[Help Thread] FMC Discussion

[not_kevin]

3. U' R2 F2 U' L2 B2 U' F2 U F2 D F2 L2 B R' D' U2 B' D' B' F U'

Spoiler

U L
F' D' F U'
L' U L R2 // 2x2x3 [10]
Note: There were four different ways I saw to make this 2x2x3 in 10 moves based on these here. This one produced the coolest results, so I decided at 15 minutes I'd use it.

There was a lot I saw at this stage (like 10 more moves to F2L), but the best option I found 35 minutes in:
F' R' D' R D2 R2 D2 // AB5C [17]

Knowing how absolutely awful I am with finding corner commutators, and having never attempted to use a L5C skeleton in the past, I tried playing this one unbelievably safe.

Skeleton:
(1) U (2) L F' D' F U' L' U L R2 F' R' D' R D2 R2 D2 [17]

(1) [F' D2 F, U] // [8-2]
(2) [D, L' U' L] // [8-1]

Final:
F' D2 F U F' D2 F D L' U' L D' L' U L2 F' D' F U' L' U L R2 F' R' D' R D2 R2 D2 [30]
Optimal was 28.

Related to the third scramble, as Ranzha mentioned, there were a bunch of ways to do it. I did a pretty bad solution for what existed (34 with a 9-move ZBLL, when I had a 21 -> 5 corners leading to a 25 -> 3 corners >.<), but after re-investigating it, I found the following skeleton:

Spoiler

U L U'
F' D' F
L' U L R2 // 2x2x3 [10]
Basically, do the "obvious" version of what Ranzha did, of making both blocks first without playing around with the interweaving.

F' R' D' R D2 R2 D2 // AB5C [17]
Then do literally the same ending

Throwing this into Insertion Finder gives 26 optimal:
http://mf.qiyuuu.com/cube/if/78e9ae6a31c4e71a641f72027e0cf51c.cube

 

[EMI]

D2 U2 R' F2 R' F2 D2 L2 R' B2 U B' R2 B2 L R U2 F' U

Edge-5-cycle + 4 corners: B2 L D2 F R'

I failed and only managed to get a 29 in 1 hour. And pros want to try? (IF doesn't do it)

Edit: Just found this cool continuation: F D R2 L B' L' R D R D' F' (pure edge-5-cycle). IF gives a 26 on that.


btw,
PB Average of 12: 27.70
30.00, (26.00), 27.00, 26.00, 26.00, (DNF), 27.00, 27.00, 30.00, 28.00, 27.00, 29.00

 

[MatejMuzatko]

Hello everyone. I am kind of new to FMC. I did my first solution in november 2013 on Munich Open. It was over 50 moves.
On all of my official solves yet, I've always done a CFOP solution, just waiting for nice LL.
Now I started to feel dumb and became more interested in techniques like inverse scramble, premoves, insertions and NISS. (I knew all except NISS before, now after Jayden's explanation, even NISS is clear )
anyway, this is my first sub30 solve. I am starting to love FMC more and more .
Insertions weren't so good, but it was one of my first tries of insertions, so I went safe and tried to get the 2 insertions right.

Spoiler: 29

Scramble: F L2 B' L' D' R2 D2 R' U' R' U2 R U2 D2 R2 U2 B2 L F2
2x2x2: F U L D' F D F2 (7/7)
F2L-1: L' B2 U' * L' U' L' B L (8/15)
All but 4 corners: L' U2 L U2 (4/19)
Cancellations: (-2/17)

insert at *: U B' + U' F' U B U' F
insert at +: F' D F U2 F' D' F U2

final solution:
F U L D' F D F2 L' B F' D F U2 F' D' F U F' U B U' F L' U' L' B U2 L U2

Feel free to give me critism I will try these techniques on competition next week. Wish me luck . Greetings from Czech Republic, home country of Mirek Goljan :3

 

[Ollie]

B2 L' U2 F' U2 B' D' R' L2 U' B' F L2 R' U L2 D L D2 U2 R' B' D2 R2 F

Didn't like this scramble, but I found these cool things:

Spoiler

inverse: D B' U D' F // EO
switch to normal: R U' R2 U2 D B2 // 2x2x3
L D L' D2 L2 // F2L-1
*D' L' D2 L D // L4C

Ran out of time for insertions :/

 

[Prakhar]

D2 U2 R' F2 R' F2 D2 L2 R' B2 U B' R2 B2 L R U2 F' U

Edge-5-cycle + 4 corners: B2 L D2 F R'

I failed and only managed to get a 29 in 1 hour. And pros want to try? (IF doesn't do it)

Edit: Just found this cool continuation: F D R2 L B' L' R D R D' F' (pure edge-5-cycle). IF gives a 26 on that.

