Older cubers discussions

[SpartanSailor]

Okay.... now I'm home. I'm going to do some BLD practice using csTimer for the first time--took me a moment to figure out how to set it up so I can get the memo/execution splits.

Not sure what I'm going to do with the M2 practice for now... I think I just need to drill the set-ups for M2 and get the special cases down. As is always the case, however, as you learn something new to improve speed it takes some time where it takes longer.

Edit:
Did some OP/OP practice pushing memo. It was abysmal. I had a couple that just dumped my memo as soon as I started... I think seeing the computer time running might have distracted me. But I had a few that weren't terrible, but off by a couple pieces... Thanks so the splits I know I was
DNF 2:53/1:41
DNF 2:45/1:43
DNF 2:45/2:17
6:06 (4:06/1:59)

In the 4 to 5 minute range it looks like I can save a LOT (assuming accuracy improves) in the memo phase.

Any way you slice it (no pun intended) I'm comfortable a times a fair amount faster than a month ago.

 

[openseas]

Did some OP/OP practice pushing memo. It was abysmal. I had a couple that just dumped my memo as soon as I started... I think seeing the computer time running might have distracted me. But I had a few that weren't terrible, but off by a couple pieces... Thanks so the splits I know I was
DNF 2:53/1:41
DNF 2:45/1:43
DNF 2:45/2:17
6:06 (4:06/1:59)

In the 4 to 5 minute range it looks like I can save a LOT (assuming accuracy improves) in the memo phase.

Any way you slice it (no pun intended) I'm comfortable a times a fair amount faster than a month ago.

Good start. You can improve your memo - no shortcut but "practice a lot" + "rush your memo" + "try not to review so much".

Stronger images for corner (if you memo corner first / execute edge first) while build audio for edge.

 

[SpartanSailor]

Just being aware of this extra information will be helpful. Also, the pressure of the clock is good for practice too...

I do memo corners then edges and execute edges then corners. I haven’t taken to images sounds. So far, I tend to come up with sentences (nonsense ones) and sometimes I just run with a string of letters.

There are a couple spots that I have pretty standard pairings to solve, but those are mostly flipped edges already in place or twisted corners...

 

[mark49152]

In the 4 to 5 minute range it looks like I can save a LOT (assuming accuracy improves) in the memo phase.

Yep - at your level the quickest wins are in memo. As Jae said, there are no shortcuts, but there are certainly things you can do to train your memo. Try tracing & finding all the pieces on the cube without memorizing them, and time it. If you're anything like me, you'll be shocked to find it takes you 40-50 seconds just to find the pieces. You can practise that alone. Also, having solid images for letter pairs is important as it helps you build up an image-based memo without delay, as well as improving accuracy.

Generally I think a good target for 3BLD splits is roughly 50/50.

 

[SpartanSailor]

Yep - at your level the quickest wins are in memo. As Jae said, there are no shortcuts, but there are certainly things you can do to train your memo. Try tracing & finding all the pieces on the cube without memorizing them, and time it. If you're anything like me, you'll be shocked to find it takes you 40-50 seconds just to find the pieces. You can practise that alone. Also, having solid images for letter pairs is important as it helps you build up an image-based memo without delay, as well as improving accuracy.

Generally I think a good target for 3BLD splits is roughly 50/50.

There are never shortcuts...

I know I can move a little faster in execution, but that bit feels pretty smooth (OP). If I could get my eventually memo down to 1:30-1:40 and still be relatively consistent at 3:00-3:30 total time, that would be something I never imagined even only 5 months ago when i thought to “try this blind solving thing”

I can tell from just playing today that if I can get the M2 stuff into muscle memory and smooth like I do with t-perms using OP, I’ll drop time like dead weight. So... I’m very optimistic that by the end of 2018 I should be relatively consistent at sub-4.

Until my actual ability gives me a reason to chase something faster, for now, Sub-4 is my goal since that is the U.S. Nationals Qualifying time for 2018 Nationals. I’m not going, but it’s as good a target goal as any. Perhaps I’ll be able to meet the 2019 qualifying time by the time that comes around—I wouldn’t imagine it would change too much.

 

[SpartanSailor]

Found some better (easier for me) algs for a couple set-ups and using M2. Also found a nicer parity alg....

Already some early practice with BLD DNFs.... Just had three that were all sub-4 and only off by a piece of two. Must have been memo failure due to a lack of review. But I had
3:30 (2:09/1:21)
3:46 (2:01/1:45)
3:44 (2:02/1:42)

I KNOW I was pushing myself, so I'm not too concerned with the DNFs. But I didn't "rush" when compared to last nights, yet considerably faster still. So, I'm hopeful... I'm going to keep working on my memo speed and playing with the M2 algs to get them more into muscle memory.

 

[phreaker]

Found some better (easier for me) algs for a couple set-ups and using M2. Also found a nicer parity alg....

