Is Winter Variation worth it?

[ChaozCubing]

I'm in the process of learning Winter Variation, and I want your oppinion on if it's worth it or not. Be specific, please. Thanks!

 

[cashis]

I think its worth it to learn the easy cases. But hey, if you want to learn all of them, nobody's stopping you

 

[StachuK1992]

Like almost any alg set, it's worth learning the easy to memorize/recognize ones.
Using WV as an intended step in every solve, though, would probably be silly.

It never hurts to know a new alg.

 

[TDM]

If you're not using ZZ, then no, I don't think it's worth learning all of it. But definitely learn some of the easier cases, like R U R' U' R U' R', R2 D R' U' R D R2, R U2 R' etc.

 

[NewCuber000]

I think a lot of the cases are worth learning. I know maybe 8 or 9 good ones (I wish I knew more, I'll probably learn more soon) and when they show up it's awesome.

 

[Petro Leum]

If you're not using ZZ, then no, I don't think it's worth learning all of it. But definitely learn some of the easier cases, like R U R' U' R U' R', R2 D R' U' R D R2, R U2 R' etc.

its not even worth it if youre using zz.

(speaking from my own experience; i have since given up using the long WV cases, they just suck.)

the easy ones are definately worth it though.

 

[Chree]

For some cases, totally worth it. Most of the 1 corner cases, some of the 2 corner cases. Like others have said, as long as their easy to recognize quickly. However, especially for OH, it's often better to just insert the pair and know that you're going to get a COLL case instead.

 

[mDiPalma]

From a Petrus/ZZ perspective, I think it would ONLY be worth it to learn both WV and SV.

Cuz I currently only know WV and it sucks to have to set up a known WV case every solve. If I knew SV, I wouldn't have to do so many setups.


Also, WV+PLL is faster for me than insert+COLL+PLL. It's only the "setup to WV case" substep that destroys the advantage.

 

[notfeliks]

It never hurts to know a new alg.

*gets to LL*
*does a few moves of OLL*
crap, wait, is this the ZBLL I just learned?
*undoes moves*
*spends another second trying to recognise*
dammit, it's not
*solve ends up 10 seconds slower than usual*

I think it would be more accurate to say it never hurts in the long run

 

[TMarshall]

I just recently finished learning full wv, and for me, at least, I think its worth it. All the algs are decently fast (primarily I used ottozing's) and recognition is pretty good for all the cases except the 0 corners oriented ones. However, I think its better if you do a lot of OH, because I prefer WV+PLL as opposed to LS+COLL+EPLL.

 

[TDM]

its not even worth it if youre using zz.

(speaking from my own experience; i have since given up using the long WV cases, they just suck.)

the easy ones are definately worth it though.

Well it's definitely more useful for ZZ than CFOP

*gets to LL*
*does a few moves of OLL*
crap, wait, is this the ZBLL I just learned?
*undoes moves*
*spends another second trying to recognise*
dammit, it's not
*solve ends up 10 seconds slower than usual*

EVERY TIME

 

[MarcelP]

WV is worth it if you can recognise and execute like normal OLL and force PLL skip more than half the times Especially when you do it like Mats did with his 5.55. (Time to repeat with a better score now )

 

[pdilla]

I learned the easy cases + all of the cases with 3 corners oriented plus the one case with all corners oriented. It's surprising how often they come up, and I've noticed my times go way up at first, and then drop back down again to a more consistent set of averages. I'd say that it's worth it so long as you understand that your times will fluctuate at first like when you learned F2L for the first time.

 

[EMI]

Well it's definitely more useful for ZZ than CFOP

Why? I guess you are saying that you can use it more often, but I think if a case is not "worth learning" for CFOP (as if, it isn't faster than insert + OLL), that will also hold for ZZ.

OT: Same as the others, I think it's worth knowing the 1-corner cases, for the other ones it depends on the cuber I'd say.

 

[TDM]

Why? I guess you are saying that you can use it more often, but I think if a case is not "worth learning" for CFOP (as if, it isn't faster than insert + OLL), that will also hold for ZZ.

OT: Same as the others, I think it's worth knowing the 1-corner cases, for the other ones it depends on the cuber I'd say.

True. I did mean that it would be use more in ZZ, but you're right that the harder cases are no better for ZZ than they are for CFOP.

 

[mDiPalma]

True. I did mean that it would be use more in ZZ, but you're right that the harder cases are no better for ZZ than they are for CFOP.

the bad cases are only bad because people feel the need to do them RUL and don't want to generate real algs for themselves: mindlessly using the same algs that have been on Cubewhiz since the 3rd century AD.

 

[TDM]

the bad cases are only bad because people feel the need to do them RUL and don't want to generate real algs for themselves: mindlessly using the same algs that have been on Cubewhiz since the 3rd century AD.

Yes, but I would guess they're not all very easy/fast.

 

[Chree]

the bad cases are only bad because people feel the need to do them RUL and don't want to generate real algs for themselves: mindlessly using the same algs that have been on Cubewhiz since the 3rd century AD.

In defense of cubewhiz, only 3 of his solutions are RUL, and all of those seem to be pretty standard when you explore other sets like Sarah or Rowe. Meanwhile you go somewhere like Sebastian Felix's set (Sarah's source) and almost half are RUL. Bob even has some better alternatives than Rowe, imho.

While I do agree with the implication that people should go to multiple sources and find algs that work best for them... For me? The best set was Cubewhiz. The most difficulty I had with them was recognition, not execution.

Side Note: Bob's not that old, is he?

 

[SpeedSkewber]

It's a great idea, Don't forget Mats got his 5.55 by using Winter Variation. But a lot of the cases are just weird insertions for forcing Sune or Anit-Sune. You could probably learn it in about three days.

 

[Loupisar]

Of course learning WV is worth it. All the cases are fast, and easy to recognize EXCEPT the 3-unoriented-corners ones. I used to know all the cases but i gave up for those with 3 corners unoriented because they are too slow (recognizing and executing).