6x6x6 Speed Solving: How do I get to Sub-4?

[ChrisBird]

Hey Everyone,
I searched the forum, and found nothing on this subject (aside from a lot of 4x4 and 5x5 stuff) so I thought I should ask.

I am really out of practice on all the cubes, (2-7) and just got back into a very strict practicing schedule in hopes of improving my times by August 14th.

My main event is the 6x6, as it is one of the few puzzles I can do somewhat decent at, and I can now consistently solve sub-5.
So I was wondering, aside from lots of practice, what new algorithms I can learn, or any tips/tricks on how to lower my time. I am already improving my 3x3 solve, which should help, and I learned Lucas' awesome parity for 4x4 and 6x6.

Is there anything else I can do to get faster? I hope to be sub-4 within a month, and any help would be greatly appreciated.

~Chris

 

[Kian]

You mean you don't know the super-duper sub-4 6x6 secret?

 

[Faz]

Centers are all about turning fast. Edges are the same as 5x5, don't stop and look ahead. Then blitz the 3x3 stage.

 

[ChrisBird]

For centers, aside from 1x4 blocks, is there any method to solve them faster?

Like on 5x5 there is 1x3s and the 2x1-2x2-2x3-3x3 method (not sure of the name)

 

[AvGalen]

New algs for a 6x6x6? Nope, not needed.

For sub-4 I needed to do about 1:50 (centers) + 0:25 (inner edges) + 1:00 (outer edges) + 0:45 (3x3x3 + parities)

You need lots of practice and a good cube. With a bad cube (pops) I have trouble staying under 5 minutes

for centers you can also use SPAVG (search)

 

[ChrisBird]

Although it probably does not make any difference, I should ask anyway.

When solving the first 8 pairs, should I have my working area be horizontal (u and d to pair up pieces) or Vertical (r and l)?

I currently go horizontal, but I find it hard to find pieces on the D later and end up doing much more cube rotations then I need.

Also, for flipping edge pairs to help pair them up, I used the simple R U R' U' F' U F, but I noticed Nakajima does it a different way. Where would I be able to find this faster algorithm?

Edit: I searched SPAVG, but it returned absolutely nothing. No thread in this entire forums uses that acronym O_o What else could I search in order to find it?

 

[Am1n-]

You mean you don't know the super-duper sub-4 6x6 secret?

+1
lol

mvg

 

[liljthedude]

Although it probably does not make any difference, I should ask anyway.

When solving the first 8 pairs, should I have my working area be horizontal (u and d to pair up pieces) or Vertical (r and l)?

I currently go horizontal, but I find it hard to find pieces on the D later and end up doing much more cube rotations then I need.

Also, for flipping edge pairs to help pair them up, I used the simple R U R' U' F' U F, but I noticed Nakajima does it a different way. Where would I be able to find this faster algorithm?

Edit: I searched SPAVG, but it returned absolutely nothing. No thread in this entire forums uses that acronym O_o What else could I search in order to find it?

Is this when centers are sliced? If not try R2 B U R'.

Start doing AVG method for edge pairs if you don't already.

 

[Dene]

What are your breakdowns? They might give us an indication as to what you should work on.

 

[AvGalen]

You can use whatever slice you prefer. I use E (horizontal) but I think M (vertical) is better.

R U R' U' F' U F can also be done as (R U' R') (F' U2 F) or as (RF') U (FR') or in many other ways

 

[ChrisBird]

What are your breakdowns? They might give us an indication as to what you should work on.

For my solve it's really simple:

Centers: ~2 Minutes
Edges: ~2 Minutes
3x3 Solve: ~45 Seconds (With both paritys)

 

[JLarsen]

New algs for a 6x6x6? Nope, not needed.

For sub-4 I needed to do about 1:50 (centers) + 0:25 (inner edges) + 1:00 (outer edges) + 0:45 (3x3x3 + parities)

You need lots of practice and a good cube. With a bad cube (pops) I have trouble staying under 5 minutes

for centers you can also use SPAVG (search)

I was wondering if anyone did that. I just do the inners of an edge group, and then I do the outers of the same group. Same for 7x7. I'll try your way since I'm pretty good at 5x5 edges =].