Already some early practice with BLD DNFs.... Just had three that were all sub-4 and only off by a piece of two. Must have been memo failure due to a lack of review. But I had
3:30 (2:09/1:21)
3:46 (2:01/1:45)
3:44 (2:02/1:42)

I KNOW I was pushing myself, so I'm not too concerned with the DNFs. But I didn't "rush" when compared to last nights, yet considerably faster still. So, I'm hopeful... I'm going to keep working on my memo speed and playing with the M2 algs to get them more into muscle memory.

Which parity alg?

 

[mark49152]

@SpartanSailor - nice work, I think improvement will come faster than you expect.

 

[SpartanSailor]

Which parity alg?

(D’ Rw2 U) M2 (U’ Rw2 D)

I can’t recall who the video was from... but he also discussed how to plan the memo to purposefully place the UB and UL pieces in reverse location so you can avoid doing the parity alg all together... I fully understood the concept, but it was a bit too advanced for me at this point. But it’s something I’ll definitely keep in mind when I’m comfortable with M2 and ready to improve my skills further

 

[phreaker]

Tried my 1st MBLD. 0/2. I felt like the memo w

(D’ Rw2 U) M2 (U’ Rw2 D)

I can’t recall who the video was from... but he also discussed how to plan the memo to purposefully place the UB and UL pieces in reverse location so you can avoid doing the parity alg all together... I fully understood the concept, but it was a bit too advanced for me at this point. But it’s something I’ll definitely keep in mind when I’m comfortable with M2 and ready to improve my skills further

(U' F2 U) M2 (U' F2 U) is what I use. When it comes to M2, there is some stuff you can learn that isn't big cube safe... be careful if part of why you are picking up M2 is 4BLD.

and the follow up are what I'm using for 4BLD. (Found off this forum.) jperm also did a 4BLD video recently.

 

[SpartanSailor]

I like that version for the parity too. Easy and smooth. I’m not necessarily learning M2 for big blind... but certainly good to be aware so if/when I do decide to attempt 4BLD and whatnot that I’m not unlearning stuff...

I watched jperm’s 4BLD video just to see the fundamentals of it. I’m not ready to go there yet. I’m still playing with and enjoying 3BLD. I have a lot of room to continue to learn and push my 3BLD at this point.

I’m still locked into OP/OP for faster execution. I’ll be using that for my next comp. however, along the way, I can still dial in the algs for the special cases and play with M2 a little...

 

[h2f]

I use quite a few of your "not recommended" algs.

Yeah, me too when I was using M2.

 

[pglewis]

I think M2 may also end up being a gateway to comms for me. Once you're comfortable with the basic execution you can pick up swaps that'll solve 2 pieces at a time if S or I are one of the targets and the other is not on the M slice, giving a taste of how awesome it is to solve two pieces at a time.

And yet another parity, the one I use is: (D' L2 D) M2 (D' L2 D)

 

[newtonbase]

I can’t recall who the video was from... but he also discussed how to plan the memo to purposefully place the UB and UL pieces in reverse location so you can avoid doing the parity alg all together... I fully understood the concept, but it was a bit too advanced for me at this point. But it’s something I’ll definitely keep in mind when I’m comfortable

I use the edge swap in memo. It's easy to learn so you can do it any time.

 

[SpartanSailor]

I think M2 may also end up being a gateway to comms for me. Once you're comfortable with the basic execution you can pick up swaps that'll solve 2 pieces at a time if S or I are one of the targets and the other is not on the M slice, giving a taste of how awesome it is to solve two pieces at a time.

And yet another parity, the one I use is: (D' L2 D) M2 (D' L2 D)

I found that parity alg last night too.

I also saw a video with some advanced M2 tricks that solved the S/I and another piece simultaneously. Another pretty cool trick that I’m not quite ready to do, but have also stored that away for future reference when I’m ready to step it up another level.

 

[SpartanSailor]

I use the edge swap in memo. It's easy to learn so you can do it any time.

Does it work with OP edges too?

 

[xyzzy]

Does it work with OP edges too?

It works with any method of solving the edges. (I use it with 3-style edges.)

 

[SpartanSailor]

I’m going to try it the next time I get an odd number of targets during practice. I’m strangely excited about this... lol

 

[Mike Hughey]

Okay, CubingUSA Great Lakes Championship is just a week away, and as usual I didn't have enough time to practice like I wanted to and I've gotten terribly rusty at most things. I'm going to start trying to get back in shape for ordinary 3x3x3 BLD; let's see how I do. My first 20, done today:
14/20
session mean: 1:53.70
best: 1:21.23

I sure hope I can improve some before then; that was awful.

I'll also try a couple of multis between now and then; I hope I feel confident enough by then to go for another PB. I'd love to try for 15 and have one last long shot at getting ahead of Mark on the oldies list one last time before he puts it out of my reach forever.

 

[mark49152]

I'd love to try for 15 and have one last long shot at getting ahead of Mark on the oldies list one last time before he puts it out of my reach forever.

I've gone backwards recently and not practised multi at all. Would be good if you get ahead of me and give me a new target to motivate me