Do you need a special brain to build blocks?

[JeffreyCStevens]

So I've been trying my hand on Petrus and Roux but I came to the conclusion that I suck that building blocks. I can build blocks CFOP-style (making CE pairs) which is just a fake way of building blocks. :fp

I just can't see blocks on a scrambled cube, and really envy cubers who can look at a scrambled cube, make a couple of moves and come up with a 2x2x2 block. It's awesome.

Can anyone learn to build blocks or is is preserved for a specific kind of people?

 

[Jaycee]

In my opinion, only people who try can learn. In other words, anyone.

 

[MostEd]

Actually, look, blocks are in a way CE pairs, but you have more freedom in roux to do it, i for example make the DL edge and then finger trickly inser pairs, using a variety of M and r R moves

 

[Mike Hughey]

I think the best way to do this is to practice by first trying it and then comparing with ideal solutions. There are several tools out there like this, but here's a nice one from Johannes Laire:
http://laire.fi/jarcs/

Hit Scramble to get a scramble to try, then apply it to your cube. Then try to find a good 2x2x2 block. Once you think you've found the best you're going to find, then go to the Petrus S1 tab below and hit Solve, and see how you did. If you're like me, you'll find that it takes you 10 minutes or more at first to get a 2x2x2 as efficient as what it comes up with, but after some practice, you will get faster.

I admit I haven't practiced this as much as I should have, though, since I generally only use blockbuilding techniques for fewest moves, where I don't have to be as fast. But it would certainly help me on fewest moves if I would get faster, so I should really work on it more.

Note that tool I mention above also does Roux, as well as a bunch of other methods.

 

[jms_gears1]

So I've been trying my hand on Petrus and Roux but I came to the conclusion that I suck that building blocks. I can build blocks CFOP-style (making CE pairs) which is just a fake way of building blocks. :fp

I just can't see blocks on a scrambled cube, and really envy cubers who can look at a scrambled cube, make a couple of moves and come up with a 2x2x2 block. It's awesome.

Can anyone learn to build blocks or is is preserved for a specific kind of people?

lol, I remember when I was in your shoes. It is a really hard concept to master.

The biggest obstacle when trying to build blocks from CFOP type F2L is that you think that building blocks F2L style is wrong.
And then after that, its realizing that all block building is, is building pairs, without the restrictions of CFOP's F2L.

Heres an example:
R' U2 L' F' U2 L' U2 L2 B2 D2 U2 R' U D L F R' U2 B2 F' L' B' L U2 D2
(green in F and white on U)

Just fyi, I Roux.

The first thing I see, is that there is a red/blue edge attached to the red center. This is considered a pair.
Next I want to find the red/blue/white corner and the red/white edge and pair them up, then attach that pair to the edge-center pair.

z'x' RUR'UR' y

That makes a 1x2x2 block.
the z'x' RUR' just paired up the R/B/W corner with the R/W edge, the UR' matched the two pairs together.

now to finish the 1x2x3:

U' M' U'

All that is doing is creating a pair, a CFOP F2L pair no less, and inserting it. Altogether the First Block looks like:

z'x' R U R' U R' y U' M' U'

 

[JLarsen]

Yes. I have a special brain.

In all seriousness I agree with Jaycee. It just takes time and effort. You suck at blocks for the same reason you suck at anything else. You're new to it. It's probably safe to say you suck at throwing javelin, tight rope walking, parkour, and interpretive dance as well. (lol interpretive dance)

 

[tozies24]

You suck at blocks for the same reason you suck at anything else.

Lol.

I have some of the same problems as you do. I haven't put enough time into practicing block building but after a little practice, you are able to slowly get better. Also, you need to remember that you have a lot more freedom of turning. When I practiced roux for a week or two, I was still in the CFOP F2L mindset of needing to keep the "cross" edge in place. But there is no such thing in Roux, so you just have to remember that.

 

[5BLD]

No you dont need a special brain. You just need dedication and independence.
This is the basis of the way I teach people... I sit down with them and say "make this block. Notice how it's a block and not just a group if stickers". I find the non-cubers are better at it than people who know how to solve it already, in terms of variety of ways and efficiency... Although it took them longer to figure it out.

I once attempted to teach someone Petrus but he did stuff like inserting edges with that beginner 8 move alg rather than just, say, F, or D F D'...
It's important to use the concepts of moving stuff out of the way and restoring it, especially in Petrus. Don't just insert cross edges and an F2L pair. Build a square, and attach it to an inner square is a good example of an efficient way of building blocks. Adapt to the situation.

In Roux, it's important to, at first, use absolutely NO rotations. And in the second block don't break the first. This forces you to think differently.
If you see free pairs, use them to your advantage. And don't be afraid to do stuff like E moves. I do them in speedsolves.

If you need additional help feel free to email or PM me.

 

[Jaycee]

in the second block don't break the first.
...
do stuff like E moves. I do them in speedsolves.

A bit contradictory, don't you think? But I get the point.

@ OP : All it will take its lots and lots of practice. Trust me; I know. I sometimes use Roux when I get bored. While I won't ever switch to Roux as my main, I practice enough so that my blockbuilding is always improving.

 

[5BLD]

E in the first block. I use E in situations where Uw' would ruin a nice pair or something.
E in the second block is a no-no. And so is S in the second block.
But those moves are useful in the first block.

 

[Jaycee]

Oh, derp on my part.

 

[jms_gears1]

In Roux, it's important to, at first, use absolutely NO rotations.

I tend to disagree here.

While I fully understand you are faster than me, I think with the firstblock, rotations are great. Look at my solution, the 1x2x2 was completely <R,U> because of the initial rotation, and then the last pair was <M,U> because of the rotation after 1x2x2.

Think of the first block as a complete entity of and to itself. Only look at the pieces that the block consists of, and only worry about matching them up, Dont worry about matching say the DL edge with the correct D sticker, because at this point that doesnt matter.

Although, while this is mostly catering to roux style block building the same can be said about any block building method (to an extent)


EDIT: Look through this thread it helped me a decent amount.
First 2 Block solutions

 

[5BLD]

I fully understand what you say, but the only reason why I insist on not using rotations is to get people to get used to using stuff like wide turns.

Also I would've executed your solution like this:
y' D L D' L u' x U' M' U' x'

Which I find a little faster...