R U2 L' D2 L2 F' R' D2 R' D2// 3 edges and 4 corners.

Didn't have time for insertions. IF gives 24.

 

[TheDubDubJr]

D2 U2 R' F2 R' F2 D2 L2 R' B2 U B' R2 B2 L R U2 F' U

Edge-5-cycle + 4 corners: B2 L D2 F R'

I failed and only managed to get a 29 in 1 hour. And pros want to try? (IF doesn't do it)

Edit: Just found this cool continuation: F D R2 L B' L' R D R D' F' (pure edge-5-cycle). IF gives a 26 on that.

I finally had time to look at this because I always like to practice both edge-corner insertions outside of my normal FMC solves.

Actually the first thing I saw was that continuation you posted of the 5-edge cycle. Was pretty excited until I saw you commented that. :3

After that I would look at 6 and 8move edge comms and if nothing decent comes out I might check corners (if I have time). Otherwise I would just go with the 16 to L4C.

 

[EMI]

R U2 L' D2 L2 F' R' D2 R' D2// 3 edges and 4 corners.

Didn't have time for insertions. IF gives 24.

Nice! Now I kind of regret that I decided to only try one skeleton.

I finally had time to look at this because I always like to practice both edge-corner insertions outside of my normal FMC solves.

Actually the first thing I saw was that continuation you posted of the 5-edge cycle. Was pretty excited until I saw you commented that. :3

After that I would look at 6 and 8move edge comms and if nothing decent comes out I might check corners (if I have time). Otherwise I would just go with the 16 to L4C.

Sorry. ^^ But cool that you saw the same thing.
I ended up inserting U F' B L2 B' F U after three moves. There are 8 movers that cancel one at the same spot. Then I inserted a corner commutator that cancelled 5, so 15 moves 3C3E. But the best I found with that was 29 unfortunately.

Edit:
Average of 12: 27.60
(26.00), 27.00, 26.00, 26.00, (DNF), 27.00, 27.00, 30.00, 28.00, 27.00, 29.00, 29.00

 

[porkynator]

D2 U2 R' F2 R' F2 D2 L2 R' B2 U B' R2 B2 L R U2 F' U

Edge-5-cycle + 4 corners: B2 L D2 F R'

I failed and only managed to get a 29 in 1 hour. And pros want to try? (IF doesn't do it)

B2 (with premove B2) gives you Roux F2B; continuing Roux style gave me:

B2 L D2 F R' (your start)
R' L B' R' L U
F2 U R2 L2 D B2 //All but 3 corners

If finishes in 23

btw,
PB Average of 12: 27.70
30.00, (26.00), 27.00, 26.00, 26.00, (DNF), 27.00, 27.00, 30.00, 28.00, 27.00, 29.00

Nice average!

 

[Randomno]

U2 F2 R2 L' B R F U2 F' U2 B2 U' B2 D B2 U R2 U' D2

x' y'
R' U' R2 U F U F'
B' R' L U L'
x' z' y'
U' R' F R U2 R U' R'

Without rotations:

U' B' U2 B L B L'
R' U' D B D'
U' B' R B U2 B U' B'

20 HTM to F2L minus 1 with last pair connected. Not sure what to do after this.

 

[guysensei1]

U2 F2 R2 L' B R F U2 F' U2 B2 U' B2 D B2 U R2 U' D2

x' y'
R' U' R2 U F U F'
B' R' L U L'
x' z' y'
U' R' F R U2 R U' R'

Without rotations:

U' B' U2 B L B L'
R' U' D B D'
U' B' R B U2 B U' B'

20 HTM to F2L minus 1 with last pair connected. Not sure what to do after this.

Insert the pair, do a Niklas (from the back) and it leaves 2 flipped edges

Solve with 2 insertions?

