Ortega 2x2 Help

[TheNextFeliks]

I have been using Ortega for about 5 months and haven't able to get faster. I average about 9 or 10 seconds. How can I improve?

 

[JasonK]

Turn faster, recognise cases quicker, plan more in inspection.

 

[Hermanio]

As JasonK said before, those tips will get you faster. Being a beginner, case recognition was one of the reasons I was slow. Also use a good cube because that also makes a difference.

 

[Zarxrax]

Yes, as they said, if you want to get become faster, then you just need to be faster

I would suggest first of all make sure you are using OLL algorithms that are optimized for 2x2, rather than the same ones you use on 3x3. Also make sure you are using good PBL algs and you have good fingertricks so you can execute them fast. Also, make sure you completely understand how PBL works and you can come up with some shortcuts. Each layer is either solved or has an adjacent or opposite swap. 3 possibilities. Work out your bottom layer during inspection, then you only have to look at the top layer after you finish OLL.
Also for OLL, be sure to just turn the top layer in order to get the case set up rather than turning the whole cube.
And make sure you are doing your first face efficiently. Aim for 5-6 moves MAXIMUM.

 

[cubeone]

Besides what everyone else has already said, the only tip I can think of is to be color neutral, if you aren't already, since there are plenty of cases when you already have a bar or 3/4 of a side solved that are on a different color than what somebody usually solves from. It's extremely easy to be color neutral on 2x2, since you don't have to deal with the cross or f2l.

 

[sneaklyfox]

As has been said, plan out your first layer as you would the cross. Make sure you remember what case is on the bottom (solved, opposite, or adjacent) so you don't need to look again when you arrive at PBL. If it is adjacent, remember which side the bar is on.

 

[MarcelP]

As has been said, plan out your first layer as you would the cross. Make sure you remember what case is on the bottom (solved, opposite, or adjacent) so you don't need to look again when you arrive at PBL. If it is adjacent, remember which side the bar is on.

Do you know of any good Youtube video's on this for Ortega? I want to learn planning like doing a cross etc.

 

[TheNextFeliks]

Do you know of any good Youtube video's on this for Ortega? I want to learn planning like doing a cross etc.

I think theWestonian has a video on that.

 

[Zarxrax]

Its usually pretty easy to plan the bottom layer with a little bit of practice. I can't always plan a cross on 3x3, but planning the bottom layer on 2x2 isn't much problem, especially when you have 3 pieces already solved.

Also, at the pbl step again, you can always determine what kind of permutation you have by looking at just 2 sides.
Of course its trivial to see if a layer is solved. And if a bar happens to be on the side you are looking at, that's easy too.
What might need some practice is determining whether you have a diagonal swap, or if you have an adjacent swap with the bar on the back. Since looking at all 4 sides is slow, its much better to learn to do it without that.
But its really simple. When you look at 2 sides of a layer, you see 4 stickers on the sides. If all 4 stickers are different colors, its diagonal swap. If you see the same color facing you from the corners, then you have a bar on the back side of the cube.

Also, it doesnt matter which way a layer is turned before you do a pbl algorithm, UNLESS there is an adjacent swap on that layer. So whenever you get solved or diagonal on the bottom layer, you dont have to do a cube rotation.

 

[Xenon]

Could someone send me a link to the Ortega 2x2x2 guide please? I'm new to cubing and I'm still trying to work out how to solve this cube.

 

[Zarxrax]

Just check the wiki: http://www.speedsolving.com/wiki/index.php/Ortega
It has links to algorithms and tutorials.

 

[Xenon]

Just check the wiki: http://www.speedsolving.com/wiki/index.php/Ortega
It has links to algorithms and tutorials.

I don't understand anything on that page? I know how to solve the first layer. The first face and the opposite face ( e.g. white and yellow ) but I don't know how to rearrange the cubies that are left?

 

[Hermanio]

I don't understand anything on that page? I know how to solve the first layer. The first face and the opposite face ( e.g. white and yellow ) but I don't know how to rearrange the cubies that are left?

http://ianjones.org/2x2/
That's the algorithm page I use. Rearranging the cubies? I think you mean PLL, right? Just look at the algorithms and try them out, you'll get it eventually.

 

[Bruce6335]

2x2 ortega method speeding

Ive have been practicing the ortega method but even knowing most of it at the Pemutation of both layers I slow down cause I dont know what is comming next any tricks on how to lookahead or something I should learn how to know whats comming up? really quick it has improved my time a bit used to be 19-20 now is 10-15 secs

 

[ajayd]

when making the first face, remember where the bar is( or if there is no bar), so that in PBL, you'll know what the bottom looks like. Then find the bar(or not) on the top layer, and move both layers to the appropriate PBL case. Of course, I'm barely sub 8(7.99 avg 100), so taking my advice is up to you

 

[Bruce6335]

Thanks, I know how to do it the problem is finding that second one I already thought of looking at the bar on the first layer

 

[TheNextFeliks]

Wow since this I avg 6-7 seconds. I predict the bottom pll in inspection. I can't predict the oll though. Should I learn to do this or switch or what?

 

[emolover]

Don't switch despite what they say. If you are going to switch, try and hold this out until sub 4