[Help Thread] 2x2x2 Ortega Method Discussion

ProStar said:
Thanks! I'll implement those algs, it's annoying to have to do z2/x2 whenever those cases come up. Plus they're so easy, one is just known alg->known alg and the other is just super easy lol. Should I learn a move optimal algs for Adj top and Diag top, or are they not worth it over T Perm & Y Perm?
Click to expand...
T perm and Y perm are already good enough since they already have fast execution
fun at the joy said:
idk but R2 U R2 U' R2 U R2 U' R2 is a lot better imo
Click to expand...
I use that one to avoid a U2 AUF but im more used to the U' start because thats also what I use for NJ on squan, the fingerdrag on the U moves are easier for me.
 
What are some good “milestones” for what should be accomplished during inspection. I’m thinking build first face and predict OLL seems like a feasible goal.

For example, 3x3 CFOP solvers say predict the cross and solve it blindfolded every time. Then level up to finding first pair during inspection, etc. What are some 2x2 equivalents?
 
EngineeringBrian said:
What are some good “milestones” for what should be accomplished during inspection. I’m thinking build first face and predict OLL seems like a feasible goal.

For example, 3x3 CFOP solvers say predict the cross and solve it blindfolded every time. Then level up to finding first pair during inspection, etc. What are some 2x2 equivalents?
Click to expand...

Since 2x2 is muuuuch simpler, I think inspecting cross is like inspection the first face and orient the LL in 2x2. Just a little bonus, inspecting first pair 2x2 equivalent is maybe making the first layer + orientation of last layer (maybe?) PBL is like inspecting first two or three pairs in inspection.
 
Question: When you do OLL and end up with a solved top face is it recommended to actually double rotate and execute the PLL for the bottom face as if it were the top...or do good and reasonably fast 2x2 solvers mirror algs / have seperate algs to Solve bottom face only PLL cases are it bout rotations?

Aside:
Sub1Hour said:
I just use the square-1 alg for this one. If its J on the bottom but that on the left and then do R2 U' R2' U R2 U' R2' U R2. If its J on top then put the bar on the left and then do R2 D R2' D' R2 D R2' D' R2. Execution is fast and regripless if you turn the 2x2 like a square-1 and is only 2 moves longer.
Click to expand...
Was practicing these algs again yesterday and there’s just something about it that flows so well. They may be my favorite alg of all time to execute, it’s shockingly fun and satisfying how smooth it is!
 
EngiNerdBrian said:
Question: When you do OLL and end up with a solved top face is it recommended to actually double rotate and execute the PLL for the bottom face as if it were the top...or do good and reasonably fast 2x2 solvers mirror algs / have seperate algs to Solve bottom face only PLL cases are it bout rotations?

Aside:
Was practicing these algs again yesterday and there’s just something about it that flows so well. They may be my favorite alg of all time to execute, it’s shockingly fun and satisfying how smooth it is!
Click to expand...
I do R2 F2 R2 (Y perm) when I have a diagonal swap on the bottom, and I normally flip the whole cube to do an adjacent swap on the bottom, but you could also do a T perm starting with an R' (instead of R) and ending with an R2. You have to have the 2 pieces that need to be swapped in the DFR and DBR places to do this, so it could also involve doing D moves to set up to the T perm "spin-off."
 
So I’m old, so go easy. I’m learning Ortega but to be honest, I’m looking for a tutorial on the most efficient way to make the first face. Every tutorial I look at is like “Step 1: make a face, zip, ok Step 2....”
And I do know to be color neutral.
any info would be appreciated!
 
Here's my suggestions for faces on 10 scrambles. They are all 2-gen (only 2 types of moves, in this case, R and U moves), so they're really easy to fingertrick. I'll also give a brief explanation on how the pieces are moving to give you a good idea of what's actually going on.

