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I just got this in the German forum competition. Possibly the best (and luckiest) edge insertion ever! :D

Scramble: U L2 D B2 R' D' F2 B U F2 D L2 U' L2 B2 D' B2 R2 D'

2x2x2: F2 R' . U' D B' D B
2x2x3: F2 R' D R
Pseudo F2L-1: R L' F L F' R'
U-Perm: D B D' B' L' D L'

. = L2 U' D F2 U D'

Zusammen: F2 R' L2 U' D F2 B' D B F2 R' D R2 L' F L F' R' D B D' B' L' D L'

25 moves
 
1. U F2 L2 D F2 L2 U L2 D2 U' R' F D' U' R B2 U' L' F R2 U2

x2 F2 U F2 U' D L D2 // 2x2x2 [7]
F U2 L F2 L F L' F' y2 // 2x2x3 [8/15]
R U' R' U' R2 U2 R2 U F R2 F' // EOF2L [11/26]
y' r' U' R U L U' R' U F' // ZBLL [9/35]

2. D' L2 B2 D' L2 U R2 D2 L2 F2 R' B U F' L2 U' B2 U R' U2

y F2 R' F' R2 B L' // Rouxblock [6]
U D F U2 x2 // 2x2x3 [4/10]
y' R' F R F' R U2 R' U' R // EOF2L [9/19]
y R U2 R' U2 L' U R U' R' L // COLL [10/29]
U // EPLL [1/30]

Is there any way I could've made these better? They were both ridiculously lucky.
 
Saarland Open 2012 scramble: D2 L2 B R2 U2 F' L2 U2 B2 L2 F' D L2 B U L' U2 L' F' R'

Extremely good scramble. Quite many nice starts were found both on normal and inverse.
Actually Tim found 24 moves (18 moves to leave 3 corners) and Sébastien found
25 moves (17 moves to leave 4 corners). Congrats! Maybe their solutions will follow.

Unfortunately I couldn't find any good solution in time. Some of my attempts:
[1]
2x2x2 block: B D' F' R' and F2 makes c/e pair.

[2]
1st square: R D2 F
2nd square: B'

[3]
1st square: R' F'
2nd square: B'
c/e pair: U R U'
2x2x3 block: F D' F' L2

Then still there're many continuations. For example

Finish F2L: L' U' L U' F' U' F', or
Finish F2L: L' R U' L R' F' U F, or
Finish F2L: L' R U' L U' R' F' U F, or
Finish F2L: L' R U' L U B U B' R' and so on,

but I did not investigate so much after that in reality.

[4]
In most of my time I investigated this one.

Pre-scramble: R'

2x2x1 block: B2 U' B'
2x2x2 block: D'
2x2x3 block: F'

On inverse, I found F2L-1 + EO in two ways. So on normal,

Pre-scramble: L2 U B L2 B' U' R' or
Pre-scramble: L2 U F U2 F' U' R'

and the start B2 U' B' D' F' makes it. I searched continuation several times
after that, but I couldn't find any good finish in time.

The clock was ticking, and I decided to write down a safe solution as follows.

Pseudo 2x2x3 block: B2 U' B' D' F'
Pseudo F2L minus 1 slot: L' F U' F' U2 L (***)
All but 5 corners: R' U B' U B + U2

17 moves, but no time to search good insertions, so just did:

Insert at the beginning: L' F' L B2 L' F L B2
Insert at +: B L' B R2 B' L B R2 B2 (A-perm)

Solution: L' F' L B2 L' F L U' B' D' F' L' F U' F' U2 L R' U B' U B2 L' B R2 B' L B R2 B2 U2 (31 moves)

When I wrote down the solution almost no time was left...
According to Insertion Finder, the optimal insertions are:

B2 U' B' D' F' L' [@1] F U' F' U2 L R' U B' U B U2
Insert at @1: L' F2 L B L' F2 L B'
After the 1st insertion: B2 U' B' D' F' L2 F2 L B L' F2 L F [@2] B' U' F' U2 L R' U B' U B U2
Insert at @2: U' F' U B' U' F U B
Fewest moves: 25. 8 moves cancelled


After 1-hour, Arnaud showed interest in the start above,
and found some nice finish as follows:

Pre-scramble: U2 R'

Start: B2 U' B' D' [U2] F' (U2 inserted)
Finish F2L: L' U' L B' U B
All but 3 corners: U B L B' L' U' L
Correction: U2 R'

21 moves to leave 3 corners.
And another one he found:

Pre-scramble: L' R'

Start: B2 U' B' D' F'
F2L minus 1 slot: L' F U' F' U2 L2 (exactly the same as my start (***))
c/e pair + EO: U' L' U2 L
All but 3 corners: F U2 F' U'
Correction: L' R'

also 21 moves to leave 3 corners. Well done Arnaud!
(Both skeletons give 27-move solutions)

And I'm disappointed at my result again, I'm now getting into a slump both online and official...
 
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The scramble really was awesome. Adrian found a 15-moves F2L and I found an 18-moves F2L. We're both not really good at FMC though :P
Adrian's solution:
Scramble: D2 L2 B R2 U2 F' L2 U2 B2 L2 F' D L2 B U L' U2 L' F' R'
z' F' D2 F2 L'
U R U R2
L' U2 L2 U' L' U R
(he used edge control in his final solution anyway)
My solution:
R' B' U R D'
U' F' L U L
U F' U' F
U2 F U F'
(I also used different insertions in the end, anyway, just to show you how awesome this scramble was :D)
 
Here's my NAR 24 from Saarland:

Scramble: D2 L2 B R2 U2 F' L2 U2 B2 L2 F' D L2 B U L' U2 L' F' R'
Solution: D' F D F' R2 F R2 F' R2 B' D' B' U2 B D' B' U2 B' D F2 L2 F U' R (24)
Use the inverse scramble:
2x2x2: R' U F' L2 (4|4)
2x2x3: F2 D' B' * D2 B (5|9)
F2L-1: R2 F R2 F' R2 (5|14)
F2L and LL edges: F D' F' D (4|18)

Insert B' U2 B D B' U2 B D' (6) at * for 2 moves cancellation = 24.

I think we got WR podium: 24 + 25 + 29 (Jan Bentlage) = 78
 
My 25 move solution:

I'm especially happy about it, because it did something within this attempt I had never done before, not even at home. And apparently this helped a lot!

2x2x2 on Inverse: R' U F' L2
Switch and 4 corners: U F' U' F2 D' F2 D . F2 B' D2 B D F'

I wasn't satisfied with the amount of cancelling moves for the insertions I found in there and the Insertion Finder confirms me, that 28 moves is optimal for that skeleton. BUT:

I quickly saw that . = D' F2 D B' D' F2 D B, which cycles my not solved pieces but in a not helping way cancels A LOT of moves, indeed it cancels 8 moves and so I decided to insert this and get a slightly different skeleton:

4 corners: U F' U' F2 B' D' F2 . D F2 D2 B : D F' L2 F U' R

. = F2 R' B' R F2 R' B R
: = B' D F D' B D F' D'

Solution: U F' U' F2 B' D' R' B' R F2 R' B R D F2 D' F D' B D F2 L2 F U' R
 
I didn't find anthing great on that scramble, but I also did something I've never done before, that is a "corners first" solution where I don' actually solve the corners (and no, it's not the reason why I DNF'd :D)

More precisely, I did:
x" y' Dw L2 D L B2 (5): corners orientation and separation on red/orange
U' D': x (2) well, no, I finally prefer white/yellow
Dw2 L E' L' (5): 2 edges
U D2 L
[*] E' L2 E L (9) 2 more edges
B2 E B2 D' (5): middle layer

That makes 26 HTM to solve the cube up to 2 corners and 2 edges. Is there a good way to make such an insertion ? The best I can find is setuping it inti a T-perm at
[*] which gives a 35 HTM solution (and I didn't find it at the comp because of lack of time).
 
