[Help Thread] FMC Discussion

[Joey VOV]

Scramble: U2 F2 R F2 D2 L U2 L2 D2 L' D B2 U' R' D F U' L2 F
Inverse: F' L2 U F' D' R U B2 D' L D2 L2 U2 L' D2 F2 R' F2 U2

on normal:
L2 F2 U F /E0 (4)

So many continuations, brain stops working.

 

[henrysavich]

Here's a 36 move FMC solve I just did, would appreciate some critiques ( I average around mid to high 30's)

Scramble: D' L' D' F' U L F L2 U B U2 R2 F' R2 D2 F' L2 U2 F' L2
Inverse: L2 F U2 L2 F D2 R2 F R2 U2 B' U' L2 F' L' U' F D L D
Solution on inverse: D B R D B' F' R2 D L' D2 B L2 B' F' D2 F L2 D F L F' U L B L' B2 U R2 D' F D R2 U2 B L' D2
Final Solution: D2 L B' U2 R2 D' F' D R2 U' B2 L B' L' U' F L' F' D' L2 F' D2 F B L2 B' D2 L D' R2 F B D' R' B' D'

And a walkthrough of it
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On inverse:
Premove D2 (1/1)
D B R D B' F' R2 (7/8)// 2x2x2- I found a 7-move block on normal as well, but inverse had a better immediate continuation
D L' D2 B L2 B' (6/14)// 2x2x3 - aforementioned "Good continuation"
F' D2 F L2 D F L F' (8/22)// F2L - Where the premove comes from, I tried a couple of different D-face premoves to facilitate this step. Is it worth it to look at EO after 2x2x3 (like in Petrus)?
U L B L' B2 U R2 D' F D R2 U2 B L' (14/36)// LL - I did EO with inverse fruruf, and then ZBLL here. I switched to regular here and didn't find much better, and on
neither of them could I find a way to
setup for an insertion.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CyanSandwich]

Waste of an easy scramble right here, I'm sure someone can find a decent continuation:

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

B L' R' F R' D' //2x2x3 (6/6)
//CFOP
F' U' R' D' F2 D R
F' U2 R U R' U'
U' F U' F' U2 F
U' R B' R F2 R' B R F2 R2 (29/35)

I had the 2x2x3 in like 2 minutes, but I couldn't find any good continuations. I finished with CFOP when I had a few minutes left.

 

[Torch]

Waste of an easy scramble right here, I'm sure someone can find a decent continuation:

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

B L' R' F R' D' //2x2x3 (6/6)
//CFOP
F' U' R' D' F2 D R
F' U2 R U R' U'
U' F U' F' U2 F
U' R B' R F2 R' B R F2 R2 (29/35)

I had the 2x2x3 in like 2 minutes, but I couldn't find any good continuations. I finished with CFOP when I had a few minutes left.

B L' R' F R' D' //2x2x3
F2 L' U' L R' F' R F' U2 F'//F2L
switch to inverse: F R B' R B R2 F'//2c2e

Skeleton: B L' R' F R' D' F2 L' U' L R' F' R F' U2 R2 B' R' B R' F' (21)

I don't really know how to do 2c2e insertions though.

 

[Cale S]

Waste of an easy scramble right here, I'm sure someone can find a decent continuation:

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

B L' R' F R' D' //2x2x3 (6/6)

I had the 2x2x3 in like 2 minutes, but I couldn't find any good continuations. I finished with CFOP when I had a few minutes left.

I started with a shorter 2x2x3 and found this:

B L' // pseudo 2x2x2
U' R2 // pseudo 2x2x3
(D) // 2x2x3
(L F2 L') // orient two edges
F' U F' // F2L - 1
(F R U R' U' F') // to L5C

L5C skeleton:
B L' U' R2 F' U2 R U' R' F' L F2 L' % D'
insert at %: [R2, D' L D]

L3C skeleton:
B L' U' R2 F' U2 R U' R' F' L F2 L' R2 D' & L D R2 D' L'
insert at &: [U', L D' L']

final solution: B L' U' R2 F' U2 R U' R' F' L F2 L' R2 D' U' L D' L' U L D2 R2 D' L' (25)

 

[not_kevin]

My winning solutions to BASC PBQ 2015. I need to learn how to handle the too-many-options problem better

