Older cubers discussions

[h2f]

@Mike Hughey This is amazing because you a pioneer in this event.

As you guys moved from 3BLD to either MBLD or bigger cubes, which order did you do it?
1. Moved up in size--from 3 to 4 to 5 BLD
2. Add 3x3 cubes for MBLD with 2, then 3 cubes, etc...

Just curious. I'm a ways away from going beyond my basic 3BLD, but I feel like I would go to 2 or 3 cubes using a well developed 3x3 blind solving pattern before I added new complexity by added larger sized cubes.

3 years ago, when I started bld events, I went both directions: mbld (adding cubes one by one) and big blindes. But after around a year I stopped practicing mbld.

 

[SpartanSailor]

Very cool stuff.

 

[mark49152]

I must get better in mbld. I memo 5bld in around 9 minuts - 5 cubes should take same time but they take around 20.

Yes 20 minutes is very slow for 5 cubes considering how fast your memo is for 3BLD. Your 3BLD memo is about the same as mine, maybe a little faster. For guidance, I take around 1:20 per cube for small attempts - about 45 for first memo and 35 for a review tracing the cube again. So for 5 cubes you should really be aiming at sub-7 memo.

As you guys moved from 3BLD to either MBLD or bigger cubes, which order did you do it?
1. Moved up in size--from 3 to 4 to 5 BLD
2. Add 3x3 cubes for MBLD with 2, then 3 cubes, etc...

For me, MBLD wasn't really a move up, so I guess the answer is big blind.

I started competing in MBLD at the same comp at which I started in 3BLD, but I never practised MBLD because at that level there was nothing new to learn. I would just enter the event and wing it. I started 4BLD just after that first comp, and there is of course more to learn for that so I practised it quite a lot. I didn't really start practising MBLD at all until about a year ago when I wanted to go beyond 10 cubes and needed dedicated practice to improve my MBLD system.

 

[SpartanSailor]

I see. That makes sense. MBLD is just doing the same thing.... more than once. I suppose more than 10 would definitely require some serious focus!

 

[mark49152]

I see. That makes sense. MBLD is just doing the same thing.... more than once. I suppose more than 10 would definitely require some serious focus!

Yes it is just multiple safe 3BLDs, up until the point where you find yourself under time pressure or lacking memo capacity or reliability. From that point it's all about developing a good memo system and time management, which takes dedicated practice.

 

[newtonbase]

Yeah I'm not sure what to suggest apart from keep it simple, take your time and keep focused. My MBLD errors are almost always lapses in focus.

I shouldn't really worry. The purpose of doing this is to improve my memo and that's definitely working. Recall Is good and I'm getting used to my rooms.

I plan to start switching UL and UB in memo but want to be consistent for all events. I think it would confuse me otherwise. For MBLD that means I'll have to change my memo order. We'll see how it goes.

I'm not keen on CEEC for MBLD which is required for the UL UB switch. I did consider trying to memo corners first but put them in my 2nd location but it seems prone to error.

As you guys moved from 3BLD to either MBLD or bigger cubes, which order did you do it?
1. Moved up in size--from 3 to 4 to 5 BLD
2. Add 3x3 cubes for MBLD with 2, then 3 cubes, etc...

Personally I preferred to get my memo good enough before tackling 4BLD but I seem to be in the minority and the others are better than me.

 

[pglewis]

Great to see all the mbld and big blind talk going on.

I think I'm nearly ready to come out of my LL hibernation and start hitting the timer heavily for a week or two. I've been working on untimed solves for so long that my "timer legs" are gone... I was much better about it not affecting my solves when I was timing frequently. Full OLL recall is solid for me now minus a few low frequency ones; enough that I can just drill the remaining troublesome ones. Recognition will be an ongoing thing for a couple more months but I've turned the corner. I warmed up and did some LSLL solves and saw quite a few in the 7-8 range with a best Ao5 just under 8, and several of those included weaker OLLs for me where I just happened to get a reasonably quick read. Looks like I've trimmed about 2 seconds from my last layer, my previous Ao5 for LSLL was just under :10 shortly after I started down this path. Time for me to put it all together and break some PBs. That old Ao50 in the 28s being target number 1.

 

[SpartanSailor]

Took me 15 minutes, but got my first blind success with a parity... I wasn’t going for efficiency and speed, just success. So decided after edges to do the D-A-D swap rather than the R-perm. I can do the R-perm, but didn’t want to goon it up.

I’m always a little scared to look after I’ve finished my memo... lol

 

[Jason Green]

Took me 15 minutes, but got my first blind success with a parity... I wasn’t going for efficiency and speed, just success. So decided after edges to do the D-A-D swap rather than the R-perm. I can do the R-perm, but didn’t want to goon it up.

I’m always a little scared to look after I’ve finished my memo... lol

You should keep your eyes open until you finish memo. Did you mean execution?

 

[SpartanSailor]

You got me... I did mean execution. I have to admit, I didn’t think I’d get my first success as quickly as I did and it’s a ton of fun!

 

[h2f]

Yes 20 minutes is very slow for 5 cubes considering how fast your memo is for 3BLD. Your 3BLD memo is about the same as mine, maybe a little faster. For guidance, I take around 1:20 per cube for small attempts - about 45 for first memo and 35 for a review tracing the cube again. So for 5 cubes you should really be aiming at sub-7 memo.

I think lack of practice plays a role. I must take a serious practice in it. My goal for this year is to make 10 points.

 

[openseas]

I'm organizing a DFW comp next month -

Just in case whoever happens to visit North Texas next Feb 11th, you can register here: "Odd Cubing Day 2018"

https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/competitions/OddCubingDay2018/edit/registrations

@Jason Green / There is one guy who registered today with his 9 year old daughter. Looks like this is gonna be their first ever competition. We may have one more senior cuber joining in DFW area

 

[pglewis]

Not a lot of time for timed solves today but encouraging nonetheless. Surprisingly knocked a few tenths off my Ao5 which was already rather good for me in the 22s. The :44 was a long pause for OLL recall, still ended up getting the AUF wrong, then an N-Perm finale. Then I stepped on a rake. Only one disaster solve in the bunch this time, though.

 

[bradah]

Hello,
Am new here......not as fast as you guys.... still over 1 minute, but working on it.

 

[h2f]

Hi, @bradah

 

[newtonbase]

Hello,
Am new here......not as fast as you guys.... still over 1 minute, but working on it.

Welcome @bradah You'll be underground a minute before you know it. Have you thought about competing?

 

[mark49152]

Welcome @bradah You'll be underground a minute before you know it.

I know we're old but that's a bit rude. Autocorrect?

 

[openseas]

Hello,
Am new here......not as fast as you guys.... still over 1 minute, but working on it.

Welcome!

I know we're old but that's a bit rude. Autocorrect?

Haha!

 

[newtonbase]

I know we're old but that's a bit rude. Autocorrect?

Oh dear. Yes, dodgy autocorrect.

 

[bradah]

Thanks for the "Welcome" everyone -- I got into cubing last year. I've thought of competing, but want to get faster first.
Still learning Intuitive F2L. Glad us "elderly gentlemen" have a place on the forums to chat