 

[Randomno]

Insert the pair, do a Niklas (from the back) and it leaves 2 flipped edges

Solve with 2 insertions?

Nice, optimal 2 adjacent edge flip seems to be 13 OBTM though.

 

[guysensei1]

Nice, optimal 2 adjacent edge flip seems to be 13 OBTM though.

That's why i recommended solving it with2 edge commutators as insertions.

 

[Prakhar]

Pre comp practice Mo3 using TNoodle scrambles.

Scramble- D' F2 D L2 R2 D B2 D L2 B2 D B R' D2 B' U' L2 B F2 U' L2
Solution- F2 L U' B' R U' R D' R' U R B2 D L2 B' D B2 R D' R2 B U R D R' U' R D' B' D2 L' (31 HTM)

Spoiler

Moves in () are done on inverse scramble

F2 L U' B' R2 // 2x2x2
D' B2 D L2 B' D B2 // F2L-1
(L D2 B R' B' R2 D R') // L4C

Skeleton: F2 L U' B' R2 D' @ B2 D L2 B' D B2 R D' R2 B R + B' D2 L'
@ : D R' U' R D' R' U R
+ : R' U R D R' U' R D'

Missed optimal insertion by 1 move :'(

Scramble- U' D B U2 B R2 F2 R' D2 F' D2 R2 F2 L' B2 D2 B2 L2 U2
Solution- F R' L D' B2 U2 B' L' B' L U2 R2 B L' B' R2 B L U B2 D B D' B R' B2 R B' U2 (29 HTM)

Spoiler

Moves in () are done on inverse scramble

F R' L D' // 2x2x2
B2 U2 B' L' B' L U2 B U // Psuedo F2L-1
(U2 B R' B2 R B' D B' D' B2) // L3C

Skeleton- F R' L D' B2 U2 B' L' B' L U2 B @ U B2 D B D' B R' B2 R B' U2
@ : B' R2 B L' B' R2 B L

Nice Solve

Scramble- F R2 U2 F D2 F R2 U2 F' L2 R' U R2 D L' B D2 B F2 U
Solution- D' B D B' R B2 D R B2 R B R' F' R B' R2 F L2 B L' U L' B' L' F R' F' L2 F R (30 HTM)

Spoiler

Moves in () are done on inverse scramble

(F' L' B L U' L B' L2) // 2x2x2
(F' R F B2 R') // 2x2x3
(D' B2 R') // F2L-1
(B D' B' D) // L5C

Skeleton- D' B D B' R B2 D R B2 F' @ R' F L2 B L' U L' B' L F +
@ : F R B R' F' R B' R'
+ : F' L2 F R' F' L2 F R

Bad start, but nice ending

Tips on the solves please. What could have been more efficient beginnings/ endings?

 

[Kit Clement]

Had a really nice 25 move solution for the Berkeley scramble this week

Spoiler

Scramble: F2 U D F' U' B' D' U B2 R' D' B L2 D2 R2 U' D2 B F D'

I: U2 F L' R2 B2 D' R \\PS F2L-2 with wrong pair (7/7)
N: B R B R' \\F2L-1 (4/11)
I: U R U2 R' U F' U2 F \\L3C (8/19)

Skel: B R B R' F' U2 F U' R U2 R' U' R' D B2 (1) R2 L F' U2

1: B L' B' R' B L B' R

Final: B R B R' F' U2 F U' R U2 R' U' R' D B' L' B' R' B L B' R' L F' U2 (25)

 

[Randomno]

Had a really nice 25 move solution for the Berkeley scramble this week

Spoiler

I: U2 F L' R2 B2 D' R \\PS F2L-2 with wrong pair (7/7)
N: B R B R' \\F2L-1 (4/11)
I: U R U2 R' U F' U2 F \\L3C (8/19)

Skel: B R B R' F' U2 F U' R U2 R' U' R' D B2 (1) R2 L F' U2

1: B L' B' R' B L B' R

Final: B R B R' F' U2 F U' R U2 R' U' R' D B' L' B' R' B L B' R' L F' U2 (25)

I guess I could just invert the solution but do you know the scramble?

