One-Answer WCA Competition and Regulations Question Thread

[turtwig]

How does you put a picture/get a picture put on to your WCA profile?
Thanks.

 

[TDM]

How does you put a picture/get a picture put on to your WCA profile?
Thanks.

Click your name. This will take you to a page where you can upload an image, and you need to enter your date of birth (which is there to prevent anyone changing everyone else's pictures without permission).

 

[turtwig]

Click your name. This will take you to a page where you can upload an image, and you need to enter your date of birth (which is there to prevent anyone changing everyone else's pictures without permission).

But couldn't anyone change pictures of people like Feliks, since their birthdays are on the internet?

 

[TDM]

But couldn't anyone change pictures of people like Feliks, since their birthdays are on the internet?

Probably.

 

[Dene]

To my knowledge changes have to be approved. Also the WCA is in the process of implementing user accounts which means it won't be an issue anymore.

 

[G2013]

I have a question about WCA regulations:

Imagine this:

you are doing a 3x3 solve, you notice there's a corner twist, so you twist a random corner, but it comes that you needed to turn it in the other direction [meaning that you still have a corner twist]

-> what do you do?

Turn the corner again in the same direction? -> is it allowed?

And if you noticed that you mis-turned after doing an algorithm, could you turn other corner or would you need to find the corner you twisted wrongly? -> and if you don't remember what was the first corner?

or is it just DNF?

 

[Dene]

Twisting corners is a touchy subject, and it's unlikely you'd be punished in any scenario, as chances are it's already going to ruin your solve and common sense will prevail.

There isn't a limit to how many times you can twist corners, as long as you aren't bringing the puzzle closer to solved. So, for example, if you find yourself with a sune you can't just twist the three corners instead of performing the algorithm.

If, for example, you twist a corner before OLL, perform the OLL algorithm and realise you twisted wrong, you will have to twist one of the oriented corners to make a true OLL case, rather than twisting the one corner that is out of place to solve OLL.

In saying that, as a delegate I would give significant leeway as, like I said above, your solve will probably already be ruined anyway.

 

[cubizh]

I have a question about WCA regulations:

Imagine this:

you are doing a 3x3 solve, you notice there's a corner twist, so you twist a random corner, but it comes that you needed to turn it in the other direction [meaning that you still have a corner twist]

-> what do you do?

Turn the corner again in the same direction? -> is it allowed?

And if you noticed that you mis-turned after doing an algorithm, could you turn other corner or would you need to find the corner you twisted wrongly? -> and if you don't remember what was the first corner?

or is it just DNF?

It's a DNF by regulation 5b3c):

5b3c) If the puzzle is unsolvable, and can be made solvable by rotating a single corner piece, the competitor may correct the corner piece by twisting it in place without disassembling the puzzle.

 

[mafergut]

This is not exactly a WCA question but I think this is the closest OAQ forum where I can post it:

I normally do timed solves with csTimer. I don't use WCA inspection count-up and usually have the cube in the hand when pressing the space bar. I have never been to a comp but I thought that, just in case there is one close I should start doing my timed solves in a setting closer to competition. So, as I don't have a stackmat timer (yet) I decided to activate the 15 sec inspection timer and put the cube on a mat and then press the space bar, grab the cube, solve it and drop it onto the mat before reaching for the space bar again.

All of a sudden, my 3x3 averages are like 2 - 2.5 seconds slower. I would expect around half a second because of grabbing - dropping the cube but 2 seconds? It's like the reduced inspection time and the fact that I have to drop the cube make my cross much less efficient but it also seems that I'm even more sloppy than usual when turning, like if it was a real comp and I was nervous.

Has this happened to any of you? Is it worth it to buy a stackmat timer? I was on the brink of globally sub-20 and now I'm again at 22 seconds

EDIT: The fact that I'm also being completely strict with +2 and DNF does not seem to be an important factor (at least not as much as I thought), as in an Ao50 I only got one DNF and three +2s. But maybe the fact that I also try to make fully sure the cube is solved before dropping it MIGHT be a factor, not giving me more +2s but slowing me down by another half a second.