Scramble 1: D' B R U B' U L2 F B' R2 D L2 F2 U2 L2 D2 L' F2 U2
Inverse 1: U2 F2 L D2 L2 U2 F2 L2 D' R2 B F' L2 U' B U' R' B' D
Solution 1: R B' L' F2 L2 B L' F2 R2 F2 D' U2 F' D2 F U2 F' D2 R D R2 D' R D2 R (25 moves)

Spoiler

Starting with the obvious pair insert on UBL, I used B' L B L' as a guide and slowly added moves here and there to make a 2x2x3:
R B' L' F2 L2 B L' F' // 2x2x3 [8/8]
F' R2 F2 D' F' // EO [4/12]
switch to inverse, with premoves F D F2 R2 F2 L B' L2 F2 L B R':
R' D2 // F2L-1 [2/14]
R' D R2 D' R' // AB3C [5/19]

Skeleton: R B' L' F2 L2 B L' F2 R2 F2 D' F' * R D R2 D' R D2 R
Insert at *: F U2 F' D2 F U2 F' D2 // cancels 2 [6/25]

Scramble 2: L R B2 F2 L' U2 F2 L' B2 R F' R2 U L2 D' F' U2 F D2 U'
Inverse 2: U D2 F' U2 F D L2 U' R2 F R' B2 L F2 U2 L F2 B2 R' L'
Solution 2: D B' F' U' F R2 U R2 F2 D B2 D' F2 D B2 D L2 D2 L' U2 B R2 B R B' R D L B L' B' D' B' (33 moves)

Spoiler

D' // make a pair [1/1]
B' // make a pair [1/2]
F' U' F R2 U R2 // get a square while wasting moves [6/8]
D2 L2 D2 L' U2 // 2x2x3 plus some pairs [5/13]
B R2 B R B' R // F2L [6/19]
D L B L' B' D' B' // AB3C [7/26]

Skeleton: D B' F' U' F R2 U R2 * D2 L2 D2 L' U2 B R2 B R B' R D L B L' B' D' B'
Insert at *: F2 D B' D' F2 D B' D' // cancels 1 [7/33]

This scramble made me pretty sad - there were so many different starts, but nothing seemed to work out for me. I had somehow found a 20 to 5 corners in the first few minutes, but I didn't write down how, and I couldn't rederive it. The insertion only being 7 optimal was also :<

I also played around with doing D U B' F D' F' for F2/B2 EO, but every time I did it, I got lost in options-land, and they all seemed to have parity.

Scramble 3: R' L2 F2 L2 U F2 L D' B U D R2 F2 D L2 F2 R2 D2 B2 D2
Inverse 3: D2 B2 D2 R2 F2 L2 D' F2 R2 D' U' B' D L' F2 U' L2 F2 L2 R
Solution 1: B' F U' L' D R F2 R2 L D F2 D F2 U F U' F' R B R' F R B' U' R2 U R (27 moves)

Spoiler

B' F U' L' D (L) // 2x2x2 plus 3 pairs [6/6]
(L') R F2 R2 L (D2) // 2x2x3 plus stuff [4/10]
(D') F2 D (F') // F2L-1 [3/13]
switch to inverse with premoves F D' F2 D' L' R2 F2 R' D' L U F' B:
R' U' R2 U R' U F' U' (F) // AB3C [8/21]

Skeleton: B' F U' L' D R F2 R2 L D F2 D F2 U F U' * R U' R2 U R
Insert at *: F' R B R' F R B' R' // cancels 2 [6/27]

This was basically an exercise in "do a fairly obvious thing while preserving stuff". I think this is the first time I've had the switch cancel moves on me, too

 

[TheDubDubJr]

My winning solutions to BASC PBQ 2015. I need to learn how to handle the too-many-options problem better

Here you go

Tried all 3 scrambles with Mark Boyanowski on Sunday night

Scramble 1: D' B R U B' U L2 F B' R2 D L2 F2 U2 L2 D2 L' F2 U2
Inverse 1: U2 F2 L D2 L2 U2 F2 L2 D' R2 B F' L2 U' B U' R' B' D
Solution 1: D2 L R' F2 R B' R' F2 R U' F2 D' R' D R' D' R2 D U2 R F R' F' B U2 B' L2 B U2 (29 moves)

Spoiler

n D2 L B' U' // EO
switch with added premove F2
i U2 B' L2 // 2x2x3
B U2 B' // Block
F R F' R' U2 // F2L-corner
D' R2 D R D' R D // 23 to L3C

