My source for F2L algorithms is lacking.

Okay, first of all sorry for making another thread but my question here doesn't pertain at all to the other thread and I think I'll get a quicker response with a new thread seeing as my old one appears to be resolved, even though I didn't even get much out of it. But I digress...

Anyway, I'm working on learning F2L and I'm noticing the source I'm using doesn't provide algorithms for when the edge piece is in the middle layer. When this happens, I've been using the algorithm from the beginner's method for putting edge pieces into the middle layer to put the ones I need in the top (U R U' R' F R' F' R or U' L' U L F' L F L'). Are there algorithms for situations where the needed edge piece is in the middle layer, or am I on the right track moving it to the top?

Yes there are algorithms. Check out these websites:

First two websites use the Japanese color scheme. Blue is the cross color. The third website uses the standard color scheme. White is the cross color.

http://translate.google.com/transla...ues.com/cubing/f2l/&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=ja&tl=en

http://www.cubefreak.net/F2L.html

http://www.cubestation.co.uk/cs2/index.php?page=3x3x3/cfop/f2l/f2l

Okay, I'm really new at this so humor me.

As far as I can tell, the only cases that involve a middle layer edge piece are when the edge piece is in between the two colors you are working with (e.g. red-green edge in between the red and green faces but oriented incorrectly). I'm looking for what to do when you are trying to get the red-green edge and its in between the orange and blue faces. I would just do one of the other corner-edge combos and see if something gets worked out, but I keep ending up with scrambles where I can't get any of them with the algorithms I'm given (the ones in the link you offered are identical to the ones I've been using)

Hmmmm....

So you're learning the algorithms? To solve your problem, learn intutive F2L. I would strongly recommend to learn intuitive F2L first because it is MUCH easier, and will solve your problem. Learn your algorithms when you F2L is like 20 seconds or lower (or never learn them, they are not necessary).

For both of your problems, rotate your cube so the pieces are in between right and front faces and perform R U R'. The pieces should be in the top layer now.

VERY good intuitive F2L video tutorial
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-xbcAMfWwM
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GxLM_dZqg4

Rubik's Cube Fan said:

For both of your problems, rotate your cube so the pieces are in between right and front faces and perform R U R'. The pieces should be in the top layer now.

Click to expand...

Thank you! This was incredibly helpful and I feel slightly dumb for not seeing it. I'll check those videos, too.

rei said:

Rubik's Cube Fan said:

For both of your problems, rotate your cube so the pieces are in between right and front faces and perform R U R'. The pieces should be in the top layer now.

Click to expand...

Thank you! This was incredibly helpful and I feel slightly dumb for not seeing it. I'll check those videos, too.

Click to expand...

Glad to help. Remember I would recommend forgetting about the algorithms now until you have a very good grasp of intuitive F2L. Learn intuitive F2L, use it, and maybe after a week of practice you will start to see your times go down. When you first start you times might actually go up. No worries. Just practice a lot and you'll get faster in no time.

By the way if you care I will not be responding to your posts within every 5 minutes now.

Ok, you have saved me an assload of mind crunching memorization (temporarily anyway) because these videos are incredibly useful. Thanks for helping out.

Did you say in your previous thread that you started cubing today? if so you should really try to master a beginner's method first, and get your times way down before you try to start solving the cube with more advanced methods.

If you didn't say that on your previous thread ignore this post.

Brett said:

Did you say in your previous thread that you started cubing today? if so you should really try to master a beginner's method first, and get your times way down before you try to start solving the cube with more advanced methods.

If you didn't say that on your previous thread ignore this post.

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Just check yourself.
http://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showpost.php?p=75897&postcount=1

rei said:

I just started speedcubing literally today, and I'm memorizing patterns using a book from the library and I've hit a road block. On some patterns the notation "1" or "1'" is used and I don't see this notation described anywhere in the book. Does anyone know what this means? I thought it could possibly be a lowercase L but this seems extremely unlikely. Thanks for any help.