 

[4Chan]

I can sub 4 a 6x6, and have done so many times. Do you know the algs for last 2 edge pairings from bigcubes? I know a few, and have found they help a lot.

 

[Tortin]

Also, for flipping edge pairs to help pair them up, I used the simple R U R' U' F' U F, but I noticed Nakajima does it a different way. Where would I be able to find this faster algorithm?

He uses R U R' F R' F' R

 

[ChrisBird]

I can sub 4 a 6x6, and have done so many times. Do you know the algs for last 2 edge pairings from bigcubes? I know a few, and have found they help a lot.

Which algorithms are you referring to?

Also, for flipping edge pairs to help pair them up, I used the simple R U R' U' F' U F, but I noticed Nakajima does it a different way. Where would I be able to find this faster algorithm?

He uses R U R' F R' F' R

Oh wow, that's fast O_o

 

[Mike Hughey]

Also, for flipping edge pairs to help pair them up, I used the simple R U R' U' F' U F, but I noticed Nakajima does it a different way. Where would I be able to find this faster algorithm?

He uses R U R' F R' F' R

One thing I've always wondered - why do people do these 7-move algorithms for flipping edge pairs? Are they really that much faster than something like R F' U R' F? (Actually, I use M slice, so I go U F' L U' F.) I admit that it seems like these are a little awkward, but it seems like someone would be able to find a good way to fingertrick them. Is that just not possible? (I realize the answer is probably yes it's not possible, but it still bugs me.) 5 moves instead of 7 just seems like such a big win when it might happen a bunch of times during a solve.

I use this when I do Bigcubes pairing, because I'm too slow for fingertricks to help me much anyway - fewer moves means shorter times most of the time for me. So should I just give this whole silly behavior of mine up and go for the 7-mover instead, and practice the fingertricks?

 

[fanwuq]

Also, for flipping edge pairs to help pair them up, I used the simple R U R' U' F' U F, but I noticed Nakajima does it a different way. Where would I be able to find this faster algorithm?

He uses R U R' F R' F' R

One thing I've always wondered - why do people do these 7-move algorithms for flipping edge pairs? Are they really that much faster than something like R F' U R' F? (Actually, I use M slice, so I go U F' L U' F.) I admit that it seems like these are a little awkward, but it seems like someone would be able to find a good way to fingertrick them. Is that just not possible? (I realize the answer is probably yes it's not possible, but it still bugs me.) 5 moves instead of 7 just seems like such a big win when it might happen a bunch of times during a solve.

I use this when I do Bigcubes pairing, because I'm too slow for fingertricks to help me much anyway - fewer moves means shorter times most of the time for me. So should I just give this whole silly behavior of mine up and go for the 7-mover instead, and practice the fingertricks?

I agree with you. In fact, I was about to point that out. Also try y' UR'FU'R y (rotation before your alg.) That makes it more fingertrick friendly. I actually use U'R2UFRF' most of time out of habit.
Edit: y'R'UF'Rd' to save a rotation if you like multilayer turns.

 

[Mike Hughey]

Also try y' UR'FU'R y (rotation before your alg.) That makes it more fingertrick friendly.

Oh, that's nice - the best of both worlds. Fingertricks plus few moves. My favorite.

I'll have to work on that.

 

[Shamah02]

I can sub 4 a 6x6, and have done so many times. Do you know the algs for last 2 edge pairings from bigcubes? I know a few, and have found they help a lot.

Which algorithms are you referring to?

Also, for flipping edge pairs to help pair them up, I used the simple R U R' U' F' U F, but I noticed Nakajima does it a different way. Where would I be able to find this faster algorithm?

He uses R U R' F R' F' R

Oh wow, that's fast O_o

Cubes=Life is just talking about the last 2 edges algs off of bigcubes.com for the 5x5.

Yu Nakajima also has a video for every case on his CUTEXcuber channel on youtube. Just search "5x5x5 last 2 edge cutex" on youtube. There are 7 algs.

 

[ChrisBird]

Ohh okie, thanks.

I still can't find Arnaud's Center Idea. (SPAVG) Where would I find out about that? The search function returned nothing.