 

[EvilGnome6]

All of a sudden, my 3x3 averages are like 2 - 2.5 seconds slower. I would expect around half a second because of grabbing - dropping the cube but 2 seconds? It's like the reduced inspection time and the fact that I have to drop the cube make my cross much less efficient but it also seems that I'm even more sloppy than usual when turning, like if it was a real comp and I was nervous.

I think this is very common when someone isn't used to a limited inspection time or picking up and setting down the cube. It's disorienting. I think it's worth getting an actual Stackmat timer to practice with. During your 15 seconds you need to inspect, set down the cube, place your hands on the timer and hold them there long enough for the light to turn green. That whole process needs to become routine. I try to do a half hour or so with a Stackmat every day. It's a skill that takes practice just like any other.

 

[mafergut]

I think this is very common when someone isn't used to a limited inspection time or picking up and setting down the cube. It's disorienting. I think it's worth getting an actual Stackmat timer to practice with. During your 15 seconds you need to inspect, set down the cube, place your hands on the timer and hold them there long enough for the light to turn green. That whole process needs to become routine. I try to do a half hour or so with a Stackmat every day. It's a skill that takes practice just like any other.

Hi, thanks for your feedback. After a full Ao100 it's like, yeah, my averages have worsened by 2-3 seconds but my best times have "only" increased by like 1-1.5 seconds. I have even gotten a 13.22 PLL skip towards the end of the session, which is my 5th best time ever so I really hope this is just a question of getting used to it. I think I will re-set all my unofficial PBs and only count those made in comp-like conditions.

I will definitely check stackmat timer prices and see if I buy one. Any recommendations here (make / model and which store has best prices on it)?

Also, when using stackmat, do you use an additional mobile app or stopwatch to control the 15s inspection time? At least in csTimer, when setting input to stackmat or typing the inspection time counter gets disabled.

 

[EvilGnome6]

I will definitely check stackmat timer prices and see if I buy one. Any recommendations here (make / model and which store has best prices on it)?

Also, when using stackmat, do you use an additional mobile app or stopwatch to control the 15s inspection time? At least in csTimer, when setting input to stackmat or typing the inspection time counter gets disabled.

I picked up a StackMat Pro set (with bag and mat) for $29.99 directly from speedstacks.com. I haven't really found them cheaper from any other place. I think they keep a tight fist on distribution.

I think you can connect your Stackmat to your computer and have it integrate with cstimer to make it seamless but I have not tried this. I do timed inspection during my lunch breaks using a mobile app. In the evenings, I use a Stackmat and untimed inspection. It seems to come together OK during competitions.

 

[Cece Henderson]

I was wondering if cubes with white background are allowed in official competitions

 

[TDM]

I was wondering if cubes with white background are allowed in official competitions

Yes, they are allowed.

 

[NickE]

Are transparent cubes aloud?

after stickerless cubes were competition approved are transparent cubes approved.Don't no where to post things

 

[Dene]

after stickerless cubes were competition approved are transparent cubes approved.Don't no where to post things

No. You can check the regulations for yourself here.

 

[EvilGnome6]

Any stopwatch recommendations?

 

[mafergut]

Any stopwatch recommendations?

Not sure I get your question. What type and for what use? Only use I find for a stopwatch that is cube related is for delegates to check the 15 second inspection time.
Are you looking for something like this? This one has configurable countdown function with alarm.

 

[EvilGnome6]

Not sure I get your question. What type and for what use?

I'm organizing a competition and need stopwatches for the judges. Looking on Amazon, the prices vary from $4 to $100. I was wondering which ones other organizers like or would recommend.

 

[mafergut]

I'm organizing a competition and need stopwatches for the judges. Looking on Amazon, the prices vary from $4 to $100. I was wondering which ones other organizers like or would recommend.

Yeah, I sort of realized that halfway through my reply post but, of course, my recommendation (more precisely, my example) was just a random search at Amazon for a stopwatch with countdown feature. Now that I think about it I don't even know if speedcubing judges use a countdown form 15 to 0 or just a regular stopwatch from 0 to 15 I haven't checked regulations either to see if there's something stated there. So, I won't be of much help but you raised my curiosity. Let's see what others more competition-savy cubers have to say about this.