Caleb Valenzuela's progression thread - Road to 3x3 world champion/NR holder // championship grind apparently is starting again

What should I learn next?

  • Total voters
    13
  • Poll closed .
Cubing Progress Plan (7/21/2025)
Here is what i will be learning/improving from easiest to hardest:
Finish all APB EO Algs (OH)
Improve 223 for APB and discover more efficient BR pair and LXS solutions (OH)
Get used to Sarah's intermediate and learn the best algs for TPS and fingertricks (sub-5 on skewb)
Have better lookahead for 4x4 Cross Edges (Sub-40 4x4)
One-look 2x2 consistently within the 15 inspection time (sub-2 2x2)
Learn atleast one set of ZBLL within my vacation (sub-7 3x3)
Improve lookahead to become nearly pauseless (sub-7 3x3)
 
Caleb Valenzuela said:
Cubing Progress Plan (7/21/2025)
Here is what i will be learning/improving from easiest to hardest:
Finish all APB EO Algs (OH)
Improve 223 for APB and discover more efficient BR pair and LXS solutions (OH)
Get used to Sarah's intermediate and learn the best algs for TPS and fingertricks (sub-5 on skewb)
Have better lookahead for 4x4 Cross Edges (Sub-40 4x4)
One-look 2x2 consistently within the 15 inspection time (sub-2 2x2)
Learn atleast one set of ZBLL within my vacation (sub-7 3x3)
Improve lookahead to become nearly pauseless (sub-7 3x3)
Click to expand...
The Game Plan
I hope someone knows
 
Caleb Valenzuela said:
Cubing Progress Plan (7/21/2025)
Here is what i will be learning/improving from easiest to hardest:
Finish all APB EO Algs (OH)
Improve 223 for APB and discover more efficient BR pair and LXS solutions (OH)
Get used to Sarah's intermediate and learn the best algs for TPS and fingertricks (sub-5 on skewb)
Have better lookahead for 4x4 Cross Edges (Sub-40 4x4)
One-look 2x2 consistently within the 15 inspection time (sub-2 2x2)
Learn atleast one set of ZBLL within my vacation (sub-7 3x3)
Improve lookahead to become nearly pauseless (sub-7 3x3)
Click to expand...
Also forgot to put the "puzzles i want" area
From top (most needed and wanted) to bottom (least needed and least wanted)
Aosu V7 Double Track (the MGC kinda sucks)
MGC Square-1 (new puzzle i wanna try and the NR is kinda slow)
Weilong V11 8-Magnet BONG Core (a promising 3x3 that might be my next main)
Aochuang V6 Single Track (a 5x5 just in case i actually get better at big cubes)
Diansheng FTO (idk might become a WCA event)
 
took long enough lol
Generated By csTimer on 2025-08-01
single: 34.49

Time List:
1. 34.49 B' D' F2 D2 L D2 F' D L F R2 F U2 F D2 L2 B D2 B2 R2 Fw2 L Rw2 B Fw2 U2 B2 R' Fw2 L F' U2 D' Uw B R' D' L' Fw L2 Rw D' F' Rw

Generated By csTimer on 2025-08-01
avg of 5: 39.70

Time List:
1. 36.57 D F' L2 D R B D R2 L' F2 U' L2 U' R2 L2 U L2 U' D' R2 F Rw2 U Uw2 R' Rw2 D' Rw2 F2 Rw2 U' Rw2 U' Fw R F2 U' D' Uw Fw L2 Fw L' B2 D' Uw2
2. 42.19 D2 B R D2 B2 U2 R F2 R' F2 B2 R2 F L D B U' F2 R D' Fw2 R U L Rw2 U B2 U' D Uw2 R Fw Rw2 U Uw2 B' L' Uw Fw Rw' B2 R' F' L2
3. (34.49) B' D' F2 D2 L D2 F' D L F R2 F U2 F D2 L2 B D2 B2 R2 Fw2 L Rw2 B Fw2 U2 B2 R' Fw2 L F' U2 D' Uw B R' D' L' Fw L2 Rw D' F' Rw
4. (42.24) D2 L U2 L' U2 B2 U2 L F2 D2 R B2 U R2 F U' R B2 D' F' Fw2 R' Uw2 L' Uw2 F U2 Uw2 Fw2 R' B D2 Uw B' R2 L' F' U Fw' D2 L Fw L2 Uw F2
5. 40.35 B' D B2 L' U' F R' B2 R2 B' U2 B U2 B2 D2 R2 B R2 F2 U' B2 Uw2 L U2 D2 Rw2 Uw2 R U R' U' R D' Fw' U' Fw' R' Fw L' Rw D' Fw' R2 Fw2 Rw2
 
lolll
Generated By csTimer on 2025-08-04
avg of 5: 6.21

Time List:
1. 5.32 R U R B' R' D R2 F R2 B2 D2 L2 F' U2 F' U2 R'
2. (7.49) F D' U2 R2 B U2 B2 D2 F L2 U2 B U2 L' U2 B2 L' B' D R2
3. 6.23 D' R L2 B U L' F' R D2 L2 F L2 F2 R2 U2 B L2 B U2 B2 R
4. 7.08 B2 U2 F R2 D2 L2 B' U2 F D2 F' R D L' R2 F' L B D' B
5. (5.01) F' D' L' D L' F2 B' D R D2 F2 U' L2 U' R2 D L2 U F2