D2 L (R' F2 R B' R' F2 R B) B' U' F2 D' R' D R' D' R2 D U2 R F R' F' B U2 B' L2 B U2 // cancel 2

Scramble 2: L R B2 F2 L' U2 F2 L' B2 R F' R2 U L2 D' F' U2 F D2 U'
Inverse 2: U D2 F' U2 F D L2 U' R2 F R' B2 L F2 U2 L F2 B2 R' L'
Solution 2: B' U' B D U F2 U' B' U F B R2 U' F L' F2 L2 F' D2 F L' F2 B' U2 D2 (25 moves)

Spoiler

n D F' R2 U' // EO
switch
i D2 U2 B // 2x2x2
F2 L F' D2 // 2x2x3
F L2 F2 L F' // 16 to L5C

(234 B' U' B D (451 U F2 U' B' U F2 U' B) B' U B D') D F' R2 U' F L' F2 L2 F' D2 F L' F2 B' U2 D2 // cancel 7

Scramble 3: R' L2 F2 L2 U F2 L D' B U D R2 F2 D L2 F2 R2 D2 B2 D2
Inverse 3: D2 B2 D2 R2 F2 L2 D' F2 R2 D' U' B' D L' F2 U' L2 F2 L2 R
Solution 1: D2 B2 L2 F2 B2 D' R' U R L D R2 D' L' D R U' B2 R F2 R F' U2 D' L R' U' (27 moves)

Spoiler

i U R L' D // EO
U2 F R' // 2x2x2
switch
D2 B2 L2 // F2L-2
F2 B2 R' B2 R F2 // 16 to L5C

D2 B2 L2 F2 B2 (345 D' R' U R (512 L D R2 D' L' D R2 D') D R' U' R) R' B2 R F2 R F' U2 D' L R' U' // cancels 5

29, 25, 27 = 27.00 Mean

 

[not_kevin]

Here you go

Tried all 3 scrambles with Mark Boyanowski on Sunday night

Scramble 1: D' B R U B' U L2 F B' R2 D L2 F2 U2 L2 D2 L' F2 U2
Inverse 1: U2 F2 L D2 L2 U2 F2 L2 D' R2 B F' L2 U' B U' R' B' D
Solution 1: D2 L R' F2 R B' R' F2 R U' F2 D' R' D R' D' R2 D U2 R F R' F' B U2 B' L2 B U2 (29 moves)

Spoiler

n D2 L B' U' // EO
switch with added premove F2
i U2 B' L2 // 2x2x3
B U2 B' // Block
F R F' R' U2 // F2L-corner
D' R2 D R D' R D // 23 to L3C

D2 L (R' F2 R B' R' F2 R B) B' U' F2 D' R' D R' D' R2 D U2 R F R' F' B U2 B' L2 B U2 // cancel 2

Scramble 2: L R B2 F2 L' U2 F2 L' B2 R F' R2 U L2 D' F' U2 F D2 U'
Inverse 2: U D2 F' U2 F D L2 U' R2 F R' B2 L F2 U2 L F2 B2 R' L'
Solution 2: B' U' B D U F2 U' B' U F B R2 U' F L' F2 L2 F' D2 F L' F2 B' U2 D2 (25 moves)

Spoiler

n D F' R2 U' // EO
switch
i D2 U2 B // 2x2x2
F2 L F' D2 // 2x2x3
F L2 F2 L F' // 16 to L5C

(234 B' U' B D (451 U F2 U' B' U F2 U' B) B' U B D') D F' R2 U' F L' F2 L2 F' D2 F L' F2 B' U2 D2 // cancel 7

Scramble 3: R' L2 F2 L2 U F2 L D' B U D R2 F2 D L2 F2 R2 D2 B2 D2
Inverse 3: D2 B2 D2 R2 F2 L2 D' F2 R2 D' U' B' D L' F2 U' L2 F2 L2 R
Solution 1: D2 B2 L2 F2 B2 D' R' U R L D R2 D' L' D R U' B2 R F2 R F' U2 D' L R' U' (27 moves)

Spoiler

i U R L' D // EO 2x2x1
U2 F R' // 2x2x2
switch
D2 B2 L2 // F2L-2
F2 B2 R' B2 R F2 // 16 to L5C

D2 B2 L2 F2 B2 (345 D' R' U R (512 L D R2 D' L' D R2 D') D R' U' R) R' B2 R F2 R F' U2 D' L R' U' // cancels 5

29, 25, 27 = 27.00 Mean

Dang, I need to get better at EO Also, nice first solution!

