[Help Thread] Beginners Method Discussion thread

[Tortin]

I thought Emile's tutortial (it was the one that taught me how to solve a cube )explained it very well and in a very timely fashion (I have an extremely short attention span, and therefore am not willing to spend an hour watching a ten-part tutorial)

I also really liked Leyan Lo's beginner tutorial here. It's much more efficient than the one in Emile's video, and there are also very few algorithms to learn.

 

[badmephisto]

I thought Emile's tutortial (it was the one that taught me how to solve a cube )explained it very well and in a very timely fashion (I have an extremely short attention span, and therefore am not willing to spend an hour watching a ten-part tutorial)

I also really liked Leyan Lo's beginner tutorial here. It's much more efficient than the one in Emile's video, and there are also very few algorithms to learn.

Thanks for that PDF link! I LOVE the way he does Corner Orientation. Single algorithm, beauty.

I also like the idea that someone suggested, where the beginners method teaches the way that uses the LEAST number of algs, and then there is another video that shows how you can do some shortcuts and cut some time off.

 

[royzabeast]

I thought Emile's tutortial (it was the one that taught me how to solve a cube )explained it very well and in a very timely fashion (I have an extremely short attention span, and therefore am not willing to spend an hour watching a ten-part tutorial)

I also really liked Leyan Lo's beginner tutorial here. It's much more efficient than the one in Emile's video, and there are also very few algorithms to learn.

Thanks for that PDF link! I LOVE the way he does Corner Orientation. Single algorithm, beauty.

I also like the idea that someone suggested, where the beginners method teaches the way that uses the LEAST number of algs, and then there is another video that shows how you can do some shortcuts and cut some time off.

Don't you do something sort of like that? You have your original Beginners Method. Then you have the "How to Become a Speedsolver" which is full of shortcuts, along with your videos on the 2-Looks and F2L.

 

[Sa967St]

I also like the idea that someone suggested, where the beginners method teaches the way that uses the LEAST number of algs, and then there is another video that shows how you can do some shortcuts and cut some time off.

*coughFEWESTcough*

zomg I corrected badmephisto

 

[badmephisto]

Don't you do something sort of like that? You have your original Beginners Method. Then you have the "How to Become a Speedsolver" which is full of shortcuts, along with your videos on the 2-Looks and F2L.

Close.. but not really
How to become speedcuber is a big overview of speedcubing in general. So it includes stuff like links/lubrication/etc... it tries to be very general and allows for people coming from different beginners methods.

The video I'm thinking of would be specific to the method that I come up with eventually. And to shortcuts specific to it. Kind of a step even before plunging into the stuff described in How to become speedcuber. I don't know if ill actually do it, it was just a thought

incidentally I just finished a remake of How to become speeduber vid and im publishing it tonight... since the old one was garbage. I guess now that I don't really have things to make videos on anymore, I'm just doing remakes lol

@Sarah: i use "least number of..." all the time Is it actually wrong?

 

[teller]

For absolute beginners, I teach only the Sune, and save the Anti-sune for a later "short-cut." It's important that they be able to solve the thing before you heap on anything else--it motivates them to continue.

I made this diagram to help them Sune any corner case:

Likewise, I teach only one of the A-Perms and one of the U-Perms.

 

[Mr Cubism]

For absolute beginners, I teach only the Sune, and save the Anti-sune for a later "short-cut." It's important that they be able to solve the thing before you heap on anything else--it motivates them to continue.

Likewise, I teach only one of the A-Perms and one of the U-Perms.

I agree. As few algorihtms as possible would be the best for the one who is only interested to solve it.

 

[AvGalen]

teller: for a similar, but simpler way of doing corner OLL with only sune you should check out this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoC1u5kGUXs&feature=channel_page

I think the steps in my method are the best way to teach a beginner. It requires an extremely small amount of algs AND gives a natural growing path to 4 look last layer, and eventually OLL+PLL without having to relearn anything.

So basicallly, I would recommend to combine that method with all the best ideas you have gathered from your own and other tutorials. (and flawless english and lighting would be good)

I do explain notation in my tutorial, it even includes the alg for that step in notation. However I don't explain it in the usual "learn notation first, then this is the alg, good luck with it" way.

And the reason I over-explain things is because repetition is the best way to learn for a beginner. This might mean that an experienced cuber like you thinks it is over-explained, but beginners will pick remember it better that way. I agree that makes my tutorial quite long, certainly compared to a "1 sheet of A4 diagrams and algs" solution

Also, taking the cube apart seems like a necessity to me. It is the best way to explain the "sticker/cubies" difference and it makes it much easier to understand how every step works (since every step focusses on either edges or corners)

Summarized: My tutorial, done better and hopefully watched more

 

[teller]

teller: for a similar, but simpler way of doing corner OLL with only sune you should check out this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoC1u5kGUXs&feature=channel_page

That's a pretty simple rule...just put the sticker on the left, no "characters" to learn. I like it. Only downside is that sometimes you have an option of which sticker to put on the left, and it may cost you an extra Sune if you pick the wrong one. But for beginners, maybe this slight speed hit doesn't matter so much.

 

[badmephisto]

I ran a search for algorithms that are easy to remember but are not necessarily optimal. In particular I am very dissatisfied with the algorithms for 3 corner cycle and also inserting an edge. into the middle layer. Here are some that look pretty good:

inserting middle edge from UR to the FR slot:
#(R U R' U2) (R U R' U2) R U' R'
#(R U2 R' U) (R U2 R' U') (R U2 R' U)
#U (R2 U R' U' R2) U' (R2 U R' U' R2)

3 corner cycle that looks very easy to remember:
#B2 (R2 U' R2 D2 R2 U) (R2 U' R2 D2 R2 U) B2

perhaps it is better to use something similar in the beginners method tut because they are easier to remember? Are they? I think they are :s

 

[Sa967St]

Aren't those algs kind of long? IMO there was nothing wrong with the ones you used in your original beginner's tutorial.

