Is learning extended cross worth it?

[That70sShowDude]

is extended cross used more than regular cross among the sub 15 solvers?

 

[byu]

I average 15 or 16, so I'm not sub-15, but I'll tell you that I use normal cross, and only do an extended cross if I see an easy one.

 

[Deleted member 2864]

It's a good idea to learn it, but I'm not dependent on it. If I see an easy one, I go ahead and solve it, but otherwise, it's probably a waste of moves because you have to pause and stuff when you can just insert it normally.

Wrong forum, too, but who am I to complain

 

[*LukeMayn*]

It's REALLY easy to learn and you can quite easily throw it in on some solves. Look at the first step of petrus, get some ideas from there, figure out the rest by yourself. Have you though of:
Keyhole, 1x2x2 cross block, making a pair while doing cross, 2x2x2 then finish cross.
There are tons of different ways waiting to be explored

 

[Faz]

Extended cross is only useful when it is approximately 10 moves or less, otherwise it takes longer than regular cross and F2L. They also are really hard to pre-inspect, as you have to plan out all of your moves.

When ever I do an X-cross, it is only when I get a cross that needs to be adjusted, with a corner in place, so an easy keyhole case is formed.

Or if its a really easy 2x2x2 block or if the cross is less than 3 moves.
I usually inpsect my first pair, or see it during the cross.

 

[brunson]

Learning anything new is worth it. You don't *have* to use it in a solve, but when it is little or no cost, knowing it allows you to take advantage of it, not knowing means you can't.

It's similar to my argument for being color neutral. Most of the time it doesn't provide a huge advantage, but every now and then it allows you to benefit from a crazy simple cross on a color most people don't solve cross on.

 

[Thieflordz5]

Learning anything new is worth it. You don't *have* to use it in a solve, but when it is little or no cost, knowing it allows you to take advantage of it, not knowing means you can't.

It's similar to my argument for being color neutral. Most of the time it doesn't provide a huge advantage, but every now and then it allows you to benefit from a crazy simple cross on a color most people don't solve cross on.

But of course, being color neutral can have it's downs, like slower overall recognition, but I'm strictly one-color, so I might be a little biased...

I've tried to learn extended, but I found I don't actually use it at all.

 

[Johannes91]

Extended cross is only useful when it is approximately 10 moves or less

It should always be.

But of course, being color neutral can have it's downs, like slower overall recognition

... which is debatable, but let's not do it here.

I've tried to learn extended, but I found I don't actually use it at all.

I'm quite sure you would be using it if you were good enough at it. That you don't use it now shouldn't be a reason to practise it.

 

[soccerking813]

Extended cross is only useful when it is approximately 10 moves or less

It should always be.

Which is also debatable.

 

[Johannes91]

Extended cross is only useful when it is approximately 10 moves or less

It should always be.

Which is also debatable.

Show me a scramble that doesn't have a clear sub-11 move solution to XCross.

 

[brunson]

Not being snide, but if we're going to debate: Define XCross.

Just make sure everyone's on the same page, I've read comments that implied simply completing cross and having a 3 move first edge/corner pair insertion could be considered XCross. I believe that XCross implies having the first F2L slot solved.

*Ding* *ding* let the round begin.

I've got ten bucks on J91 and I am willing to give odds. ;-)

 

[JLarsen]

Yeah if anyone actually was good at making 2x2x2 blocks they'd see X cross should very easily always be under 10 moves. 2x2x2 should be like 6 max.

 

[cmhardw]

Not being snide, but if we're going to debate: Define XCross.

I define Xcross like this:

I consider Xcross to be either:
1) seeing the direct solve to the Xcross during inspection
2) seeing the solve for the 2x2x2 and one other cross edge during inspection, with intention to locate and place the 4th cross edge during the solving phase.
3) seeing the solve for the 2x2x2 during inspection while making sure that the solution for the 2x2x2 puts the other 2 cross edges in a "good" position. A good position means easy to solve in relatively few moves.
4) Seeing the solve for the cross during inspection that either builds or preserves a c/e pair. For these solves you usually know how to place the pair during inspection as well.
5) Seeing the solve for the cross and one corner during inspection, with intention to locate and place the F2L edge during the solving phase using keyhole.
6) Seeing the solve for the cross and one F2L edge during inspection, with intention to locate and place the corresponding corner during the solving phase using keyhole.

I do Xcross probably 40%-50% of the time using dual solving or solving the easier of two opposite colors. I don't think it's viable in speedsolving to use Xcross on every solve, but I think when it comes up that it can speed up your solve most every time.

Chris