutes seems so fast! But I’m usually doing 1,000 to 2,000 pieces.

I have now tried the three puzzles. These are my times: - London Postcard: 1:35:28 (450 pieces at 1,5 hours = 71st of 85 contestants) - Floral Reflections: 2:08:40 (347 pieces at 1,5 hours = 65th of 80 contestants) - My Loyal Friends: 2:05:17 (360 pieces at 1,5 hours = 68th of 78 contestants) That was fun. Thanks for inspiring me. Just like you I also did Floral Reflections after London Postcard which was a mistake - especially since it starting getting dark outside and that made it a bit harder without bright daylight. My Loyal Friends was done the day after :)

All right, here's a guide to speed-training for a marathon STRATEGY (not specific to any one discipline, so tailor to your own needs; also sorry for being long-winded): 1) identify the different growth edges you need to push-- e.g., working on a puzzle for longer = building stamina; breaking the cycle of fruitlessly rearranging pieces when stuck = mental reset; using the puzzle box to put together more quickly = developing visual cues; increasing overall speed; etc. 2) your two everyday practices need to be one stamina practice and one speed practice. Do not focus on finishing puzzles. For the stamina practice, focus on increasing the length of time you puzzle without stopping. For speed practice, focus on getting more pieces together in a set period of time (say, twenty minutes) 3) for other goals, determine a specific exercise to address each growth edge: for example, solving a puzzle by looking at the image every time you are "stuck" for [n] seconds, to train yourself to use the picture. Every third day or so, do your regular stamina practice and your regular speed practice at a steady pace (no pressure to "improve", holding steady is also an important skill), PLUS add in one of your other challenges, as a separate exercise. Make sure you rotate the skills development; don't think of "mastery" or "beating a level"; think of it as a dress rehearsal for the day of competition 4) take rest days and decompress fully 5) consider taking up meditation, if that works for you. Some people do well with mindfulness meditation; others do well with a simple grounding technique. There's even merit in having a silly mini-practice like getting up and running around the table making silly noises to get out of your head and into your body 6) about 2/3 of the way into training for the event, start combining your stamina training and your speed training, twice a day. "Sprint" for periods during your stamina training. Slightly slow your speed but train for 30 minutes rather than 20. Create exercises that combine both skillsets. Create some that incorporate other growth edges. 7) at 3 weeks and 2 weeks before the event, do trial runs: drive somewhere to practice in tandem with friends, possibly in a noisy coffee shop or somewhere else distracting. Don't do one the week of the competition. 8) Rest up and hold steady for the last week before competition. You will be as fast as you're going to be. You'll have as much stamina as you're going to have. You will be ready. It's a mental game at this point. Have a secondary goal for yourself that isn't based on getting a certain outcome, like, make it your goal to complete your first competition or to open the puzzle box in [x amount of time] and anything beyond that is frosting on the cake Take what you like and leave the rest! You're going to do awesome

For not having practiced speed puzzling, I thought you did an amazing job. If you practiced speed puzzling and developed an effective strategy, which I know you could, I am confident you could do well in the championship. Best of luck in San Diego!

I am loving this series - who knew there was such a thing as a puzzling competition? Karen, I blame you for my serious problem with puzzle hoarding that I started! I tend to work on puzzles for an hour or two after work, so the last puzzle I did (Piecework Omsomnia 1000 pieces) took me four days! My strategy for the competition would be to not sign up in the first place lol… good luck and I can’t wait to see that video!!!

Karen! I went to a thrift store yesterday and found 4 old springbok/Eaton/Ravensburger puzzles for 2 dollars!!! They look so pretty!! Especially the Eaton Temptation puzzle i got. It's a Strawberry cheesecake. I'm going to start it now! I'm so excited thank you for introducing me to these cool puzzles!!!! Edit: Strategy

I did the London postcard in 2.5 hours. My family was actually impressed…lol.

Don't feel embarrassed when comparing yourself with Kristen, use "humbled" instead. Your performance is impressive in its own right.

The only thing I can think to add for *strategy* is use the time flipping and sorting to also look at the box and get an idea of how you want to attack the puzzle. Lots of multitasking, but it's really the best time to do that (I think).

I think you did great! Funny how you go into some puzzles with a specific STRATEGY and then change it immediately in the moment 😄 I did the first puzzle myself and realised speed puzzling is completely not for me, too stressful! The time was also embarrassing at around 1h 20m. But I also have a habit of not looking at the box at all, so I blame that :P

Lately I've been crocheting while watching your videos, and let me tell you that when your timer started I have never crocheted faster in my life. Love your videos

Karen it is completely your fault that there is a vintage murder she wrote puzzle on the way to my house right now. Thank you so much for reintroducing me to puzzles, it's really helping my OCD

Great job! One idea when you start getting flustered might be a quick mental reset with a deep breath/rolling back the shoulders. Karen and the rest of the speed puzzlers make me look so bad timewise - pencil me in for 5+ hours on each of those. Your next puzzle should be getting that mattress back into the bag. Different kind of strategy for that one.