U' R2 U' R' F' U2 F2 R F2

x y R U2 R' U R

So, here I'm doing blue, because that's the best color on this scramble, in my opinion (just looking at the first face, not looking any further into the solve). I do an R to solve one piece, and then U2 R' U R to insert the last one. Another solution for this scramble would be x y2 F U' R U R', but I chose this one because it's the same number of moves and it's 2-gen.
F R U' R2 F R2 F' U' F

x' y2 U2 R U R

I chose to do orange here. This is a fun trick, because it's similar to inserting one 3x3 cross piece on top of another. You could do U2 R2 to solve the blue-white-orange piece, then do R' U R to insert the blue-yellow-orange piece, but the R2 and the R' cancel out to make the full face solution U2 R U R.
U' R' F' R U' F2 U R2 U2

z' R' U' R U R'

There's only 2 bars on this scramble, so I chose red. R' to insert the red-white-green piece, then U' R U R' to insert the red-yellow green piece. This also gives an OLL skip!
F' R2 U2 R' F' U' F2 U2 F2

x2 U' R' U' R'

This is very similar to the 2nd scramble. You put one piece on top of the other one to insert both of them at the same time.
R U F U2 F R F2 R U'

x' R U' R'

This one is very simple. There's already 3 green pieces put together, so the last one can just be inserted with R U' R'.
R2 F2 U R U' F2 R' U2 R'

x y2 R U R'

This is a very interesting scramble. Solved pieces everywhere. This solution is the best because all the others would be taking pieces out of slots and putting them back in, which is very inefficient. Just a simple R U R' to put the last blue piece in.
F2 R2 F R' F R2 F2 U F'

x' R U2 R

This is very similar to scrambles 2 and 4. You're just halfway inserting a piece, putting another piece on top of it, then inserting both of them at the same time.
R' U2 R F2 R' F U' F2 R U

y' U R' U R'

This is a fun one. It's similar to 2, 4, and 7, but you're putting pieces together in a different way that's very quick and efficient. This is one of those cases that a beginner would have a hard time figuring out because it is pretty hard to see, but once you know it, it's a great case to get.
U R F R2 U' F' U2 F2 R2

z y2 R' U2 R

There's already 3 white pieces together, so you just take one of them out with an R', put the last one on top of it with a U2, then finish with an R.
F2 U' F' U F' R' U F2 R' U'

x R' U2 R

Exactly the same as #9.

I hope this helps! Make sure to ask if you have a case that you don't know, and would like an alg for. 2x2 is a very alg-heavy event, so even first face algs are very useful. I'd also be happy to do a few more scrambles like this, if you need it.
 
BenChristman1 said:
Here's my suggestions for faces on 10 scrambles. They are all 2-gen (only 2 types of moves, in this case, R and U moves), so they're really easy to fingertrick. I'll also give a brief explanation on how the pieces are moving to give you a good idea of what's actually going on.

U' R2 U' R' F' U2 F2 R F2

x y R U2 R' U R

So, here I'm doing blue, because that's the best color on this scramble, in my opinion (just looking at the first face, not looking any further into the solve). I do an R to solve one piece, and then U2 R' U R to insert the last one. Another solution for this scramble would be x y2 F U' R U R', but I chose this one because it's the same number of moves and it's 2-gen.
F R U' R2 F R2 F' U' F

x' y2 U2 R U R

I chose to do orange here. This is a fun trick, because it's similar to inserting one 3x3 cross piece on top of another. You could do U2 R2 to solve the blue-white-orange piece, then do R' U R to insert the blue-yellow-orange piece, but the R2 and the R' cancel out to make the full face solution U2 R U R.
U' R' F' R U' F2 U R2 U2

z' R' U' R U R'

There's only 2 bars on this scramble, so I chose red. R' to insert the red-white-green piece, then U' R U R' to insert the red-yellow green piece. This also gives an OLL skip!
F' R2 U2 R' F' U' F2 U2 F2

x2 U' R' U' R'

This is very similar to the 2nd scramble. You put one piece on top of the other one to insert both of them at the same time.
R U F U2 F R F2 R U'

x' R U' R'