 

[Ranzha]

From Please Be Quiet 2015:

Scramble 1: D' B R U B' U L2 F B' R2 D L2 F2 U2 L2 D2 L' F2 U2
Inverse 1: U2 F2 L D2 L2 U2 F2 L2 D' R2 B F' L2 U' B U' R' B' D
Solution 1: R B' L' F' L2 F2 L B' L' F2 L B2 L2 F2 B R L B' L' F2 L B L' F2 B' R2 D2 F D' F' D2 (31 moves attempted, DNF)

Spoiler

R B' // Square and pair
L' F' L' B L2 F2 // 2x2x3
B R B' R2 // F2L-1
D2 F D' F' D2 // 17 to AB4C

R B' L' F' L' (L' F2 L B' L' F2 L B) B L2 F2 B R (L B L' F2 L B' L' F2) B' R2 D2 F D' F' D2 // cancels 2

Final: R B' L' F' L2 F2 L B' L' F2 L B2 L2 F2 B R L B L' F2 L B' L' F2 B' R2 D2 F D' F' D2 (31 moves)

I had a different second insertion that I thought would have cancelled 2, but with 2 minutes left I realised it didn't work, so I panicked, opted for this, and rushed to write the final solution and wrote the red move incorrectly as F instead of F2. vbj

Scramble 2: L R B2 F2 L' U2 F2 L' B2 R F' R2 U L2 D' F' U2 F D2 U'
Inverse 2: U D2 F' U2 F D L2 U' R2 F R' B2 L F2 U2 L F2 B2 R' L'
Solution 2: R' D' L2 D2 L' R' B2 R2 B' R' U B U' D' R D R' D B' L B' L' D' R D B D' B' R' B2 U2 (31 moves)

Spoiler

R' D' L2 D2 L' // 2x2x2
switch // to search for decent premoves
U2 // ooooooh
switch
R' B2 R2 B' R' // 2x-cross
U B U' // F2L-1
// it was here that I couldn't find much anything
D' R D R' // CP
D B2 D' // F2L
D B L B' L' D' R D B D' B' R' B2 // LL (31)

Final: R' D' L2 D2 L' R' B2 R2 B' R' U B U' D' R D R' D B' L B' L' D' R D B D' B' R' B2 U2 (31 moves)

Scramble 3: R' L2 F2 L2 U F2 L D' B U D R2 F2 D L2 F2 R2 D2 B2 D2
Inverse 3: D2 B2 D2 R2 F2 L2 D' F2 R2 D' U' B' D L' F2 U' L2 F2 L2 R
Solution 3: B' F U' L' D L D B' D2 B D2 L D L' F L' F' L B2 U F' R2 F U' B' D2 B' R2 F2 R D2 F (32 moves)

Spoiler

B' F U'
switch
F' D2 R' F2 R2 // pairs galore
switch
L' D L D // 2x2x2
B' D2 B // wat
D2 L D L' F L' F' L // F2L+EO
B2 U F' R2 F U' B' U2 B' // LL (32)

Final: B' F U' L' D L D B' D2 B D2 L D L' F L' F' L B2 U F' R2 F U' B' D2 B' R2 F2 R D2 F (32 moves)

DNF(31), 31, 32 = DNF Mean

 

[Sam N]

Here is my solution to the weekly competition week 41 FMC.

Spoiler

Scramble: U2 R2 B2 R U L' F2 D' L U2 B2 R' D2 R' F2 D2 L' D2 L2

Solution: L U' L B' U F2 L U2 L'U B R' U2 R D B D2 R2 F' U2 F' U2 F2 R2 D

Spoiler

L U' L B' U F2 - 5 move 2x2x3 block (there was a 8 or 9 move f2l-1 but I could not find anything useful with it at all)

L U2 L'U B R' U2 R - Finish up F2L (I tried solving the yellow face then saw a really nice way to do the green face so I used that instead)

OLL- D B D2 R2 F' U2 F' U2 F2 R2 D

I was wondering if anyone could find something useful in this start:

L U' L B' U F2 U B U2

It's a 9-move f2l-1 which seems good, but I couldn't find anything useful with it.

