Example 1 (3-color cube)
1-4: yellow faces
5-7: blue faces
Optimal solution. Straightforward, I stopped searching after finding it. I didn't expect to see that the optimal solution would be 7 moves long considering the scramble was 7 moves long as well.
Example 2 (6-color cube)
1-7: same solution as for 3-color cube above
8-10: HTR finish
Missed optimal by 2 moves. Straightforward, I stopped searching after finding it.
From now on, I am giving myself an extra challenge: post only if I find a 6-color cube solution that is no longer than the scramble length + 2 moves. Scrambles will be taken from the default 2x2x2 scramble settings of qqtimer.net (as they have been taken from there so far). That is not an easy challenge considering those scrambles are often optimal. Of course I am not allowed to use an external source of algorithms (and I don´t know all Guimond cases by heart). Let´s see how far will I get.
Missed optimal by 2 moves. Now I understand better how computer optimal search works as I have been searching systematically in order to find that solution.
Example 2 (6-color cube)
1-5: blue/green faces
6-10: yellow/white faces
Missed optimal by 4 moves. Quick and easy solution to find. Most of my time took the verification of how much I missed the optimal solution . I am pretty sure I would have found a better solution if I didn´t submit the first solution (fulfilling my criteria) I found. Edit: yup, the 6-mover is easy to find.
Missed optimal by 3 moves. This was the first solution I checked. I first noticed 3/4 of a red/orange face is premade on right, then did a z rotation, then saw the red/orange faces can be done in 4 moves - which is good enough so I didn´t initially check whether blue/green faces can be done in just 3 moves. After finding the 6-color solution, the 3-color cube solution above was the first solution I checked.
My 3-color cube goal: finding an optimal solution.
My 6-color cube goal: finding a solution with at most scramble length + 2 moves.
Example 1 (3-color cube)
1-2: blue faces
3-7: red faces
Missed optimal by 1 move.
Example 2 (6-color cube)
1-7: same solution as for the 3-color cube above
8-10: HTR finish
Missed optimal by 2 moves. This time I started with solving the 3-color cube first, so I didn´t have to search for the 6-color cube solution at all. You can take advanatge of the blue/green layers being solved at the end on the 6-color cube by doing this 3-move swap earlier in a solve to save 1 move - see moves 2-4 in example 3.
My 3-color cube goal: finding an optimal solution.
My 6-color cube goal: finding a solution with at most scramble length + 2 moves.
Example 1 (3-color cube)
1-4: red faces
5: finish
Optimal solution.
Example 2 (6-color cube)
1-5: same solution as for the 3-color cube above
6-7: HTR finish
Optimal solution. Straightforward. I started with a 3-color cube solution, so I didn´t have to search for a 6-color cube solution at all. The presented solution is the second solution I found, first one was with the red faces being solved in 3 moves. Also, it is the second optimal 6-color cube solution in a row, nice (the first one was this one).
Missed optimal by 2 moves. Once again an easy scramble for the 3-color cube but a hard scramble for the 6-color cube (at least for me using the 3-color method).
Missed optimal by 2 moves. Straightforward solution for the 3-color cube, on 6-color cube I checked only the solution from 3-color cube and the presented one.
Missed optimal by 2 moves. Tough scramble for both the 3-color cube and 6-color cube in terms of my goals defined above and method used. I am happy with those found solutions.
Missed optimal by 2 moves. Another tough scramble for both the 3-color and 6-color cube in terms of my goals. On 6-color cube, it took a lot of searching as I started with blue/green faces, then yellow/white faces, but couldn´t find anything good.