I recalled in the last video how the competition is taking in critiques how to improve the live streaming along with the puzzles themselves like that brutal team puzzle that only one team finish. If you’re not able to do one of the categories for whatever reason (like double team, or four man team) you can be one of the livestream English commentators discussing the “strategies” that all the competitors are doing along with another commentator. That way you can still enjoyed the competition and pick up a “strategy “ or two for the next competition.

I tried speed puzzling a 500 piece puzzle today (first time ever on 500 pieces)... 2 hours, 14 minutes and 17 seconds (278 pieces in place when time ran out)... A long way to go if I want to be good... BUT I would have qualified for the final anyway, since I would have been the second Dane in the competition :D :D ... I ordered the 3 puzzles from my local store and I will try them when they get here. See if I can avoid getting last place :D

@6:33 Fan: "Don't worry about that plastic! I'll sweep it away! Good luck on the puzzles!!!! 💗🌬

I love how much you learn in this video about your own puzzling style and how to improve next time. You are so self-aware and have great insights.

I am saving all my pennies to go next year! Thank you for these videos Karen! You're the only one on KZfaq that does puzzling videos that is knowledgeable and I am all for it! I have a whole year of practicing ahead of me 😆

I think you did great! Not only you don’t time your puzzling to be fast but you stretch the puzzling experience so it is longer instead of faster! You are used to the opposite. I think with practice you’ll get better and better.

I've enjoyed this series of three videos on the so-called world championship -- very well done. Also interesting to hear your STRATEGY working through the four puzzles.

It would be so stressful to have to come up with a strategy on the fly and also have the manual dexterity to execute it quickly. I don’t think speed puzzling is for me but it’s so much fun to watch lol

This series of videos was so fun to watch! Thank you for all your hard work on them. Congrats on your times! It was brave of you to time yourself against the winners on camera for us to see. And it was fascinating to see the different strategies that occurred to you in the moment for each puzzle. Hoping to maybe see you at the national championships!!

I have really loved the vids on the championship, you did such a good job compiling the footage and giving us context

Not gonna lie. The 2nd puzzle where you joked about quitting puzzles and then I got an ad roll in the middle of the joke, I legit thought that was the end of the video for a brief second which would’ve been an amazing elaborate joke.

Again, I don't even really puzzle. I used to put puzzles together with my grandmother and parents at the cottage when I was younger. But this was so fascinating. Congrats on your timing and also kudos to you for owning some of your opinions and assumptions that you changed your mind about. Super cool challenge and comparison.

I ordered the London Postcard puzzle which will arrive tomorrow. It’s such a bright cheerful image. I would be one of those people at the puzzle competition where I have the border put together and the top competitors are finishing, but just happy to be there. I like having a puzzle that all of the KZfaqrs were trying. You are going to do amazing in San Diego. Thank you most of all for encouraging us to try new puzzles at any speed.

Doing the most relaxing activity as fast as you can cracks me up!

Haven't touched a puzzle in 30+ years but I can't atop watching your videos. Some major catharsis for some reason. Thank you!

You did so well on these! Interesting to see you learn what to work on for training. PS- Feel free to use your A/C; we want you to puzzle comfortably!

I'm definitely not a speed puzzler. I freeze when I'm being timed and just thinking about the math of completing 500 pieces in under 47 minutes just to get top 10 gives me SO much anxiety lol

This was really fun to watch! I specially appreciate your editing efforts

this was literally one of the most entertaining videos i have ever watched. i have been watching you since i found out about ur channel and i've been inlove since. it was so intense to watch and i was nervous the whole time😅 keep up the great work

I am new to your videos, I was introduced to them through your first Puzzle Championship video a few weeks ago. Since then I have watched a number of your videos. I am definitely just a casual puzzler but I have to say it is so wonderful to watch someone finding so much enjoyment in what they are doing. You may have difficulty from time to time but every video is filled with so much joy. You are always so enthusiastic about your puzzles and you can see how much fun you are having. It's just so uplifting to watch!

If you love not looking at the puzzle picture, definitely try some Wasgij puzzles. Theyre brilliant

I have always wanted to know more about puzzle competitions. Thank you so much for taking the time,energy and effort to do such a well done look into this world.