Many times I am left with a U-perm at the end FMC's. Is there a way to insert the U-perm into the solution earlier using only 8 moves?

These are generally not such good insertions, and many of the good FMCers never look for them. But there are a few people who really like them (those are usually the ones who want us to switch to counting slice-turn moves :)).

However, sometimes these can be awesome. Look for cases where you can use M' U2 M U2 and related commutators. Then you can sometimes get 6 moves! Even with a single move setup, these usually beat normal commutators, if they exist somewhere. The problem is that often they don't exist.
 
Weston-Super-Mare Open scramble:

B2 D F2 L2 B2 R2 U2 L U' F R' B2 L' B R F2 U' F2 D'

Podium was Robert Yau with 26, then Daniel Sheppard and Thom Barlow with 27.

Rob found a LL case he knew, Thom got F R U R' U' F' last layer (Same solution but with a different last F2L to Rob. Daniel did a "proper FMC" solution as he said (NISS + Insertions). They all used roughly the same block, you'll be able to find it reasonably fast. They will post their solutions when they get back.
 
Just tried the WR scramble...
Scramble: L' F2 R B2 D2 L' B2 U B2 L B' R' U B2 D' R U B'

Solution: B D' L' F2 B R' U' L U' L' U2 F R L' U2 R' L F U' F U F L' B' D2 B U2 B' D2 B U2 B L B' L = 35 moves

Explanation:
2x2x2: B D' L' F2 B R'
Leave 3 edges and 3 corners: U' L U' L' (*) U F U F L' (**) B L B' L

Insert at (*) U2 F R L' U2 R' L F U2
Insert at (**) B' D2 B U2 B' D2 B U2

I was pretty happy with the 19 move skeleton, but really really disappointed not to find any insertions with moves cancelling...can anyone find good insertions in this skeleton?
 
Just tried the WR scramble...
Scramble: L' F2 R B2 D2 L' B2 U B2 L B' R' U B2 D' R U B'

Solution: B D' L' F2 B R' U' L U' L' U2 F R L' U2 R' L F U' F U F L' B' D2 B U2 B' D2 B U2 B L B' L = 35 moves

Explanation:
2x2x2: B D' L' F2 B R'
Leave 3 edges and 3 corners: U' L U' L' (*) U F U F L' (**) B L B' L

Insert at (*) U2 F R L' U2 R' L F U2
Insert at (**) B' D2 B U2 B' D2 B U2

I was pretty happy with the 19 move skeleton, but really really disappointed not to find any insertions with moves cancelling...can anyone find good insertions in this skeleton?

Insertion finder found:
B D' L' F2 B R' U' L U' L' U F U F L' B L [@1] B' L
Insert at @1: L B' U D' R B' R' U' D B
After the 1st insertion: B D' L' F2 B R' U' L U' L' U F U F L' B L2 B' [@2] U D' R B' R' U' D L
Insert at @2: L2 U R U' L2 U R' U'
Fewest moves: 32. 5 moves cancelled
The final solution: B D' L' F2 B R' U' L U' L' U F U F L' B L2 B' L2 U R U' L2 U R' D' R B' R' U' D L
 
Weston-Super-Mare Open scramble:

B2 D F2 L2 B2 R2 U2 L U' F R' B2 L' B R F2 U' F2 D'

Podium was Robert Yau with 26, then Daniel Sheppard and Thom Barlow with 27.

