Rules: Know Your Strengths

Attendance: It is advised to arrive at least 15 minutes before the start; 5 minutes before the start everyone is seated at their assigned table.
Team composition: Each team consists of four participants. Every participant completes one 500-piece puzzle by themselves per round.
Keeping the puzzles: Participants may keep all puzzles: 2 puzzles per participant (8 per team).
Aisles: Aisles must remain completely clear.
Behaviour: It is forbidden to disturb others (singing, humming, talking loudly).
Outside help: Not allowed during either round.
Timekeeping: Only a judge may record the official finish time.

Allowed aids must not stick out beyond the table.

Bags: Every puzzle is in a bag. There are four bag colours, each representing one of the categories.
Start procedure: The bags with puzzles stay closed until the start signal.
Individual puzzles: Every participant starts independently with a 500-piece puzzle.
Time registration: Time stops only when a judge confirms that all pieces are correctly placed. If a teammate is helped during the team-help phase, the time is recorded for the teammate who started the puzzle.
Team result: The four individual times are added up into one total time for the relevant round.
Winner: The team with the lowest combined total time wins.

Puzzle distribution: The team divides the four puzzles themselves based on everyone's talents. For 1 minute a timer runs on screen and the four different categories are shown. Within that minute teams decide who does which puzzle.
Team help: In the last 15 minutes of round 1, help within the team is allowed.

Random assignment: Teams and puzzles are assigned at random. Puzzlers draw a random puzzle piece from a bag; the piece has a colour (matching the category colours) and a number (matching the team/table number). Participants may not swap with each other.
Flexibility test: Participants must adapt to a puzzle that may not match their strength.
Team help: In the last 30 minutes of round 2, help within the team is allowed.

Table dimensions: Tables are 80 x 140 cm; each team has two full tables available.
Material placement: The inner bag and box must stay under the table.
Reporting finish time: If no judge is nearby, raise your hand to indicate you are almost finished.
Not finished in time: Remaining pieces are counted; 3 connected pieces count as puzzled.
Winning without a complete puzzle: If nobody finishes the puzzle, the team with the most placed pieces wins (sum of all four puzzles).

Unopened stickers or plastic wrap: The judge cuts stickers or removes the plastic and notes a new start time.
Pieces on the floor: Judges do not pick pieces up from the floor.
Missing pieces: 5 seconds penalty per missing piece; the penalty is waived if all pieces are found and placed within that time.
Production faults: The head judge assesses whether missing pieces are a production fault.
Restoring disadvantage: The judge may restore a disadvantage without harming the rights of others.

Binding decisions: Judge and organisation decisions are binding.
Arriving late: If you are absent 5 minutes before the start, the table may be assigned to someone on the waiting list.
Publication consent: By taking part, the participant consents to publication of name, nationality, and imagery.
Schedule changes: The organisation reserves the right to change the schedule, format, or location.
Exclusion: Participants may be excluded for disruption or inappropriate behaviour.
Cancellation: If the organisation cancels, only the entry fee is refunded; if the participant cancels, a refund is possible up to 2 weeks beforehand.
Adjustments for disabilities: Rules may be adjusted for participants with a disability.

Team rounds: The event consists of 2 team rounds. Round 1: tactical distribution plus last-quarter team help. Round 2: fully random plus last half-hour team help.
Team size: Teams consist of four participants.
Puzzle set: Every participant completes one puzzle per round (2 puzzles per participant in total).
Ranking: Results are determined by the total sum of all four individual times in the relevant round.