You did great!! You're right, speed is totally different from other skill sets. I'm thinking about speed running video games versus just playing through. For example, I love Pokemon. I'm even pretty decent at competitive battling. But speed running the games? That's a whole different animal!! I'd be horrible, I wouldn't know the first thing about it. I know puzzles are a little more streamlined. But still, for someone who has never competed speed puzzling before, the fact that you even held your own at all among the top puzzlers of the world is amazing! Think of how great you could be after some practice! And don't get discouraged if you don't crush all the competition at San Diego. You will have only had a few months of practice by then. I'm sure it took these puzzlers years of practice to hone the speed puzzling skill. So give yourself time to improve! And also, don't worry if you decide speed puzzling isn't totally your passion. You're still the top KZfaq puzzler!! So you already have your niche.

Awesome video! I loved the synced time lapse of all four puzzles. And I think you did amazing at these!! With some of the learns you took from your attempts, I bet it wouldn’t take long at all to tighten up some strategies and knock several minutes from each one. Well done!! ❤️❤️❤️

You did amazing! First time speed-puzzler - and you did as good as people competing in the World Championship! Your strategy is on point!

Well done! No matter what the puzzle is, my strategy is always the edge first. It helps me to see what colors/sections go where and keep my bearings on the overall spacing of sections as I move along. Thank you for sharing. Very enjoyable, as always!

To really train properly, I feel like you should be doing unknown puzzles, like you do in the actual competition. Maybe have other people send you puzzles without telling you what they are? Also, do you know who you'll be pairing/teaming with for the San Diego competition?

Hello Karen, I got your videos recommended about 2 weeks ago. I think in my entire life I only did 10 puzzles. Some years ago one 500. And was so proud I finished it. 😅 Because was always so bad in it and inpatient. But now after watching so many of your videos I feel so much for puzzling. To see that it's possible to finish a puzzle in such a short time is a pretty good motivation and challenge for me. So, thank you so much!

Thanks for such quality content! I can see how much effort you put in, it's amazing! Good luck in San Diego!

I love this video and loved hearing your commentary after actually doing the puzzle and how it’s change and strategies used. Also I do most of my puzzles with one hand aka Kristin style! I also don’t look at the box a lot if at all and makes it harder and like you said more fun. Amazing videos!

Strategy! I personally think your time was great for a "beginner speed puzzler." It will be so nice to see familliar faces in the national competition. You'll do great! Are you participating on all the categories?

this has inspired me to start timing more of my puzzles to see what strategies I can work on and if I can start to get better! I can't afford any new puzzles at the moment but I'll enjoy re-doing my favorites in my collection!

Omg this is so exciting! I hope you get to meet the winners of the tournament.

I just wanted to say that you ignited my love for puzzling, I just bought my first couple of puzzles and I'm so excited!! I got a Broadway musicals one and I love it already.

This was so much fun to watch. And knowing that you were able to find your weaknesses and what you have to work on is a plus. And I think he will do great when you go to the competition

I’ve been watching your channel for around 2 years and it keeps getting better. Always excited when you post

Love the four timelapses together. Thanks for sharing your strategies

I've been watching your channel for a few weeks. Not sure how I got here, but your videos are great. You even inspired me to get a couple puzzles to try out and I haven't done one since I used to help my grandmother with them as a kid.

I have been loving all these graphs and charts!!

That was so fun watching you compete against the champions!! I love your videos Karen, looking forward to the next one!

I'm watching this out of order, so I've already seen you compete and it was so much fun to watch! So was this. It's so interesting to hear your thoughts on strategy.

I hope there are more videos of you training for the competition. It was fascinating learning all these tips for speed puzzling.

super excited to watch you compete!!!! i hope your practice goes well!! post your progress!!!

Your channel is so much fun to watch. Thank you!

I am loving this competition series of puzzle videos!!!

I loved this video. It was fast paced (stressful) but interesting as to where you would have placed had you been there. I applaud you for your placement as well as how entertaining and fun your video contents are. All your videos are a learning experience. I haven't done a jigsaw puzzle in years, so thank you for renewing my interest in them again. It's hard to choose which ones to buy as the quality and pictures have changed so much from years ago. I had forgotten how much I loved doing them.

My loyal friends: 1h 7min 46 sec 💁‍♀️🙈 Flowers: 1h 10 min

Love how brave you are - it will be interesting to see if you can develop your own winning 'strategy' for speed puzzling.

Well done! I’m so impressed with your times. Just love your videos ❤️😇🇬🇧

appreciate the amount of effort put into this video! this was a fun watch

Puzzle Nerd Convention inspires amazing skills.