Generated By csTimer on 2025-08-04
avg of 12: 6.59

Time List:
1. 6.32 U2 D2 B' U2 L' D2 R' B U L B2 L' F2 L' U2 R' B2 R2 U2 R'
2. (7.70) L D L2 U' D R2 U L' F' U L2 D2 B2 L2 B2 R2 D2 F2 U' R2
3. 6.66 B2 R2 U' R2 F2 R2 B2 U' B2 D F2 D2 L U L2 B' R2 U R B
4. 6.36 D2 B2 L2 U2 L2 D2 U R2 D L2 F2 R D R F' U' F' U2 B U2
5. 6.33 D F U B2 U' D' L' B2 U' R D2 R' U2 L2 F2 D2 B2 L F2 R'
6. 7.22 F' L D2 F R' B' R2 L' B U2 L2 B2 L2 D2 R2 U' R2 D' F2 D
7. 6.92 L2 B2 R D2 L2 F2 R U2 L2 B2 D2 B2 F R' U' F' L D' B D' U
8. 5.32 R U R B' R' D R2 F R2 B2 D2 L2 F' U2 F' U2 R'
9. 7.49 F D' U2 R2 B U2 B2 D2 F L2 U2 B U2 L' U2 B2 L' B' D R2
10. 6.23 D' R L2 B U L' F' R D2 L2 F L2 F2 R2 U2 B L2 B U2 B2 R
11. 7.08 B2 U2 F R2 D2 L2 B' U2 F D2 F' R D L' R2 F' L B D' B
12. (5.01) F' D' L' D L' F2 B' D R D2 F2 U' L2 U' R2 D L2 U F2
counting 5 is actually crazy yo
 
OMG WHAT SUB-6!!!!
Generated by CubeTime
best ao5: 5.996

Time List:
1. (5.241): F2 D2 L2 U2 B' D2 R2 D' R2 U B2 L' B F R F' R B'
2. 5.943: R2 U' F' U' B2 R2 U R D F2 B' U2 F U2 D2 F2 L' B2
3. 6.385: R2 L F2 B' L' D R2 B L' U2 L' F2 B2 D2 R2 B2 R2 F2 D' R'
4. 5.660: F U' B L2 B2 L' F U2 F' U' D F2 B2 R2 F2 B2 D' B2 D'
5. (7.675): U' B L2 R2 B' L2 F2 U2 F' U2 F U' B L F' U B' L D'

for reference i had a 6.10 PB average that i didn’t post (kept putting it off until now lol)
 
Caleb Valenzuela said:
OMG WHAT SUB-6!!!!
Generated by CubeTime
best ao5: 5.996

Time List:
1. (5.241): F2 D2 L2 U2 B' D2 R2 D' R2 U B2 L' B F R F' R B'
2. 5.943: R2 U' F' U' B2 R2 U R D F2 B' U2 F U2 D2 F2 L' B2
3. 6.385: R2 L F2 B' L' D R2 B L' U2 L' F2 B2 D2 R2 B2 R2 F2 D' R'
4. 5.660: F U' B L2 B2 L' F U2 F' U' D F2 B2 R2 F2 B2 D' B2 D'
5. (7.675): U' B L2 R2 B' L2 F2 U2 F' U2 F U' B L F' U B' L D'

for reference i had a 6.10 PB average that i didn’t post (kept putting it off until now lol)
Click to expand...
Nice! Was it on stackmat?
 
