I got a Ravensburger Puzzle Board for Dortmund, thinking it would be good when the table is occupied with a large puzzle, and I feel like doing a smaller one in between. I tried it out for the first time, and of course, started out the wrong way around…

… with predictable results. Yeah, that batten on top should probably be below, to stop what’s happened here 🙂

After I turned it around things got a bit easier. You can adjust the angle of the board, but even with the lowest setting, it was a bit steep for me. The blue velvet will mostly keep pieces in place, but there was a bit of slipping as well. When you place pieces on the board, you have to do it carefully, it’s difficult to spread out many pieces at once, except of course, if you lay the board flat first. This time, I had the pieces spread out on a piece of cardboard, but next time I will lay the board flat, spread out the pieces, and only then raise the board. A 1000 piece puzzle would be more difficult, you would need to spread out pieces somewhere else. Or, you could have more than one board 🙂

I enjoyed working at an angle, I’m pretty sure it’s more ergonomic, although it made no difference with regard to glare (I thought it might).

I also had to move the board before the puzzle was finished, and it was relatively easy: lay it flat and lift. You need to make sure you grab the tilting mechanism as well, you can’t just lift by the edges of the board.

The board from behind:

I have tried many, many puzzle boards and other puzzle paraphernalia over the years, and most of the time I end up thinking they’re not much use compared to much cheaper alternatives. I favour pieces of cardboard 🙂 Puzzle boards are, of course, heavier, but in this case, the ability to tilt the board makes it worthwhile. I will use it again.