This one is very simple. There's already 3 green pieces put together, so the last one can just be inserted with R U' R'.
R2 F2 U R U' F2 R' U2 R'

x y2 R U R'

This is a very interesting scramble. Solved pieces everywhere. This solution is the best because all the others would be taking pieces out of slots and putting them back in, which is very inefficient. Just a simple R U R' to put the last blue piece in.
F2 R2 F R' F R2 F2 U F'

x' R U2 R

This is very similar to scrambles 2 and 4. You're just halfway inserting a piece, putting another piece on top of it, then inserting both of them at the same time.
R' U2 R F2 R' F U' F2 R U

y' U R' U R'

This is a fun one. It's similar to 2, 4, and 7, but you're putting pieces together in a different way that's very quick and efficient. This is one of those cases that a beginner would have a hard time figuring out because it is pretty hard to see, but once you know it, it's a great case to get.
U R F R2 U' F' U2 F2 R2

z y2 R' U2 R

There's already 3 white pieces together, so you just take one of them out with an R', put the last one on top of it with a U2, then finish with an R.
F2 U' F' U F' R' U F2 R' U'

x R' U2 R

Exactly the same as #9.

I hope this helps! Make sure to ask if you have a case that you don't know, and would like an alg for. 2x2 is a very alg-heavy event, so even first face algs are very useful. I'd also be happy to do a few more scrambles like this, if you need it.
Click to expand...
Thanks for that! Even I learned a thing or two
 
rubik2005 said:
Thanks for that! Even I learned a thing or two
Click to expand...
No problem! Also, I just figured that I'd point out that I'm by no means a 2x2 expert. I actually only average around 4.4, but I've had a lot of experience with Ortega, since I'm too lazy to learn CLL lol. There's probably some inefficiencies in my solutions. Some of the 5 move layers can probably be solved in 3-4 moves, but I just haven't figured out those solutions (or algs, whatever you want to call them) yet.
 
BenChristman1 said:
Here's my suggestions for faces on 10 scrambles. They are all 2-gen (only 2 types of moves, in this case, R and U moves), so they're really easy to fingertrick. I'll also give a brief explanation on how the pieces are moving to give you a good idea of what's actually going on.

U' R2 U' R' F' U2 F2 R F2

x y R U2 R' U R

So, here I'm doing blue, because that's the best color on this scramble, in my opinion (just looking at the first face, not looking any further into the solve). I do an R to solve one piece, and then U2 R' U R to insert the last one. Another solution for this scramble would be x y2 F U' R U R', but I chose this one because it's the same number of moves and it's 2-gen.
F R U' R2 F R2 F' U' F

x' y2 U2 R U R

I chose to do orange here. This is a fun trick, because it's similar to inserting one 3x3 cross piece on top of another. You could do U2 R2 to solve the blue-white-orange piece, then do R' U R to insert the blue-yellow-orange piece, but the R2 and the R' cancel out to make the full face solution U2 R U R.
U' R' F' R U' F2 U R2 U2

z' R' U' R U R'

There's only 2 bars on this scramble, so I chose red. R' to insert the red-white-green piece, then U' R U R' to insert the red-yellow green piece. This also gives an OLL skip!
F' R2 U2 R' F' U' F2 U2 F2

x2 U' R' U' R'

This is very similar to the 2nd scramble. You put one piece on top of the other one to insert both of them at the same time.
R U F U2 F R F2 R U'

x' R U' R'

This one is very simple. There's already 3 green pieces put together, so the last one can just be inserted with R U' R'.
R2 F2 U R U' F2 R' U2 R'

x y2 R U R'

This is a very interesting scramble. Solved pieces everywhere. This solution is the best because all the others would be taking pieces out of slots and putting them back in, which is very inefficient. Just a simple R U R' to put the last blue piece in.
F2 R2 F R' F R2 F2 U F'

x' R U2 R

This is very similar to scrambles 2 and 4. You're just halfway inserting a piece, putting another piece on top of it, then inserting both of them at the same time.
R' U2 R F2 R' F U' F2 R U

y' U R' U R'