yay!
Generated By csTimer on 2025-08-12
avg of 5: 38.01

Time List:
1. 36.49 L F' D F' L U R D F' L D2 L2 D2 R2 F' L2 B' R2 U2 B' U2 Rw2 B' R' L Rw2 F Fw2 R B Rw2 B' L Uw' Fw2 L F2 Uw' L' Fw' Rw2 D' Fw2 Uw F D2
2. (43.82) L U2 L2 B2 L' B2 R' U2 D2 R' B2 R2 D R B L' F' L' U' D' B Uw2 R' U D2 Uw2 R Uw2 Fw2 D L2 U R2 L' F Fw L2 Uw' Rw2 Fw' U B Uw2 R
3. 39.02 F2 R2 F2 D2 R2 D' B2 U2 R2 F2 U R' F B D R2 F R2 L D' F' Fw2 U D2 Fw2 Uw2 R' U B2 Fw2 R2 Uw2 L' F2 Fw' L2 Uw2 F R' Rw' F L' U' Uw' Rw B2 Fw'
4. 38.52 R2 U2 B' U2 L2 F D2 R2 B' L2 F2 R' B2 D' R F2 R U R' B' Uw2 Rw2 D' Rw2 F2 Uw2 Fw2 U R' Fw2 R B2 Fw U' Rw2 Uw' F2 R2 Uw' Fw' Uw2 R2 U'
5. (35.30) B' D2 L2 D F2 L2 D R2 L2 U L2 U R' F' L B2 U D' F L Rw2 U' F Fw2 Uw2 B U2 D' F2 Uw2 B2 L2 B Rw U' B' Fw2 Rw2 F2 Rw Uw Fw Rw2 Uw2 F2 L2
 
i think i basically know how BH works in ZBLL now
here are my notes/understanding:
Step 1: recognize LL case (eg. U OLL or T OLL)
Step 2: recognize CP which pretty easy since it’s basically just recognizing a CLL case on 2x2
Step 3: recognize EP and relation between the UR edge, UFR corner, and UF edge using the following steps:
Recognize whether the relation between the UR edge and the right side of the UFR corner is C (correct), O (opposite), or A (adjacent). Repeat for the UF edge and front color of the UFR corner. Then after that do something called cross comparing (i think it’s called that) where you compare the UR edge and the front color of the UFR corner and do the same for the UF edge and right side color of the UFR corner.
Then i just need to come up with names for the different patterns so that my recall can be faster.

I’m gonna start learning ZBLL today using this alg sheet given to me by @AJT17 (thanks!)
docs.google.com

oo 2GLL

docs.google.com docs.google.com

though i am now a bit confused because i have always thought 2GLL was just ZBLL but easy but it’s apparently not??? Maybe i should just go straight to learning ZBLL
 
Caleb Valenzuela said:
i think i basically know how BH works in ZBLL now
here are my notes/understanding:
Step 1: recognize LL case (eg. U OLL or T OLL)
Step 2: recognize CP which pretty easy since it’s basically just recognizing a CLL case on 2x2
Step 3: recognize EP and relation between the UR edge, UFR corner, and UF edge using the following steps:
Recognize whether the relation between the UR edge and the right side of the UFR corner is C (correct), O (opposite), or A (adjacent). Repeat for the UF edge and front color of the UFR corner. Then after that do something called cross comparing (i think it’s called that) where you compare the UR edge and the front color of the UFR corner and do the same for the UF edge and right side color of the UFR corner.
Then i just need to come up with names for the different patterns so that my recall can be faster.

I’m gonna start learning ZBLL today using this alg sheet given to me by @AJT17 (thanks!)
docs.google.com

oo 2GLL

docs.google.com docs.google.com

though i am now a bit confused because i have always thought 2GLL was just ZBLL but easy but it’s apparently not??? Maybe i should just go straight to learning ZBLL
Click to expand...
learned 2 completely new U 2GLLs yesterday in the sheet in my last post. They were the second and third cases and i gave them recog names (quarter U perm and long and short block) and studied the AUF.

idk if it’s fine to name the patterns after PLLs. I’m gonna review them today then learn another 2 or maybe 3 cases.
 
yay (last solve was with ZBLL)
Generated By csTimer on 2025-08-14
avg of 5: 6.25

Time List:
1. 6.39 U' F R' L' U R' U' F R2 U2 D2 L' B2 U2 D2 L B2 D2 L'
2. 6.10 B L2 F R2 F2 L2 B' L2 U2 B L2 R2 U B' L' B D2 B2 U' F'
3. 6.25 R L2 B2 D F U2 B D2 R' U B2 U B2 U' L2 U2 R2 B2 U2 D'
4. (7.53) D F' R2 D' B' U' F L' D' L2 F R2 D2 B U2 F2 L2 D2 R2 F'
5. (5.47) F2 L D2 L' D2 F2 U2 F2 U2 L' B2 L' D' B' R2 B2 F' D' F R