 

[badmephisto]

Aren't those algs kind of long? IMO there was nothing wrong with the ones you used in your original beginner's tutorial.

OKAY okay.
fine

 

[Darshen]

I agree that those algorithms are a tad too long.
But I think you need to cater for a very young audience. This is because, well, if they can understand it is more likely that everyone will follow.
However, the real danger with this is that you may come across as condescending, which is a risk that could make people look for a different video.
*GASP* Maybe pogobat /faint

**/passout (manly)lol

 

[LNZ]

Check Ebay for Don Taylor's 1981 book "Matering (3x3x3) Rubik's Cube". I brought a copy of Ebay for about $7 (including S/H).

It lists 8 OLL/PLL algs for the top layer and 3 "twirling" algs to properly place the cubies into a solved state. And it has 2 good algs for solving the middle layer too.

 

[AvGalen]

I ran a search for algorithms that are easy to remember but are not necessarily optimal. In particular I am very dissatisfied with the algorithms for 3 corner cycle and also inserting an edge. into the middle layer. Here are some that look pretty good:

inserting middle edge from UR to the FR slot:
#(R U R' U2) (R U R' U2) R U' R'
#(R U2 R' U) (R U2 R' U') (R U2 R' U)
#U (R2 U R' U' R2) U' (R2 U R' U' R2)

3 corner cycle that looks very easy to remember:
#B2 (R2 U' R2 D2 R2 U) (R2 U' R2 D2 R2 U) B2

perhaps it is better to use something similar in the beginners method tut because they are easier to remember? Are they? I think they are :s

Middle layer edges:
Pretty alg1: (R U R' U') (F' U' F U)
Pretty alg2: (F' U' F U) (R U R' U')
(the unneeded U's at the end are there for easier memo. Half of it is sexy move and basically these algs are AB and BA)
Easiest alg1: RURUR U'R'U'R'U'
Easiest alg2: R'U'R'U'R' URURU
(the unneeded U's at the end are there for easier memo again. Basically these algs are "alternate RU, clockwise 5 times, counterclockwise 5 times"

For a really easy corner 3-cycle you could explain the "1 corner at a time technique": (R' D2 R) (R' D2 R) (R' D2 R) (R' D2 R)
where (R' D2 R) takes out the RUF corner and stores it on the bottom, then the turn positions the place where the "stored-on-bottom" corner should go on RUF

 

[arud45]

I learned from Thrawst's tutorial, which I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned at all.

 

[Sa967St]

Easiest alg1: RURUR U'R'U'R'U'
Easiest alg2: R'U'R'U'R' URURU
(the unneeded U's at the end are there for easier memo again. Basically these algs are "alternate RU, clockwise 5 times, counterclockwise 5 times"

Those are the ones he used in his tutorial. See? There's nothing wrong with some of the ones he used

I like U2 RURU R'U'R'U'R' and U2 R'U'R'U' RURUR

 

[badmephisto]

For a really easy corner 3-cycle you could explain the "1 corner at a time technique": (R' D2 R) (R' D2 R) (R' D2 R) (R' D2 R)
where (R' D2 R) takes out the RUF corner and stores it on the bottom, then the turn positions the place where the "stored-on-bottom" corner should go on RUF

That's a good suggestion Av, and I considered it for a while. The neat thing is that if you explain it for the corners, you get the edges for free because its the same thing, but instead with M D2 M'. The one part I always don't know how to explain well is what to do in that method when you run into the case where diagonals need to be swapped (like N perm). You basically need to do a random 3cycle first... Also this way is not too fast, and the idea is not clearly just a subset of the Fridrich method

I think here is the final version:
1. cross, intuitive, but also maybe hint at the idea of putting the edges around the yellow center first
2. corners R U R', F' U F, RU2R' to fix white facing up
3. edges: the alternating RU's alg
4. EO, F(RUR'U')F', and f(RUR'U')f'
5. CO, if 1 corner good put it bottom left, if not, put yellow sticker on bottom left facing left, and do SUNES until complete.
6. CP, the corner 3cycle. (is there a good version without a cube rotation?)
7. EP, the F2... alg's are very nice because the CW and CCW alg looks exactly the same, except for the U/U'. And they are decent fast. I was also thinking of teaching RU'RURURU' R'U'R2. Its pretty easy to remember, and its much faster, and it would mirror step6, because the idea would be the exact same: i.e. repeat until done, as opposed to actually choosing a direction to cycle in, and doing the F2 alg? I don't know still undecided here really...

I'll definitely put together an HTML page that mirrors the method first. That will take some time :s and then the video... so much work!! And I'm leaving for almost a month to Europe in a week :s

 

[Sa967St]

5. CO, if 1 corner good put it bottom left, if not, put yellow sticker on bottom left facing left, and do SUNES until complete.

have you considered something like this?
http://shellie.nfshost.com/cube/index.php (Step 5.)

 

[RampageCuber]

6. CP, the corner 3cycle. (is there a good version without a cube rotation?)

Having them use B2 (rather than x) might be easier...


CW:R' F R' B2 R F' R' B2 R2
CCW: R2 B2 R F R' B2 R F' R