Frequently Asked Questions

General

What is Assemble Puzzlery and what do you do?
We are a small, women-owned business that organizes and facilitates jigsaw puzzle-themed community events in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Why did you start Assemble Puzzlery?
Our mission is to provide people with opportunities to engage with others in their community over the fun and challenging activity of completing a jigsaw puzzle. Jigsaw puzzles are a screen-free, mentally stimulating activity that are enjoyed by people of all walks of life, and can provide a setting in which people can relax and meaningfully connect with each other.

What can I do at your events?
Our events typically include one or more of the following activities: speed puzzling competitions, casual or community puzzling, puzzle swaps, and puzzle chess.

Does it cost money to attend your events? 
Fees for the activities may vary by event - please read the event description to confirm costs. Generally, there is a higher cost for speed puzzling to cover the cost of the puzzle and the competition facilitation. 

Where are your events held?
We hold public events at various breweries, restaurants, and cafes in the San Francisco Bay Area. We can also facilitate private events at the location of your choosing. Please see our Events page for a list of upcoming and past events.

How long have you been organizing events?
We organized our first event in July 2025 at Gilman Brewing in Berkeley, CA.

Can you bring puzzles to my party or team-building event?
Yes! Please contact us at info@assemblepuzzlery.com and we can discuss what activities are the best fit for your event and any associated fees for our services.

Casual Puzzling, Puzzle Swap, and Puzzle Chess

What puzzles do you have available for casual puzzling?
We have a variety of jigsaw puzzles in our ever-growing puzzle library, including kids puzzles and wooden puzzles. We focus on collecting puzzles from local and unique puzzle-makers but you’ll also find selections from the big puzzle makers such as Ravensburger and Cobble Hill. Many of our 500 and 1,000 piece puzzles are pre-sorted so that they can feasibly be completed during one of our 3-4 hour events.

What is a pre-sorted puzzle?
A pre-sorted puzzle is one that we have assembled ourselves, then divided up into smaller sections which are marked on the back and placed into separate bags. This allows groups of puzzlers to either “divide and conquer” (each puzzler works on one section of the puzzle) or work together on one smaller part of the puzzle at a time, before assembling the sections together for a satisfying finish. Puzzlers who want a tougher challenge are always welcome to combine the bags together before beginning (though we appreciate help re-sorting when you are done)!

Where do you get your puzzles?
Some are puzzles that we have purchased new, some have been purchased used, and some have been acquired through puzzle swaps or donations. Any puzzle that has been previously used is tested for completeness before entering our library.

What are the rules for your puzzle swap table?
Generally we ask that you take the same number of puzzles that you’ve brought to contribute. But feel free to ask us if it’s okay to take more - we often end up with more than we started with at the end of an event! It’s okay to bring puzzles that are missing one or a few pieces, but please label them if they are not complete.

What is puzzle chess?
This is a moderately competitive way to do a puzzle with a single opponent. Starting with a small puzzle which has its edges pre-assembled, each player takes a turn placing one piece - using a chess timer to track your time! The player who has the least time on their clock when the puzzle is completed wins! For more information, see here: https://www.usajigsaw.org/puzzle-chess

Speed Puzzling

What is speed puzzling?!?
Speed puzzling is pretty much what it sounds like - puzzling quickly! It is a competitive activity in which individuals, pairs, or teams race against each other to complete the same puzzle the fastest. 

Is your speed puzzling registration fee per person, or per team?
Registration fees are per team (or pair). Please coordinate with your teammates for just one person to register on behalf of the team.

Can I register for team speed puzzling as an individual?
Sorry, at this time we are not set up to be able to register individuals - please form a team before registering. If you are looking for a team to join, please contact us at info@assemblepuzzlery.com to request our help connecting with others who are seeking a team. And it is always an option to just show up at the event and let us know you are looking for a team to join - sometimes a team is looking for a substitute for someone on their team who couldn’t come due to illness, etc.

How do I tell you our team name?
We will collect your team name upon check-in at the event.

How do you select puzzles for your competitions?
Typically we start with a theme for the event, and we select 300 and 500 piece puzzles to align with the theme. Whenever possible we source puzzles from puzzle makers that are local or unique, prioritizing quality over cost. 

Are there prizes for the winners?
Yes! We always have prizes for the fastest team or pair in each tier. Prizes vary by event but may include gift cards, puzzles, or puzzle accessories.