 

[guusrs]

19 moves WR for Tim Wong last week during Irving Fall:
Scramble: R2 B' U2 L2 B2 D2 R2 B R' D2 B' D F D L B2 D' U2
On inverse:
F2L-corner: R2 F L2 B' R' F2 B L B2 (9)
continue with block building: R D' F D2 F' (14)
don't solve F2L but solve corners: L' D R' D' L (19)

Quite easy, but appearantly no other competitor found this solution.

 

[Sam N]

19 moves WR for Tim Wong last week during Irving Fall:
Scramble: R2 B' U2 L2 B2 D2 R2 B R' D2 B' D F D L B2 D' U2
On inverse:
F2L-corner: R2 F L2 B' R' F2 B L B2 (9)
continue with block building: R D' F D2 F' (14)
don't solve F2L but solve corners: L' D R' D' L (19)

Quite easy, but appearantly no other competitor found this solution.

Mostly due to cfop being overlooked during the last layer. As Micheal said, the unseen cfop is the deadliest. The last layer was still quite impressive though.

 

[Bubtore]

Scramble // F2 L2 R2 U2 B L2 B' R2 B' L2 F2 D B D' B U2 R' U2 F D' B

222 // D' F' - 2
223 // B' L2 D * L D' L - 6
F2L-1 + EO // D' R + D' R' B' D' B' D - 8

* D R D' L2 D R' D' L2 - 6
+ R' D L' D' R D L D' - 0 (wow ?!)

Final Solution // D' F' B' L2 D2 R D' L2 D R' D' L' D2 R D L D2 R' B' D' B' D - 22 Moves

That insertion ! I checked the construction of the skeleton again, and I have to say that I even though I knew the solution by then, I had troubles getting to that L3C which has the same amount of moves as the L5C.

 

[tseitsei]

The first solve of Finnish Championships FMC. I found nice looking start with 13 moves. EO done pseudoF2L-1 done and blocks everywhere. But I couldn't find any good finish and ended up DNFing. So I hope that one of you guys could find it for me

scramble: U' L2 R2 B2 U R2 D L2 R U' B R2 B L B2 L2 B' U R2

My start:
On inverse: U' D2 R F R //eo and 2 pairs
Normal with premoves R' F' R' D2 U
L B2 R L' U' D' R' U2 //awesome blocks

After that I couldn't find anything even remotely good but I'm quite sure there is some good finish because there are SO many blocks... Plz help

 

[irontwig]

Well there's B D B' D' L' D2 L' to leave three edges, there's probably something better, especially if you know the ZBLL.

 

[not_kevin]

My winning 28 mean for FMC USA 2015 The first scramble was... poor But the other two were fairly nice/lucky

Scramble 1: F U B' L' F' U F2 D2 R' U' L2 D' F2 R2 U' R2 U' L2 U R2
Inverse 1: R2 U' L2 U R2 U R2 F2 D L2 U R D2 F2 U' F L B U' F'
Solution 1: B D' F' R' B2 F2 D U2 F D F L2 F' R' F L2 F2 R F U F2 U2 F' U' F U L2 D' B D' B' D2 L2 (33 moves)

Spoiler

Starting on normal:
B D' F' R' B2 F2 D2 // 2x2x2 (7/7)
D' U2 F D // 2x2x3, cancel 1 (3/10)
R' F' R // EO+pair (3/13)
F U F2 U2 // F2L-1 + pair (4/17)
F U' F U // square (4/21)
L2 D' B D' B' D2 L2 // AB3C (7/28)

Skeleton:
B D' F' R' B2 F2 D U2 F D * R' F' R F U F2 U2 F' U' F U L2 D' B D' B' D2 L2
*: F L2 F' R' F L2 F' R // cancels 3 (5/33)

I wasted a lot of time with the start (D' L) off the inverse, which did some nice EO and solved 4 corners, but I don't know how to properly do CF As a result, I basically found myself left with around 20 minutes and no good skeleton, so I finally bashed around until I found this 28 -> 3 corners and just inserted, with maybe 8 minutes left. Got halfway through, found the 3-cancel, had maybe 3 minutes left, decided that a 3-cancel was probably optimal, and submitted. Fortunately I was right

Also, Ravi Fernando's 26 on the first scramble: L R' B R B' L' D2 L D L' R D R' D2 L' D2 R' D' R' B' R2 D U' R' B' R'

