Colors in competitions

[Davepencilguin]

I have difficulty distinguishing between red and orange, so I took off the red to have a black face.
Is it ok to use this cube in a competition?

Also, what about using my white cube?

 

[DanHarris]

Hi,

The WCA has set out a very comprehensive set of regulations. I suggest you check Article 3, but if you want to compete then it is very worthwhile reading the whole document.

Dan

 

[Mike Hughey]

I actually was standing at the scrambling table at the US Open when (if I remember correctly) Adam Zamora noticed someone had a cube exactly like this, with no stickers on one face to be black, and commented that that was technically an illegal cube. But they allowed it at the time, since the guy with the cube wasn't really a threat to win anything anyway. But he commented that next time, he really needed to have stickers on all sides of the cube.

 

[DanHarris]

I guess it must fall foul of Article 3, 3d) "Competitors must use any normal colour scheme for cube puzzles..." although I couldn't see what exactly constitues a "normal colour scheme" defined anywhere in the regulations.

 

[joey]

I think it is the miore the fact that he didn't have stickers, since it gives a different feel etc. You can use black stickers, just not use no stickers to make on side black.

 

[Johannes91]

In reality, the regulations don't matter. Nobody seems to follow them.

 

[h3ndrik]

as if a lack of white stickers on a white cube gives an advantage due to different feel. ridiculus.
*no offense intended*

 

[DanHarris]

In reality, the regulations don't matter. Nobody seems to follow them.

Of course the regulations "matter". But I take your point about them not being followed by some, I wouldn't be so dramatic as to state "nobody follows them".

An idea: All current and potential WCA delegates should have to take an exam to earn a diploma or something, to prove that they are fluent in the regulations. If a competition does not have an approved delegate with the diploma, then it is not an official competition.

 

[Pedro]

but would those exams be made over the internet? other way, how could I become a delegate to make competitions here in Brazil?

 

[Mike Hughey]

Yes, the problem with the cube at the US Open was the fact that it had a side with no stickers at all. Applicable rules:
3f) Cube puzzles must either have coloured stickers or coloured tiles.
3k) Puzzles must be clean and must not have any textures, markings, elevated pieces, damages, or other differences that distinguish one piece from a similar piece.

And yes, they are very lenient about the rules on cubes at the competitions, apparently. But honestly, with the attention they're trying to get for cubing, it's probably for the best that they're that way. They can start to tighten up the rules if cubing ever becomes more popular, but for now, there's no point in discouraging potential competitors over minor rules infractions.

I remember when I first entered the US Open, I was worried about these rules and afraid that since some of my stickers were a little damaged, I might be disqualified (because the stickers might "feel" different - could be perceived as an advantage for BLD, although anyone who's ever done BLD knows that's just silly). But I got there and found that they didn't even check the cubes at all.

I think the best solution for this if they need to start to get more strict is to provide stickers at the competition for anyone who needs them. And I know that at many of the competitions, they do just that.

 

[Pedro]

3k) Puzzles must be clean and must not have any textures, markings, elevated pieces, damages, or other differences that distinguish one piece from a similar piece.

My 5x5x5 has a center that sticks out a little bit...if you put it on the bottom, over a table, you can rotate the cube

so that means my cube wouldn't be allowed...say, for 5x5x5 bld...or no?

 

[Johannes91]

And yes, they are very lenient about the rules on cubes at the competitions, apparently. But honestly, with the attention they're trying to get for cubing, it's probably for the best that they're that way. They can start to tighten up the rules if cubing ever becomes more popular, but for now, there's no point in discouraging potential competitors over minor rules infractions.

I agree, but that's a problem with the regulations. They are so ridiculous that it's impossible to have a competition that follows them strictly. IMHO they should be considered rules and not just guide-lines, but at the moment it's impossible so WCA delegates and judges have to make decision on their own.

 

[DanHarris]

They are so ridiculous that it's impossible to have a competition that follows them strictly.

I disagree that they are ridiculous. I think they are just trying to cover every possible angle and situation that may come up in a competition with a procedure to follow, so there is less pressure on the main judge to make a decision when such a scenario might occur, and so that consistency is introduced when refereeing a competition.

 

[ExoCorsair]

I actually was standing at the scrambling table at the US Open when (if I remember correctly) Adam Zamora noticed someone had a cube exactly like this, with no stickers on one face to be black, and commented that that was technically an illegal cube. But they allowed it at the time, since the guy with the cube wasn't really a threat to win anything anyway. But he commented that next time, he really needed to have stickers on all sides of the cube.

I used a yellow cube for the B final there that had no yellow stickers. :rolleyes:

 

[Davepencilguin]

So colored cubes are allowed as long as they have stickers on all sides?

Perhaps and amendment to the regulations needs to be made.

 

[Jack]

Coloured cubes are allowed, but not transparent cubes, because it is possible to see the back stickers through the cube (although I doubt that it would be faster to do that than to just rotate the cube).

 

[Johannes91]

I think they are just trying to cover every possible angle and situation that may come up in a competition with a procedure to follow

That's an entirely different thing, I'm talking about them being too strict. There are many rules that are not needed, but just restrict things without a good reason. 3m) for example.