Event Idea: Head-to-head FMC

deadmanlsh

Regular
Joined
May 15, 2014
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WCA ID
2014HALE02
I was looking through the 20 moves idea thread, when I had an idea.

Basically, two people will sit opposite each other, with a chess clock at the side. There will be a concealed scramble and a concealed cube scrambled with it in front of each of them. They will also be allowed to have 2 other solved cubes, stickers, paper and pens, just like normal FMC.

When the first competitor starts the timer, both of them will be allowed to reveal the two concealed objects. The first competitor then has to make a move on the originally concealed cube, then stop the timer. The process repeats until one of the competitors manages to solve the cube, or until time runs out for both of them. The competitors will be allowed to use the other materials to assist their solving. Of course, only 1 move may be made per turn on the originally concealed cube.
The event has a first-competitor disadvantage and there is a possibility of mirroring if the scrambles are the same, but I'm just throwing out an idea. Basically it is a linear FMC competition with other mechanics added to it. If you take too long, you lose your time and the other competitor gets to plan out more. It adds an element of interactivity and head-to-head competition to a pretty solitary activity.

Another simpler version would be to simply have a single cube and do linear FMC turn-by-turn, move-by-move, back-to-back. The chess timer rule still applies. However, skills like being able to plan ahead without an actual cube would be further incentivised, since there isn't another cube to test the moves on. This version is more linear and has less experimentation, but is a lot simpler and easier to prepare, not to mention it adds a lot of strain and difficulty at higher levels of competition.

Another question is how much time would be appropriate for these events. Different time limits will allow for very different play styles, especially for the first variant. 5 minutes would have more of efficient block building while 10 min might allow for more exploration at the beginning and even insertions since a lot can be done while the opponent's clock is ticking.

Just an idea. Sounds fun to do.

Suggested Competition Structure (1st Variant):
Time: 10 min
Format: 3 rounds, winner of scissors-papers-stone decides who goes first for the first round, loser of competition for each round (not of scissors-papers-stone) goes first for subsequent rounds or alternate turn order if previous round ended in a draw.

Time: 5 min
Format: 5 rounds, turn order decision rules being the same.

For a large number of competitors, round-robin, Swiss system or even elimination tournaments may be held.
 
Last edited:
The original idea is described here

I'm thinking of FMC Duel as new event:
Two cubers are opposite each other with a non-scrambled cube each and a chess-timer set to 5min for each player.
Cuber A starts his timer and starts to scramble the cube of his/her opponent and put it back in front of him/her and switches the chess-timer clock
Cuber B then starts to scramble the cube of the other opponent and switches the timer
Cuber A is allowed to do 1 move on his/her own cube and switches the timer
Cuber B is allowed to do 1 move on his/her own cube and switches the timer
etc

The cuber that solves the cube first (in minimum number of moves) wins the duel.
If a cuber runs out of time he/she loses the duel
If the oppenents need the same amount of moves the remaining time on the clock makes the decision

A knock out schedule can be setup.

Gus
 
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