What is "Jigsaw Puzzle Chess" you ask?
Equipment needed
- A jigsaw puzzle, with at least 50 up to 200 pieces is ideal
- A simple real chess clock, or a free app on your smartphone.
Match setup
- Puzzle Chess is a competitive game, that can be played one on one or two on two.
- Turn all of the puzzle pieces face up and solve the border first. My chess puzzles have easy to solve borders, that make it
- Make sure that all of the remaining non-border pieces are not are spread around the assembled border evenly. No pieces should be inside of the puzzle frame.
- Place your chess clock in a neutral spot just above the puzzle. Set the clock to count down from 30 minutes (per player)
Goal of Puzzle Chess
The player(s) who has the most time remaining on their side of the clock once the puzzle is complete, is the WINNER. If your timer runs out before your opponent's timer does, you LOSE.
Puzzle Chess Rules
- Once the clock is set, the first person to connect a puzzle piece to the existing border hits their timer to start the clock for their opponent.
- Players alternate turns placing 1 puzzle piece at a time. The selected piece can connect anywhere along the already existing edge pieces.
- You may NOT connect two loose pieces together and place them freefloating inside the framed area.
- When it is not your turn, you may not touch any puzzle pieces at all, however you may continue to look at the remaining loose pieces to contemplate your next move when it is your turn to play a piece again.
- It's always best to keep 2-3 pieces in mind as your next move, in case your opponent uses the piece you most desire to play next.
- Your hands may only try 1 loose piece at a time, if you fail to connect the piece selected, you must return it to the same general spot from which you picked it up.
- ALL loose pieces are available to either team, when it is their appropriate time to play the next piece.
- Once a puzzle piece is placed, stop your timer, which automatically starts your opponent’s timer again.