Hi Karen, I've commented before on your posts but have never had a reply. I'm pleased to hear on one of your other clips that your channel is for all; race, religion, gender, orientation, PHYSICAL ABILITY, etc. My name is Joshua, and I'm watching your clips from the U.K.. I have severe brain trauma from a road accident in 1988. I love watching your channel, and find it therapeutic, it's also started me puzzling again. Because I have neurological injuries, you can imagine I spend a lot of time alone, so starting puzzling again has been a journey.. but your tips and tricks are helpful. I'm not any where near as capable as you, but your advice has given me direction to pick out puzzles within my parameters, and has helped me with strategies. Thanks so much. Good luck with any upcoming competitions, good luck with your business, and your channel.

this whole series has been so different and great! keep speeding along karen!

I've never been this early to a video before lol! I haven't watched all the way through but I know Karen absolutely crushed it!!

I've been puzzling for 4 yrs and it's still takes me about 14 hrs to do a 1000 piece puzzle! I am taking my time though and enjoying it but wow, I have a long way to go!

Strategy, focus, and endurance are all obviously important for competitive puzzling, but I think that disposition/stress response is also a vital component for the most successful puzzlers. Some people are naturally very calm and collected under pressure, while others (like me) go totally blank when asked to do a task - even one we are normally very good at - under time constraints or in a competitive atmosphere. Experience can certainly help to lessen the anxiety/adrenaline to an extent, but at a certain level if there is someone who thrives under pressure going up against someone equally skilled who freezes when they are feeling over-stimulated, it’s not hard to guess who is going to win!

Great strategy! Thanks for all your pearls of wisdom. I love your reflections and how you seek ways of improving. I will use your tips when I take on Elephants by Ravensburger. I have never challenged myself to do a speed puzzle and after seeing you I will go in knowing what a different beast it really is. Thanks again for all your great content. You are amazing and hopefully, I can take a trip to San Diego to meet you.

I laughed so loud when I heard you use a bit of a Soca song for Alejandro! Perfect choice! 😂

I imagine it could be a fun experience to go out and purchase a random 500 piece puzzle without looking as much as possible and then use that as practice every so often.

This video represents a so much big amount of work 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👏🏻👏🏻 it was so interesting 💎 I really can’t speed puzzling it’s so stressfull, you’re so great and the competitors oh my god they’re so fast!! Thanks for your sharing 🌷🌷

I have been waiting for this video. You are amazingly fast! Yesterday I tried the London Postcard puzzle myself, like a competition as you did. It was a fun puzzle. However, I certainly didn't finish anywhere near your score. Fun trying though. Keep it up Karen!

Look forward to seeing your videos from the CA competition and what strategy changes you implement!

the past few weeks I wasn't motivated to do my puzzles again and had a 1000 piece puzzle sprawled out on my whiteboard for a week which i had no urge to do , but after getting to watch your videos about the competition and this one I'm actively motivated to do my puzzle and its really amazing . Thank you Karen as always for your cheery personality as that helps put a smile to my face.😀

I tried to speed puzzle the "My Loyal Friends" puzzle (Individual qualifier C) and managed in 1 hour, 27 minutes, and 27 seconds (I would have placed 52nd and would have been the 4th last to actually finish the puzzle). My goal was to do it within the time, so at least I managed that. I think I would have to either rethink my strategy or get a lot better at sorting quickly because that took so long! Had I actually participated though, I'd qualify simply for being a participant from Denmark no matter how horribly I did. 😅 I did notice one thing though. Your "My Loyal Friends" puzzle has a different cut from mine.

Yes!! I am just starting this now, but I am going to guess Karen did really well!

Great video. I laughed out loud at some of your comments. Your times are impressive.

Great video Karen! After you did the event recap, I went out and got the flower puzzle to try it myself. You are so right that when you're in the moment you act on instinct and strategy goes out the window. At the end of this video, you said that you hoped your years of puzziling experience would translate to speed puzzling, and I think it has! I'm a casual puzzler, so the flower puzzle was the first time I tried going for speed. My first attempt was 2 and half hours. I tried it a few days later and got just under 2 hours. I also ran into the issue of not looking at the box enough. I think one thing you did better on the flower puzzle than me was starting with the red edge. I tried starting in the middle with either yellow or green because I figured it would give me more real estate to work off of, vs only one side on red. I'll have to try the left to right strat next!

11/10 love this channel so much so relaxing

One thing I probably don't have to say but, writing down notes of your thoughts after every puzzle you complete, adjust your strategy accordingly, and then revisiting those notes before your next puzzle. Having mental checklists, remembering to breathe, and a lot of practice is the key! So excited to see how you do in San Diego!

You are a true puzzle champion.

22:30 oh so you're a comedian now, huh? 😂

Oh my goodness. The editing that ensues after 22:19 is the best thing ever!

Karen you are an amazing puzzler. You do much better than you think you do. I love your videos. You are so fun to watch. I just found you a couple of weeks ago. I hope you get to go to the next championship event. Thank you from a 70 year old lady.