Cride5
Premium Member
A beginner method optimised for speed and simplicity
EDIT: Full tutorial here.
Rationale
Steps
Details
1. Cross
Intuitive. Use daisy if absolute beginner.
2. 3x corner edge pairs
2a Look for a corner in the top layer, place it above its 'slot'
2b If the white sticker is on the top layer apply IS x2
2c Hold the cube so that the white sticker is facing you. If the corner piece is now on the left then apply MirIS, otherwise IS
2d Look for the adjoining slot edge in the top layer
2e Rotate the top layer so that its side lines up with its center
2f Hold the cube so that the edge is facing you, if the slot is on the left apply MirIS, otherwise IS
2g There should now be a C+E pair above the slot. Repeat 2c to insert the C+E pair
If you're looking for any pieces not in the top layer, find the slot with the piece and apply IS.
3. Top Cross Orientation
3a Look at the edge in the last unsolved slot, hold the cube so that its yellow sticker is facing you
3b
- If the slot is now on your right:
4. Top Cross Permutation
Attempt to align the cross pieces with their sides, if they can't be aligned then there are two cases:
4a Two adjacent pieces can be can be aligned: Rotate the top layer so that the two pieces are in the back-left corner and apply IS, then repeat step 3b
4b Two opposite pieces can be aligned: Apply IS, then step 3b, then step 4a
5. Last 5 Corners
As documented in 8355 or SAM, only using Inverse Sexy instead of plain Sexy Move
Advantages over SAM
EDIT: Full tutorial here.
Rationale
A while back - while trying to find the easiest possible beginner method I came up with SAM (the Single Algorithm Method).
Since then I've been teaching it (and variants of it) to a number of people, sometimes even in a foreign language. While most people seem to be able to grasp it after a while, I've found it has a number of issues:
In general, I think focusing strictly on just one algorithm was detrimental to the ultimate goal of making it easier for beginners. However, I still feel that a good beginner method should minimise the number of algs, and number of moves in each alg, while avoiding making too much use of intuitive solving.
Since then I've been teaching it (and variants of it) to a number of people, sometimes even in a foreign language. While most people seem to be able to grasp it after a while, I've found it has a number of issues:
- Solving middle layer edges (despite being only 3 moves) turned out to be difficult to explain, mainly because the edge needs to NOT be aligned with its centre before doing the 3-move sequence. I also found that users were often confused about which side to turn in the 3-move sequence.
- Solving orientation and permutation simultaneously in the top cross, while an elegant solution seems too much intuition for many absolute beginners. This is where a lot of them mess up and have to go to a previous step.
- The process of solving the last edge on the top cross was probably made more difficult by sticking to a single alg, and I ended up teaching people just to use R U R' U R U R'
- On last 5 corners users are tempted to turn the top layer since they were used to doing this while solving the first 3 on the bottom. I used to avoid this by teaching a variant which simply solves all the edges first, then all 8 corners last. This reduced the number of concepts but lead some horrible situations where the cube needs to be inverted multiple times.
- Users often forget the last move in the 1-2-3-4 sequence because the goal (of placing the corner) is competed after 3. A little bit like the problem with ATMs that give you your cash before returning the card.
In general, I think focusing strictly on just one algorithm was detrimental to the ultimate goal of making it easier for beginners. However, I still feel that a good beginner method should minimise the number of algs, and number of moves in each alg, while avoiding making too much use of intuitive solving.
Steps
- Cross
- 3x corner-edge pairs
- Top cross orientation
- Top cross permutation
- Last 5 corners
Details
- For this method the Inverse Sexy move (U R U' R') and its mirror (U' L' U L) are used.
- We also assume that the user is starting with the white cross.
- IS = 'Inverse Sexy'
- MirIS = 'Mirrored Inverse Sexy'
- C+E = 'Corner+Edge'
1. Cross
Intuitive. Use daisy if absolute beginner.
2. 3x corner edge pairs
2a Look for a corner in the top layer, place it above its 'slot'
2b If the white sticker is on the top layer apply IS x2
2c Hold the cube so that the white sticker is facing you. If the corner piece is now on the left then apply MirIS, otherwise IS
2d Look for the adjoining slot edge in the top layer
2e Rotate the top layer so that its side lines up with its center
2f Hold the cube so that the edge is facing you, if the slot is on the left apply MirIS, otherwise IS
2g There should now be a C+E pair above the slot. Repeat 2c to insert the C+E pair
If you're looking for any pieces not in the top layer, find the slot with the piece and apply IS.
3. Top Cross Orientation
3a Look at the edge in the last unsolved slot, hold the cube so that its yellow sticker is facing you
3b
- If the slot is now on your right:
Rotate any top layer edge without a yellow sticker facing up into right side and apply IS
- If the slot is now on your left:Rotate any top layer edge without a yellow sticker facing up into left side and apply MirIS
Repeat 3a/3b until all edges in the top layer are oriented.4. Top Cross Permutation
Attempt to align the cross pieces with their sides, if they can't be aligned then there are two cases:
4a Two adjacent pieces can be can be aligned: Rotate the top layer so that the two pieces are in the back-left corner and apply IS, then repeat step 3b
4b Two opposite pieces can be aligned: Apply IS, then step 3b, then step 4a
5. Last 5 Corners
As documented in 8355 or SAM, only using Inverse Sexy instead of plain Sexy Move
Advantages over SAM
- C+E pair insertion has easy transition to CFOP and avoids adding another concept for separate insertion.
- A small number of simple principles are used consistently throughout such as, "orient white/yellow sticker to face you", "place the unsolved edge into the R/L"
- Inverse Sexy is more beautiful than Sexy ;-)
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