Rob found a LL case he knew, Thom got F R U R' U' F' last layer (Same solution but with a different last F2L to Rob. Daniel did a "proper FMC" solution as he said (NISS + Insertions). They all used roughly the same block, you'll be able to find it reasonably fast. They will post their solutions when they get back.

could it be:
D R U' R2 // roux 4
B' F' L' B2 // 2x2x3 8
R2 U' R2 U // premove R makes F2L-1 in 12+1 moves
from there many options

edit:
much better to swith after the 2x2x3 block because 4 moves for F2L-one edge + EO:
Inverse with premoves B2 L F B R2 U R' D'
R' D' F2 D // F2L-1 with EO 12
R2 F' R F R2 // leaves 5 corners 17
IF said 27 HTM

or do sune to solve corners of the F2L-edge :)

rediculous:
// premoves B2 L F B R2 U R' D'
R' D' F2 D // F2L-1 12 = F2L- edge
D R2 D' R' D R' D' R // 4E in 19 moves

IF said 25 HTM with crazy insertions…
R' D' F2 D2 R2 [@1] D' R' D R' D' R B2 L F B R2 U R' D'
Insert at @1: B U F R' F' U' B' D' R D
After the 1st insertion: R' D' F2 D2 R2 B U [@2] F R' F' U' B' R' D' R B2 L F B R2 U R' D'
Insert at @2: U D' L F' L' U' D F R F'
Fewest moves: 25. 14 moves cancelled
The final solution: R' D' F2 D2 R2 B U2 D' L F' L' U2 D B' R' D' R B2 L F B R2 U R' D'
 
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Weston-Super-Mare Open scramble: B2 D F2 L2 B2 R2 U2 L U' F R' B2 L' B R F2 U' F2 D'
Robert Yau: 26 moves =NR
2x2x3: D' R U' D2 R' F' B' L' B2 (9)
F2L: R2 U' R' U R D R2 D' (17)
OLLCP (EPLL skip): D R B R' B2 D' B R2 B R2 B' R' (26)

Thom Barlow: 27 moves
2x2x3: D' R U' D2 R' F' B' L' B2 (9)
F2L: R2 D U' R' U R D' R D R D' (20)
LL: U R F R' F' U' R (27)

Daniel Sheppard: 27 moves
2x2x3: D2 R U' D' R' B' F' L' B2 (9)
Switch to inverse with premoves B2 L F B R D U R' D2
F2L-1: R F' (11)
Switch back to normal with premoves F R'
F2L-1: D2 R U' D' R' *B' F' L' B2
F2L: F' R U' R' U (16)
Leave 3 corners: U' F2 U F U' F U (21)
Insert D F D' B' D F' D' B at * to cancel 2 moves. 21+8-2 = 27 moves

I did find that easy F2L using the very slightly different 2x2x3, but couldn't find a good ending with it unlike them
32, 29, 28, 26, 27 = 28 avg5 official :) At the rate I do FM attempts, I'll be done with a decent avg12 sometime during Autumn 2013 :/

I think this is the 3rd best podium (80 total) after Saarland (78) and Czech (79) from the last couple of weeks. Also the best 3rd place result :)
 
Weston-Super-Mare Open scramble:

B2 D F2 L2 B2 R2 U2 L U' F R' B2 L' B R F2 U' F2 D'

So my 2x2x3 + EO was 11 moves:

R U' F D' B F R' F L' U L

Found nothing afterwards spamming like 14 skeletons. Daniel linear solved at got like 30 or something at McDonalds afterwards but we never looked into it properly. Interesting to see if you guys find anything.
 
(premoves D2 B2) U B2 L2 U F2 U2 L2 B2 D' B2 D' B' D L D2 U' B2 R' B' L' D2

L' D L2 // 2x2x2 (3/3)
R2 D2 F' . D2 F2 D' // 2x2x3 (6/9)
F U R F2 R' U' F // F2L-1 (7/16)
R F' R2 F R2 // L3C (5/21)
D2 B2 // Fix (2/23)

Insert L' U2 L D' L' U2 L D at "." to cancel 1 move.

Final solution: L' D L2 R2 D2 F' L' U2 L D' L' U2 L D' F2 D' F U R F2 R' U' F R F' R2 F R2 D2 B2 (30 HTM)
 
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