So for those of you who do puzzles (think 1000+ pieces type), is looking at the picture considered cheating or "normal"?

As a background; growing up I was bedridden for nearly a year between kindergarten and first grade as such, I put together A LOT of puzzles and felt looking at the picture was cheating. If I had even thought of doing a puzzle upside down, I probably would have.

Recently my wife and I set up a 1,000 piece puzzle and she feels you're actually supposed to constantly look at the pic.

So what day you imaginary friends?

Question:
Is looking at the picture of a puzzle cheating?

Choices:
Yes, it's cheating.
No, it's how you complete the puzzle
WTF is this "puzzle" you speak of and why waste your time...

 

For me the fun of the puzzle is matching the pieces shapes and color patterns to picture shown on the box. You need to know what the image is in order to reassemble the pieces. If you think that is cheating then just get jig saw puzzles with no image.

I don't think there is a wrong way to assemble a puzzle. I enjoy putting puzzles together by recognizing patterns and building from there. Others may differ. If you don't enjoy building it a certain way, I suggest working on separate puzzles. Or perhaps building one of these:


https://www.createjigsawpuzzle...e-jigsaw-puzzle.html

Some of you jigsaw puzzle aficionados might enjoy this link for your regular fix.

I had to be the first to vote WTF....see I put one of those together once and tttthere wwwere tttwo mmissing pieces....swore never to waste my time again on them! I still suffer from PPTSD. Post Puzzle Stess Disorder.

Though my wife does not agree ~ at least 42 of you cheat!!

I've been a puzzler my entire life, and, honestly, this is the first time it ever occurred to me that it might be considered cheating to look at the box. Given the limited amount of leisure time I have for puzzles, I think I'm good with being a cheater.

It's been awhile since I worked a puzzle, but I have always looked at the box from time to time and really never thought about it being cheating to do so. I do have a new unopened marine life themed puzzle that I have forgot about until reading this thread

quote:

Originally posted by Bisleyblackhawk:
It's been awhile since I worked a puzzle, but I have always looked at the box from time to time and really never thought about it being cheating to do so. I do have a new unopened marine life themed puzzle that I have forgot about until reading this thread

Get a couple saw horses, s sheet of plywood, a flat sheet, and a dozen extra large binder clips to secure the sheet to the plywood. Lots of room to work that way.

My family always used the picture. My sister is about a year & a half post-ruptured brain aneurism & the doctors want her doing lots of puzzles. I think she does puzzles every day.

Wife does a lot of puzzles, currently has 3 1000 piece ones going on in various places of the house.

Always has the box propped up in a corner, never occurred to me (nor her) that this would be "cheating"

My wife loves jigsaw puzzles...I hate them. But I will contribute that she looks at the box picture the entire time. I will also add that anytime she does a puzzle, I will casually steal just 1 piece and hide it until the end. It was more fun (for me) the 1st few times. Now, she expects it. Maybe next time, I won't steal any pieces at all!

scissors are cheating,
per my 89 y.o. aunt , who does 3 a week

I'm a die hard "boxer" to the point my family jokes about how I hog the box. I like to find unique pieces then scour the picture until I find it's location.

I despise the practice of some puzzle makers who put a cut off picture on the box or obstruct it with a label etc.