Blindsolving Discussion and Help

[Zane_C]

I could probably be a little more efficient, but that's okay and comes with experimentation, methinks.

Indeed. :tu

Sure, I'm familiar with commutators and whatnot, but it takes me a forever and a half to find the appropriate one for the job whilst blindfolded (not to mention mine seem to be inefficient and make me forget A' or B'). Does any one have any tips (other than the obvious practice) to get better at this?

Perhaps try easing into BH by only using commutators for obvious cases (such as 8-movers/pure comms). If you can't recognise the insertion/interchange straight away, just use OP. Also try incorporating 10 move orthogonal cases (1 move setup into a pure comm), they're simple and are very easy to recognise (see byu's BH tutorial). Once you're satisfied with pure and orthogonal commutators, focus on integrating more difficult cases, such as A9s (unless you're already fine with these), cyclic shifts, columns and per specials.

At the end of solves, take note of the cases you had trouble with, then you can refer to a list of commutators for assistance. As you do more and more solves you'll start to notice that you use OP less, and less, until OP is used on just a few cases (or none).

That's just a suggestion, it's how I approached BH (by the way, my transition from OP to BH was quite slow and gradual).

I know of this page but the amount algorithms (even if they are comms) is kind of disheartening. Is there perhaps a 3-cycle method that would help me transition into BH/freestyle, or is my only hope to study that page ("like it's boobs")?

Probably not study the page, but certainly use it as a reference for whenever you get stuck on a case (as previously mentioned).

 

[drewsopchak]

For Big cube centers, do most people use a floating buffer on the U layer, or shoot their buffer piece to an adjacent sticker to "break into a new cycle" while solving that piece.

 

[Ollie]

I use a floating buffer. If you want to keep using the same buffer you'll have to use a face-interchange commutator, which personally I find awkward and slower.

However, I'll break into a new cycle if there's a cycle with no U centers within it.

EDIT: Daniel Sheppard has a good tutorial vid for this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnoIqxv0518

 

[AbstractAlg]

I don't use floating buffer, but when all of my buffer-face centers and the buffer are solved then I switch buffer.
Face interchangeable pieces aren't hard, like corner comms where two stickers are on U, but I hate U face->U->D, it takes my like 45 seconds to figure it out how to solve.

 

[Cubenovice]

For Big cube centers, do most people use a floating buffer on the U layer, or shoot their buffer piece to an adjacent sticker to "break into a new cycle" while solving that piece.

I break into a new cycle by shooting the buffer piece to the next unsolved U sticker (clockwise )

I don't use floating buffer, but when all of my buffer-face centers and the buffer are solved then I switch buffer.
Face interchangeable pieces aren't hard, like corner comms where two stickers are on U, but I hate U face->U->D, it takes my like 45 seconds to figure it out how to solve.

You could "standardise" for each of the three U targets with Dfr as D-target:
So basically you learn three "algs" and use a D move as set up.
Not move optimal but takes out the thinking

for instance: Ubl-Urf-Drf (the one that I "standardised", Ubl as buffer, Urf as trickiest U-target)
r’ B' - r U2 r' d2 r U2 r' d2 - B r (cubenovice)
or
r' F' r' - D' l2 D r2 D' l2 D r’ F r (Cohen)
or
l2 U2 l2 - U r2 U' - l2 U r2 U l2 (Yau)

 

[drewsopchak]

I break into a new cycle by shooting the buffer piece to the next unsolved U sticker (clockwise )

This is what I do, but I don't use face-interchange. I just do a set up move to get the piece out of the U layer. Not that efficient but whatever.

 

[AbstractAlg]

Thanks, Cubenovice, that seams helpful, I will try it.

Question: what were times for your first 5bld try|success?

I wanna try it tomorrow, but cube that I have is v-cube and it's really hard to turn and I think it will destroy my solve, I'm not worried about the time but you know how bad cubes can ruin your day.

 

[Ollie]

...like corner comms where two stickers are on U...

Bloody love you! Didn't think about trying this for corner comms, thaaaanks!

 

[drewsopchak]

Bloody love you! Didn't think about trying this for corner comms, thaaaanks!

There are a number of U2 cases similar to this when you think about it.

 

[Ollie]

There are a number of U2 cases similar to this when you think about it.

Yeah, I've been experimenting with that today; variations to bring in other pieces from the D layer, and rotations to involve other U pieces. The mirror algs seem to bring up interesting cases too

 

[drewsopchak]

Yeah, I've been experimenting with that today; variations to bring in other pieces from the D layer, and rotations to involve other U pieces. The mirror algs seem to bring up interesting cases too

Yeah... good for avoiding nasty x/ double rotations.

 

[Michael Womack]

I want to BLD solve me Platypuss/eXtream cube but don't know where to start and not a big BLD solver never have really done a BLD solve except for magic but BLD magic solve is not that impressive everyone who can solve a magic could BLD one.
Also where can I find some good Blindfold that are funny like the one shown here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HdXIwKo-uk?

 

[drewsopchak]

I want to BLD solve me Platypuss/eXtream cube but don't know where to start and not a big BLD solver never have really done a BLD solve except for magic but BLD magic solve is not that impressive everyone who can solve a magic could BLD one.
Also where can I find some good Blindfold that are funny like the one shown here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HdXIwKo-uk?

I would just speed BLD it.

 

[Michael Womack]

I would just speed BLD it.

Thanks and what would I do for memorization?

 

[aronpm]

i solved my platypus blindfolded with commutators

 

[Michael Womack]

i solved my platypus blindfolded with commutators

Cool so how would that work?

 

[aronpm]

a b a' b'

 

[Michael Womack]

a b a' b'

What parts of the puzzle do I turn for a and b

 

[drewsopchak]

What parts of the puzzle do I turn

The tips and the faces.

 

[Michael Womack]

The tips and the faces.

Is a the face turns or b?