This is a fun one. It's similar to 2, 4, and 7, but you're putting pieces together in a different way that's very quick and efficient. This is one of those cases that a beginner would have a hard time figuring out because it is pretty hard to see, but once you know it, it's a great case to get.
U R F R2 U' F' U2 F2 R2

z y2 R' U2 R

There's already 3 white pieces together, so you just take one of them out with an R', put the last one on top of it with a U2, then finish with an R.
F2 U' F' U F' R' U F2 R' U'

x R' U2 R

Exactly the same as #9.

I hope this helps! Make sure to ask if you have a case that you don't know, and would like an alg for. 2x2 is a very alg-heavy event, so even first face algs are very useful. I'd also be happy to do a few more scrambles like this, if you need it.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much! This is the type of reply every request for help should get!
 
Sub1Hour said:
For diag bottom i just do the double diag alg to put it on top, only 3 moves and wastes less time then a z2 or x2. Diag top adj bottom I just use the square-1 alg with bar on left (R2 U' R2 U R2 U' R2 U R2)
Click to expand...
Naw, just do R F' R B2 R' F R' with the bottom bar in the front
Or R U' F U2 F' U R' with the bottom bar in the back
Also, I couldn't even find these algs anywhere online, smh
 
Hi, I got a new 2*2 a two days ago (yj MGC) and have since improved my average from low 8 to high 6, mainly by predicting OLL during inspection and learning some extra PBL algs. Does anyone have some tips on how I can further improve?
 
My 2x2 background:
  • 1 month of 2x2 speedcubing experience, right from when I started learning Ortega
  • Currently high 4.5 to low 4.6xx global (most recent ao50 4.58)
  • I only know the 12 basic algs (i.e. 7 oll + 5 pbl)
  • Can only predict oll 20% of the time
What I feel is my strong point: efficient faces and solid PBL recognition
What I feel is my weak point: TPS (i turn at like low 4 tps lol inclusive of very frequent lockups)
My cube: little magic 2x2

As you can see, I may not be qualified to write this since you have a bigger skill set and more knowledge than me, but at the same time, my global is lower than yours so it is up to you to decide whether you want my advice.

My assessment of you based on the info you have given is that you may have the following problems (i may be wrong):
1. Inefficient faces (i.e. you are still thinking in terms of the beginners method where you solve each corner in an individual manner)
2. Very HUGE pause to recognise PBL (this was the problem that I had, which made me stagnant at around 7 seconds like you. However, I quickly realised of this problem and took 2 days just working on pbl recognition, and on the 3rd day, my average dropped by 2 seconds after a few hours of pracitising - very reasonable improvement as I am very sure I pause for 1.5 seconds on average intially)

I will link a video below which I watched myself a couple of weeks ago before I dropped my times.


Additional tip from me (not included in the above video): I suggest you can improve on your first face. Do this first before even planning to memorise big 2x2 algorithm sets such as EG as you need to build a strong foundation for the first face. (Refer to * at the bottom of this post if you want to know I feel first face should be of your top priority) Here, you can either choose to go for algorithmic first face, or intuitive first face:
(Algorithmic first face)

Ortega First Face | CubeStuff

Optimal algorithms for the first face of Ortega method.
www.cubestuff.cf
(Intuitive First Face)

*So basically, when you are learning big algorithm sets, you will eventually need to one look solves, which means you need to predict the case you will get after doing the first face (a.k.a. eg case). This means that your first face movecount cant be too high since you need to trace through your first face solution. Ok, even if you have some amazing spatial awareness capabilities and can trace through a 15 mover first face, your final movecount for the entire solve will be too high that it is hard to rely on TPS to compensate for the increased movecount. As a side note, all of these are my own personal opinions, so feel very free to consider all options that you have.
 
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