[Help Thread] Advice and Tips for Competitions

[hr.mohr]

Just relax and enjoy it. You will meet a lot of nice people and any result will get you motivated for the next time

 

[SixSidedCube]

I went to my first comp back in September, and I was nervous as anything. After talking to some of the guys before the comp, I settled down a lot, and I managed to do alright. It also helps to talk to some other competitors via Facebook/youtube/MSN/Skype etc, to get used to talking to them. It really helps a lot!

 

[Dene]

You will screw up all hope is already lost.

 

[TheMachanga]

Just stop memorizing PLL's 2 or 3 weeks before the comp.

 

[chris410]

Have fun...otherwise you will stress yourself out and blow most of your solves. You will not be the fastest person at the comp so why not have fun and perhaps learn a few things?

 

[cincyaviation]

Dont cram algs. You may forget them and completely embarass yourself. (Like this person)

Make sure your cubes are ready. (Lubed, tensioned, all caps glued in)Pretend you are just practicing at home.

Dont try any sort of move or alg you are not 100% sure on.

*Not center caps though.
BTW, what comp are you going to?

 

[ben1996123]

1. Ignore Dene
2. Practise but don't learn too many algs
3. Cube
4. Have fun
5. Cube some more

 

[danthecuber]

You will screw up all hope is already lost.

That's some helpful advice right there:fp:fp

 

[SixSidedCube]

You will screw up all hope is already lost.

Hahaha, Dene, you actually tormenting people don't you? So do I, but not that much! Hahahaha

 

[Andrew Ricci]

Improve your PB single with this scramble (completely legit from gqtimer):
D R' L2 D R' D R B U2 L' F' L D2 F2 R2 D2 R2 B F U F2 D' R U2 R'

Why? I wouldn't even count that, since someone else gave it to me and it is obviously beyond easy.

 

[~Phoenix Death~]

Be yourself
don't be a loser. Srsly
Sit down at a table to make friends. It's that easy.
Be confident.
It's not about racing. It's about community gathering. (I'm a fag...)
Smile.

 

[cincyaviation]

Improve your PB single with this scramble (completely legit from gqtimer):
D R' L2 D R' D R B U2 L' F' L D2 F2 R2 D2 R2 B F U F2 D' R U2 R'

That's some helpful advice right there:fp:fp

Stop double posting, and it really doesn't show how good you are if you get your PB single on a scramble someone else gave you because it was easy.

 

[cuberr]

I'm going to my first competition in a few months too, so I can't really give you much advice. But, I'm assuming you won't be the only person there who is at their first competition, so just look around and see if anyone else is alone or looks nervous and talk to them, it's probably their first time too. Good luck!

 

[Andreaillest]

Have fun and talk to someone. Results don't really matter. Just make some friends.

 

[Deleted member 11240]

Hi everybody,

I am entering my first competition in a few months. My Avg5/PB isn't very good (36.24 and 33.27 respectively), so I'm not expecting anything huge from myself. But do you guys have any tips/advice to prepare (like I am planning on learning full PLL by the competition in March) and/or not publicly shame myself with a 50+ second solve?

I am going to my first competition in March too. By the way, is the one in March you are referring to at MIT?

 

[danthecuber]

Stop double posting, and it really doesn't show how good you are if you get your PB single on a scramble someone else gave you because it was easy.

no one gave it to me, I said where I got it from, but I kind of regret posting that

Edit: deleted, happy? Can you delete your post that contained the scramble too (double post no longer exists)?

 

[hic2482w]

I am going to my first competition in March too. By the way, is the one in March you are referring to at MIT?

No its the Toronto Open, Winter 2011

You will screw up all hope is already lost.

Thanks!

 

[RaresB]

No its the Toronto Open, Winter 2011

Im going to that competition too and its also my first competition so i guess i'll meet u there. I wouldn't worry and just try and have fun

 

[TimMc]

You're going to be nervous during your first solve but try to relax and go slow.

Pay more attention looking at where the pieces are at each step. Execute an algorithm to move the pieces where you want them to go without paying much attention to the state of the cube while doing so.

Cross:
- Determine the moves required to optimally solve a cross during inspection (consider your finger tricks, the shortest path may not be the fastest if it feels awkward to execute);
- Execute the moves that you came up with;
- During the last one or two moves, try to track some corners and edges for F2L;

F2L:
- If you found a corner and edge to pair up just as you were finishing the cross then determine the moves required to pair/insert (this should be intuitive with lots of practice);
- Start executing the moves to pair/insert the first pair but pay attention to the state and try to find another corner and edge;
- Repeat this process until F2L is complete.

OLL:
- As you're about to finish the last F2L pair you should be able to see if the edges will be oriented in the last layer;
- Use whatever algorithms you're comfortable with for 2-look OLL (orient edges, then corners) etc;
- Execute each at a moderate pace and try to avoid hesitating by either slowing down a bit toward the end of each algorithm or by simply paying more attention toward the end.

etc...

You might want to spend some time trying to choose PLLs and OLLs that work for you. If you think a PLL suck then it probably does. Try shifting the algorithm onto other faces that are more comfortable for you to work with. I.e. I personally don't like performing B and D movements so I try to stick with the rest...

Blah. Discussions like this are all over the web.

If there are any local meetups ask a WR holder what they do.

Tim.

 

[Godmil]

TimMc, your suggestion would have been a whole lot quicker to type if you just said "solve the cube"