Spoiler

Copied from his Facebook post:

As executed:
Inverse scramble: R2 U' L2 U R2 U R2 F2 D L2 U R D2 F2 U' F L B U' F'
Solution:
y F R F U y' D' R2 B R D R D2 L // 2x-cross on white
x2 U2 R U' R' L U' L' // 3rd pair, connecting 4th pair
U2 y' x' D R U' R' U D' // 4th pair, forced OLL skip, PLL skip

Scramble 2: D' L2 F2 R2 U L2 D2 R2 B' R U L2 U F' U2 F' U B U'
Inverse 2: U B' U' F U2 F U' L2 U' R' B R2 D2 L2 U' R2 F2 L2 D
Solution 2: L2 R' B' U D2 L2 R' U' B2 R' B' U R' F R F2 U2 F2 R' F' R2 B' R (23 moves)

Spoiler

Starting on normal:
L2 R' B' U D2 L2 // 2x2x2 with pairs (6/6)
R' U' B2 R' B' // pseudo F2L-1 (5/11)
switch to inverse, with premoves B R B2 U R L2 D2 U' B R L2:
(R' B R') // F2L-1 (3/14)
(R' F R F2 U2 F2 R' F' R U') // how dose u do that pair? cancels 1 (9/23)

I found this with about 20 minutes left, and spent a good chunk of the remaining time just double-checking my solution, to make sure I didn't make a typo anywhere

Scramble 3: U' F2 U' F2 L2 U L U2 B L2 R' B L' F2 U' R U2 R2
Inverse 3: R2 U2 R' U F2 L B' R L2 B' U2 L' U' L2 F2 U F2 U
Solution 3: L U2 L' D' L U2 L' U R U2 D2 F' U F D U' R' D R' F' R' F R F' R' F R' U (28 moves)

Spoiler

On normal, with U premove:
D' // pair (1/2)
U R U2 // 2x2x2 + pair (3/5)
F' U F U' // 2xcross + pair (4/9)
D' R' D R // uh... tripod? (4/13)
R2 F' R' F R F' R' F R' // AB2C, cancels 1 (8/21)

Skeleton:
+ D' U R U2 F' U F * U' D' R' D R' F' R F R F' R' F R' U
*: F' U' F D2 F' U F D2 // cancels 7 (1/22)
+: L U2 L' D' L U2 L' D // cancels 2 (6/28)

I also had found the continuation R F' R F R2 after the tripod, for 17 to 4 corners, by around the 20-minute mark. However, due to my inexperience with 2+2 cycles, I quickly got lost in finding insertions, so I decided to play it safe with about 25 minutes left, and did the 2-twisted insertion first, going back later to see if there was anything that immediately stood out in the 4C case. I didn't find anything quickly, so I just stuck with the 28. IF told me that the 4C was 27 optimal, and I did mine optimally, so I'm not too sad with my decision I should work on 4C, 'tho...

 

[RhysC]

This is kind of a one-answer question thing, but I thought I would get more replies on the fmc thread.

Pure corner 3-cycles should go either ABA'B' or BAB'A' (if you send the non-interchange to the wrong place )

However, take niklas (pieces J> B> E)

The standard comm has R as the interchange and (U' L' U) as the trigger. Doing the trigger with the raw case sends E to B, when E needs to go to J. This means we do BAB'A', which gives us the comm:
R (U' L' U) R' (U' L U)

However,

With the same cycle, we can use the interchange B. This would leave us with a trigger of (U F U'). Since we are sending the non-interchange to its correct position, we use the comm ABA'B', being:
(U F U') B (U F' U') B'

But that doesn't work.

Help?

 

[ch_ts]

Your B should be B':
(U F U') B' (U F' U') B

 

[Torch]

My winning 28 mean for FMC USA 2015 The first scramble was... poor But the other two were fairly nice/lucky

Scramble 1: F U B' L' F' U F2 D2 R' U' L2 D' F2 R2 U' R2 U' L2 U R2
Inverse 1: R2 U' L2 U R2 U R2 F2 D L2 U R D2 F2 U' F L B U' F'
Solution 1: B D' F' R' B2 F2 D U2 F D F L2 F' R' F L2 F2 R F U F2 U2 F' U' F U L2 D' B D' B' D2 L2 (33 moves)