 

[Kit Clement]

I guess I could just invert the solution but do you know the scramble?

Oops, forgot to include it - I guess I implied it by saying the Berkeley competition:

https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~dadams/fmc/

 

[MatejMuzatko]

Hello everyone. I'd like to share my 28 moves tied NR single from Brno Open 2015 (at the moment the oldest Czech NR by Mirek Goljan)

Scramble (3rd): L R D2 L B2 R F2 U2 R' B' L' B2 L F L' B2 D' U2 B2 L2

Spoiler: Click

2x2x2: F2 D2 F' R (4/4)
switch to inverse
Pseudo 2x2x3: U' L U' L2 B2 (5/9)
insert pair: U F U' F' (4/13)
switch to normal
F2L-1 + EO: B' U2 F' L' F (5/18)
AB3C: L U L' U' (4/22)
_______________________________
Skeleton: F2 D2 F' R B' U2 F' L' F L U L' U' F U F' U' B2 L2 U L' + U (22) leaves me with a Niklas, so I had 31 backup solution in 20 minutes... so I had a lot of time to try insertions (I am not good at them yet)
insert at + : L' D L U' L' D' L U

Also, this scramble had BIG potential, but noone found anything special about it:
Scramble (2nd) R D B2 U L' B2 D R B U F R2 U2 D B2 L2 U L2 (I did 31, but no longer have the solution)

Big accomplishment for me

 

[kinch2002]

Edinburgh Spring 2015 scramble:
U2 F2 U2 R2 D2 L2 F D2 U2 F' D2 R' D' B2 U2 B' R2 D2 B' R D

My solution:
L2 D' L' B R' U L B2 L' F L B2 L' F2 D F' R' D B' D' F B R2 D2 R2 (25)

L2 D' L' B R' U F' // (7) 2x2x3. This is a 5 move 2x2x2 with an R' added and the finish the block with F'
D F' R' F D B' D' B // (15) EO + 2x2x1 with Standard conjugates. The 2nd part was designed to make the 2x2x1 block as well
R2 D2 R2 // (18) Finish edges, leaving 4 corners
Skeleton: L2 D' L' B R' U ^ F' D F' R' F D B' D' * B R2 D2 R2 (18)
Insert D B D' F' D B' D' F at * to cancel 8 moves
Insert L B2 L' F L B2 L' F' at ^ to cancel 1 move
At first it seemed I must have done something really stupid given that I cancelled 8 moves with my first insertion, but look through the solution linearly, I see that during EO I do 2 conjugates, and I should do the 2nd one before the last move of the first one. This is something I've never considered before, but if I had I could have saved some effort, and just left myself with 3 corners at 18 moves instead.
I haven't actually checked that the second insertion is optimal, as I had very little time left at the end and didn't quite get to the end of the skeleton.

 

[Sebastien]

Well done Daniel.

The first scramble of this weeks german forum competition is really crazy: B' U2 F2 U2 R2 U2 R2 B R2 F L2 D R2 U F2 R B2 D2 R' U B2

Extremely blockish and also very skippy. There is a very obvious L3C in 19 and a quite obvious 21 move PLL skip. My solution was 20 moves (tripod with sledgehammer finish). I just wonder if someone finds a sub20 solution for it.

 

[bobthegiraffemonkey]

Same scramble as Daniel's, I should have tied him apparently but I failed insertions . I also lost my working sheet, so I'm not certain these insertions are exactly what I had, but I think they're right.

U2 F2 U2 R2 D2 L2 F D2 U2 F' D2 R' D' B2 U2 B' R2 D2 B' R D

(D' U' L' B L' B') //222 + edge on inverse
R2 F U2 F' //223
R' F' U' F U' B U B' //EO + preserve stuff + accidentally all edges

Skeleton: R2 F U2 F' R' F' * U' @ F U' B U L B' L U D (16)
* = F' U B U' ** F U B' U'
** = U' F' D' F U F' D F

Solution: R2 F U2 F' R' F2 U B U2 F' D' F U F' D F2 U B' U2 F U' B U L B' L U D (28)

Should have put @ = U' B' U F U' B U F' to cancel 6 moves on the first insertion but didn't spot it. Still PB I guess.