MITCHMITCHMITCHMITCH
 
ayo???
Generated By csTimer on 2025-08-28
avg of 5: 6.18

Time List:
1. 6.27 L2 D R2 B2 F2 D2 U R2 B2 U' F2 R U B' D2 U2 F U R' D B
2. 5.66 F U2 F' D2 F D2 F' R2 F' D2 L2 F L' B R2 D2 U R' B D U2
3. (7.69) D F' U R' D2 F R L2 F2 B2 U' D2 B2 D2 B2 L2 D2 R F2
4. 6.61 D2 F L2 F L2 U2 R2 F2 U2 B2 R2 D' B' U B' F' D2 L U2 R B
5. (5.23) F' D2 B2 R2 U2 F2 L' U2 B2 L2 F2 R2 B' L R F U F' R2 F

counting five strikes again
 
imagine if I practiced one-looking for once (I think like 4 our of 5 solves were one-looked on this average if not all)
Generated By csTimer on 2025-09-19
avg of 5: 1.53

Time List:
1. (1.18) R F' U2 R' U2 R2 U' R' F2
2. (2.06) R' U' R U' F R2 F U' R
3. 1.24 R2 F R U R2 F' R2 U2 R'
4. 1.80 F2 U' F R' F2 R' U' F R2
5. 1.54 U F' U2 F U2 R2 U' R' F2

tied PB average lol
Generated By csTimer on 2025-09-19
avg of 12: 1.64

Time List:
1. (2.17) U R U' F2 R F R U2 R'
2. (1.18) R F' U2 R' U2 R2 U' R' F2
3. 2.06 R' U' R U' F R2 F U' R
4. 1.24 R2 F R U R2 F' R2 U2 R'
5. 1.80 F2 U' F R' F2 R' U' F R2
6. 1.54 U F' U2 F U2 R2 U' R' F2
7. 1.61 F' U' F U2 R' U' R U R2
8. 1.68 R U' F2 U' R U2 F R' U2
9. 1.62 R F' U F2 U' F R U R2
10. 1.85 U2 R U R' F R2 F' R' U'
11. 1.38 R2 U2 R F2 R' U F' U' R
12. 1.60 U' R2 F' R' F2 U2 R U F'
 
cubing update:
I took a short break from cubing and tried out some other stuff (origami, piano, soon guitar) so I haven’t been able to practice as much, but now I’m getting back into the game.

Caleb Valenzuela said:
Cubing Progress Plan (7/21/2025)
Here is what i will be learning/improving from easiest to hardest:
Finish all APB EO Algs (OH)
Improve 223 for APB and discover more efficient BR pair and LXS solutions (OH)
Get used to Sarah's intermediate and learn the best algs for TPS and fingertricks (sub-5 on skewb)
Have better lookahead for 4x4 Cross Edges (Sub-40 4x4)
One-look 2x2 consistently within the 15 inspection time (sub-2 2x2)
Learn atleast one set of ZBLL within my vacation (sub-7 3x3)
Improve lookahead to become nearly pauseless (sub-7 3x3)
Click to expand...
For an update on this, I completed:
Finish all APB EO Algs (OH)✅
Improve 223 for APB and discover more efficient BR pair and LXS solutions (OH)✅
Get used to Sarah's intermediate and learn the best algs for TPS and fingertricks (sub-5 on skewb) ✅ WCA Betting Challenge complete!
Have better lookahead for 4x4 Cross Edges (Sub-40 4x4) ❌ it’s still bad lol
One-look 2x2 consistently within the 15 inspection time (sub-2 2x2) ✅❌ I’m working on it
Learn atleast one set of ZBLL within my vacation (sub-7 3x3) ❌
Improve lookahead to become nearly pauseless (sub-7 3x3)❌
also I’ve been getting a lot of APB OH averages under my PR (16.60) which is quite satisfying. My 4x4 averages are ranging from 41-40 seconds, which is expected since I don’t practice 4x4 all that much. On 2x2 I think I can 1 look when it is a 4-5 move face/layer but it takes quite a while if the solution is complicated. My 3x3 averages are about 7.4 to 7.0 which is consistent but not sub-7. I’ll try to do an ao100 and record 5 solves to see what I’m lacking. Might get help from some forum members again if I struggle a lot. As for ZBLL I paused a bit and made this ZBLL BH recognition note/guide just in case I forget:
BH Pattern Names (UR-UFR-UF)

C = Correct. O = Opposite. A = Adjacent

From UR and right sticker of UFR corner to UF edge and front sticker of UFR corner. the “x” means cross compare.

C-C= PLL Skip

O-O= H Perm

A-A = Z Perm

A-A + OxO = Quarter E perm

O-C = Ub Perm

A-C = Ua Perm

C-O = U’ T perm

C-A = U’ Ub Perm (block on the right)

O-A = Quarter Ua (block in the back)

A-A + OxC = Quarter Ua (block on left)

A-O = Quarter Ub (block on left)

A-A + CxO = Quarter Ub (block in the back)

but I will probably make some tweak to make it less based on U perms lol. This doesn’t apply for the H and Pi cases though.
 
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