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But yes I agree. I would recommend starting with a basic beginner's method because Fridrich F2L is very complicated and you might not understand it. But you can do whatever you want.

If you want to learn a basic beginner's method, watch these VERY good video tutorials
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofZFUgaxlTQ
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJw9kWkMnYg
Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bg3fCI6glM

yeah...give it 2 weeks...get under a minute and a half before you do anything else

Yes, I forget exactly what I said but I meant I started on the advanced methods today. I had been using the beginner's method for about 3 days (learned it in 1 practiced it for the other 2) and I was able to get it done in 3 minutes which I felt was quite fast especially considering my cube doesn't turn well (I'm getting a new one soon). I didn't see any reason to continue using the beginners method since I had every step memorized and it was mostly a matter of how long I took making the first face and not going so fast that I made a clockwise turn when I was supposed to make a counterclockwise turn. I can't really practice finger tricks yet due to a bad cube so my time couldn't get much better. Basically, I think I know enough about what I'm doing to move on. After watching those videos I'm confident that I can master the F2L in less than 24 hours. This site is a really helpful community.

End rant.

well.. I got sub-2 on a REALLY bad cube before I did anything else.
But...that's just me...so
I would reccomend just practicing...do 100 solves(more)
Then continue with Keyhole or F2L

rei said:

Yes, I forget exactly what I said but I meant I started on the advanced methods today. I had been using the beginner's method for about 3 days (learned it in 1 practiced it for the other 2) and I was able to get it done in 3 minutes which I felt was quite fast especially considering my cube doesn't turn well (I'm getting a new one soon). I didn't see any reason to continue using the beginners method since I had every step memorized and it was mostly a matter of how long I took making the first face and not going so fast that I made a clockwise turn when I was supposed to make a counterclockwise turn. I can't really practice finger tricks yet due to a bad cube so my time couldn't get much better. Basically, I think I know enough about what I'm doing to move on. After watching those videos I'm confident that I can master the F2L in less than 24 hours. This site is a really helpful community.

End rant.

Click to expand...

Hmmm have you lubricated your cube? It really helps your cube turn a lot better.

Where did you get your current cube? If you got it from like Toys R Us or Walmart or something like that, it can turn VERY well with lubrication. I mean 20 second times are possible.

rei said:

After watching those videos I'm confident that I can master the F2L in less than 24 hours.

Click to expand...

Be careful in what you say. Fast people like Harris Chan and Yu Nakajima have 6-7 seconds for cross + finishing Fridrich F2L and I don't think they have "mastered" it yet.

I took less than 2 hours to learn intuitive f2l with badmephisto videos.. but I did that 2 months after I am familiar with lots of other algorithms and different methods before I go for f2l(which somehow the sense of intuition easily comes in because of the previous knowledge of methods and algos). If u just started 3 days of cubing, the amount of time u need to recognize and try to figure how to get the pairs is much longer than u go for easier and then learning slightly better methods and finally to f2l(something like skipping middle school and straight jump to high school). But if u insist on learning, then good luck..wish u the best =)

Ha, I actually got my cube at a garage sale for $1. The side that is normally blue is actually black which I had never seen (and its not because the stickers were taken off on one side, there are actually black stickers). Also, when white is the bottom face green is to the left of the red face and seems its on the right normally (from examples in the book im using). anyway, yeah as you can see the cube was not destined for greatness. I'll have a new one within the week.

Also I did a few more runs with the beginner method and I'm averaging about 3 minutes, but I did get 1 2:45 and I think with a few more runs I could get as low as 2:15. With an optimal/well lubricated cube I bet I could get around 1:45. I'm sort of going back and forth between the beginner's method and F2L right now as to make sure I can still do beginner's (and am getting faster!) but am still moving on in learning the cube.

edit: Wow I just got 2:10 using beginner's method and the cube did stick a lot. This happened way faster than I thought it would. I'm thinking I should just wait for a better cube do try for a faster time.