Algorithms From Different Angles

I would like to talk about the importance of being able to execute certain algorithms from different angles. In a solve, you really want to reduce unnecessary turns. They just take up extra time, slowing you down. It is important to be able do perform an algorithm from multiple angles so that it doesn't require extra turns to set it up. To explain this I will use the "Sune" which is one of the most commonly known OLL's. Here is a picture of the case in the orientation in which the algorithm will work.

The algorithm for this case is R U R' U R U2 R'

But what if it looked like this. It is the same exact case but at a different angle.

The algorithm would need to be adjusted. This can be done by doing the same set of moves but from a different angle. The algorithm would then look like L U L' U L U2 L'. It would solve the same case but just at a different angle. This saves you turns, therefore time.

Another example can be done with the "Anti-Sune." this case is the inverse of the Sune, Hence the name Anti-Sune. Like the Sune this is also a great algorithm to execute from different angles. The algorithm for this case is R U2 R' U' R U' R'. That algorithm will solve the Anti-Sune only from one angle. 

But what if it looked like this?

Well like i said before you could rotate the top layer and then solve it with the algorithm above or you could just execute it from a different angle. The algorithm for this angle would be R' U' R U' R' U2 R.

This can not be done with all algorithms however. Only some are practical because the algorithm at a different angle would be very hard to perform and actually slower than just doing extra turns and performing it like usual. You will have to use your own discretion to see which cases are practical and which are not. I know this is a bit of a nit-picky thing but this technique can help to lower your times just a bit when used wisley,

F2L

F2L is the second step of CFOP and arguably the most important. F2L stands for "First 2 Layers" and comes right after solving your cross. There are two different ways of solving F2L when dealing with CFOP, one is intuitive F2L and the other is algorithm F2L. Just about no one solves exclusivity with either of these, but with an amalgamation of the two. Intuitive F2L basically means you use no algorithms and everything is solved with your common sense and pre-existing understanding of the cube and how it works. Algorithm F2L focuses on specific cases and scenarios. It is a lot of work to memorize all of these algorithms for these specific cases but it pays off. When a case that you have memorized an algorithm for, it can be solved much faster and in a more fingertrickable way than it would be solved intuitively. Because of this I have been recently memorizing algorithms for specific cases which I have had trouble solving quickly in the past. This is a great video made by Daniel Sheppard  that shows some very good algorithms for cases I have had trouble with in the past.


 
My F2L favourite algorithm I have learned so far is this case. 

The algorithm to place the corner in while the edge is already solved is R' D' R U' R' D R. Normally this case would require a time consuming Y rotation but this algorithm utilizes D turns and it can be executed very quickly. This is also a great algorithm because it can be used to force an OLL skip. An OLL skip is where the OLL stage is completed already after F2L and does not require an algorithm. When the case appears like this you can execute the algorithm and it won't un-orient any of the other pieces leaving you with an OLL skip allowing you to move straight into PLL. When done intuitively, this would not be the case. This is what the cube looks like when you are able to utilize this algorithm to force an OLL skip.

OLL Progress

Since the beginning of this project, I have made a decent amount of progress in memorizing OLLs. I have explained what OLL and an algorithm is in my introduction post so please refer back to that if you are unsure.

I have been using Badmephisto's website and iPhone app for these algorithms. The link can be found in the resources page.

The cases which I have recently memorized the algorithms for are:
(R U R' U) R d' R U' R' F'

r' U2 (R U R' U) r 

(R U R' U) (R' F R F') U2 (R' F R F')

(R U R' U') R' F R2 U R' U' F'

r U2 R' U' R U' r'

If  you wish to know what these algorithms mean, refer to my notation page.

Now when I see any of these cases I can solve them in a single algorithms instead of having use "2 Look OLL. 2 Look OLL is when you have to convert an OLL case  into another case using an algorithm which you already know. 2 Look OLL is not nearly as fast because it requires 2 algorithms instead of 1.

Introduction...

This blog has been created to log my progress for a school project dubbed the "Passion Project." Essentially we, the students pick our own semester long project, something we are "passionate" about. We create our own guidelines and goals in order to create a product or achieve a goal.

My project is to improve my average of 12 on a 3x3 Rubik's cube to 15.xx seconds, to become completely colour neutral, and to memorize all of my OLL and PLL algorithms.

An average of 12 is doing 12 consecutive solves, then averaging out the solves for a final mean, your "average of 12."

When i say colour neutral, that mean being able to start solving the cube from any of the 6 sticker colours (white, yellow, green, blue, red, orange) and not have your times effected in a negative way from this. A majority of cubers start solving the cube from the same colour every time they do a solve and as a result of this, if they were to start with a different colour their time would be much worse because they are not used to it. This is much harder than it sounds and is also a very valuable skill. It is valuable because if you can start your solve from any colour, your chances of getting an easier beginning to your solve is much higher and you should more consistently be able to see into your first F2L pair, assuming you solve with CFOP like myself.

An algorithm when talking about a cube is basically a series of movements that you perform on the cube which gives a consistent, predetermined result.

The method for solving the cube i use is the Fridrich method, created by Jessica Fridrich. It is also commonly referred to as "CFOP" which is an acronym for all of the steps of the Fridrich method, Cross, F2L, OLL, and PLL. I will explain the first two steps in the future but ill quickly cover OLL and PLL now, as they are a part of my project.

OLL stands for orientation of the last layer, which basicly means getting the top colour of the cube all facing up. There are 57 different cases of OLL, therefore 57 different algorithms to be memorized for OLL.
  Performing an OLL algorithm turns the cube from something like the first picture, to something like the second picture.

PLL is the last step of CFOP and is done immediately after you are done your OLL. PLL stands for permutation of the last layer, and what it is is an algorithm that moves the oriented  pieces of the top layer around into their solved position. It turns the second picture into a solved cube.

Now that you understand what my goals are and what they mean somewhat, it is important to know where i am coming from, what my background in cubing is, etc. So about 2 years ago cubing was my main hobby, it was how i passed most of my free time... you might even call it a passion. At my peak i was at about a high 17 second average of 12. I however became busy and a bit tired of cubing so I began cubing much less, increasing my average to about 20 or 21 seconds. And for you non-cubers out there, a second or two on an average 20 or below is very significant. I am now much worse than i was a long time ago. However I really want to get back into cubing and i saw this project as a perfect opportunity to do so. It's something I'm passionate about and also something in which i will continually challenge myself to improve upon, while enjoying it. I will keep this blog updated with my discoveries as i re-learn old knowledge and come across new knowledge. I have A LOT to learn, and I'm thankful for the opportunity to get to do so in a classroom environment.

If this is so far a jumble of meaningless words don't worry, as this blog progresses I will do my best to explain these terms and help you understand fundemental principles about the steps to solve the cube. There is a lot of general knowledge about cubing that you may need to know if you are new to the hobby. I will do my best to explain these things. Hang in there.