Is this a method?

[Columnar]

Ages ago, I watched the original world championship on TV and was thinking how can anybody solve the whole cube in 19 seconds? I figured there must be a completely different method to it. Now I know it was Fridrich, but at the time I imagined it was something like this:

Take a solved cube and make five random twists. To solve that cube, you recognize the patterns inherent in that cube, and make 5 twists. Solved.

The imaginary method is to take a fully scrambled cube, and build up blocks, groups etc such that when you have enough stuff aligned you can make 5 or 6 twists (maybe insert an algorithm in the middle) and you're done.

In other words, you make 40 or so turns to condition the cube nicely, without completely solving any layers or faces or piece types. Then you make a few moves that solves everything at once.

Does this exist? Is it practical?

 

[4Chan]

Lmao, impractical.

 

[trying-to-speedcube...]

Does this exist?
Now it does.

Is it practical?
Probably not.

 

[Kirjava]

I've been doing this in speedsolves for years. It's used in FMC sometimes.

 

[qqwref]

Not really doable in the sense you're thinking of, since there are plenty of blocky positions that look like they ought to have a short solution but don't. You can do this with a lot of planning if you want, though, and fewest moves solutions often look like this because of various tricks such as insertions (solving up to one or two 3-cycles, then doing those cycles in the middle of the solve instead of the end in order to cancel moves).

 

[kinch2002]

I know people have already mentioned this but yes it does sound a lot like premoves in FMC. It's not really a possible linear speedsolving method

 

[Kirjava]

It's not really a possible linear speedsolving method

Beg to differ.

 

[Stefan]

Ages ago, I watched the original world championship on TV and was thinking how can anybody solve the whole cube in 19 seconds?

The best time there was 22.95 seconds.

I figured there must be a completely different method to it. Now I know it was Fridrich

No, it was a corners-first method.

 

[miniGOINGS]

Why not Human Thistlethewaite.

 

[Columnar]

Ages ago, I watched the original world championship on TV and was thinking how can anybody solve the whole cube in 19 seconds?

The best time there was 22.95 seconds.

I figured there must be a completely different method to it. Now I know it was Fridrich

No, it was a corners-first method.

Bah, I've been reading Jessica's story and got confused. Thanks for the correction.