Spoiler

Starting on normal:
B D' F' R' B2 F2 D2 // 2x2x2 (7/7)
D' U2 F D // 2x2x3, cancel 1 (3/10)
R' F' R // EO+pair (3/13)
F U F2 U2 // F2L-1 + pair (4/17)
F U' F U // square (4/21)
L2 D' B D' B' D2 L2 // AB3C (7/28)

Skeleton:
B D' F' R' B2 F2 D U2 F D * R' F' R F U F2 U2 F' U' F U L2 D' B D' B' D2 L2
*: F L2 F' R' F L2 F' R // cancels 3 (5/33)

I wasted a lot of time with the start (D' L) off the inverse, which did some nice EO and solved 4 corners, but I don't know how to properly do CF As a result, I basically found myself left with around 20 minutes and no good skeleton, so I finally bashed around until I found this 28 -> 3 corners and just inserted, with maybe 8 minutes left. Got halfway through, found the 3-cancel, had maybe 3 minutes left, decided that a 3-cancel was probably optimal, and submitted. Fortunately I was right

Also, Ravi Fernando's 26 on the first scramble: L R' B R B' L' D2 L D L' R D R' D2 L' D2 R' D' R' B' R2 D U' R' B' R'

Spoiler

Copied from his Facebook post:

Scramble 2: D' L2 F2 R2 U L2 D2 R2 B' R U L2 U F' U2 F' U B U'
Inverse 2: U B' U' F U2 F U' L2 U' R' B R2 D2 L2 U' R2 F2 L2 D
Solution 2: L2 R' B' U D2 L2 R' U' B2 R' B' U R' F R F2 U2 F2 R' F' R2 B' R (23 moves)

Spoiler

Starting on normal:
L2 R' B' U D2 L2 // 2x2x2 with pairs (6/6)
R' U' B2 R' B' // pseudo F2L-1 (5/11)
switch to inverse, with premoves B R B2 U R L2 D2 U' B R L2:
(R' B R') // F2L-1 (3/14)
(R' F R F2 U2 F2 R' F' R U') // how dose u do that pair? cancels 1 (9/23)

I found this with about 20 minutes left, and spent a good chunk of the remaining time just double-checking my solution, to make sure I didn't make a typo anywhere

Scramble 3: U' F2 U' F2 L2 U L U2 B L2 R' B L' F2 U' R U2 R2
Inverse 3: R2 U2 R' U F2 L B' R L2 B' U2 L' U' L2 F2 U F2 U
Solution 3: L U2 L' D' L U2 L' U R U2 D2 F' U F D U' R' D R' F' R' F R F' R' F R' U (28 moves)

Spoiler

On normal, with U premove:
D' // pair (1/2)
U R U2 // 2x2x2 + pair (3/5)
F' U F U' // 2xcross + pair (4/9)
D' R' D R // uh... tripod? (4/13)
R2 F' R' F R F' R' F R' // AB2C, cancels 1 (8/21)

Skeleton:
+ D' U R U2 F' U F * U' D' R' D R' F' R F R F' R' F R' U
*: F' U' F D2 F' U F D2 // cancels 7 (1/22)
+: L U2 L' D' L U2 L' D // cancels 2 (6/28)

I also had found the continuation R F' R F R2 after the tripod, for 17 to 4 corners, by around the 20-minute mark. However, due to my inexperience with 2+2 cycles, I quickly got lost in finding insertions, so I decided to play it safe with about 25 minutes left, and did the 2-twisted insertion first, going back later to see if there was anything that immediately stood out in the 4C case. I didn't find anything quickly, so I just stuck with the 28. IF told me that the 4C was 27 optimal, and I did mine optimally, so I'm not too sad with my decision I should work on 4C, 'tho...

Did you find anything on scramble 3 with the 2x2x2 R2 B' R D'? You can make a 2x2x3 with B U' L' B' L, R B2 U' R B', or B2 R U' R B' after that, but I couldn't really find a good continuation for any of those.

 

[not_kevin]

Did you find anything on scramble 3 with the 2x2x2 R2 B' R D'? You can make a 2x2x3 with B U' L' B' L, R B2 U' R B', or B2 R U' R B' after that, but I couldn't really find a good continuation for any of those.

I didn't try R2 B' R D' or any other start (mostly because I knew that if I were going to do that 4C, it was gonna take me a long time) - I'll give it a shot sometime soon, and see if I can come up with anything.