Hello from a self taught solver

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flegmatron

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Jan 23, 2014
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Hello, I have just joined and I am looking forward to meeting fellow enthusiasts. First of all, I am not very quick, I have just turned 50 years old and my brain and hands don't work together quite as fast as they used to. I have always had a 3x3 lying around, but just recently I decided to try out 4x4 and 7x7 cubes. I have developed my own method, which is nothing like the centres first then edge pairing that seems to be commonplace on YouTube. As I mentioned, my hands are slow, but I think my method is fairly efficient and would love to see what times are achievable by a real speed-cuber. The sequence I use to solve cubes is...

Centre squares for 1 face (for anything larger than 3x3)
Centre squares for opposite face
Complete 1 face
Solve remaining 4 corners
Solve 3 edges of OPPOSITE face (move one full edge to bottom face and ensure that edges are only lost from the missing 2 edges)
Return full edge to completed first face
Align and insert final edge on opposite face
Manipulate the bands between the 2 solved faces to complete all edges (I have a reasonably good method to do this)
Finish off the centres - this is a bit repetitive on larger cubes

To give an idea of times, my 3x3 average is around 45 seconds, 4x4 is 3 minutes, and 7x7 is 25 minutes. I am happy to learn other methods, I can do edge pairing on 4x4, but I am so slow this way - it takes me at least 4 minutes this way.
If anybody is interested, I may document my method in enough detail to allow others to follow it.
 
A video is a good idea. Not sure when I will find the time to make one, but I will certainly consider it.
 
Thank you. I am still finding new tricks. It's strange, I seem to get more ideas in the shower than when I actually have a cube in front of me!
 
Welcome to the forums! Innovating your own solving methods can be quite fun! There are a lot of people here on the forums who are very interested in method development. Read some of Kirjava's posts to learn more about method theory, he has a number of good threads and posts on this topic.

I like coming up with solutions to new puzzles, though I don't really call myself a method developer just a puzzler. You will really want to learn what commutators are if you like method development, but I suspect that you are already using them after reading the description of your big cubes approach. :)

Also, I have had a number of cubing insights just before falling asleep. Those moments can be quite exciting! I can definitely understand the eureka moments you get while in the shower!

Happy cubing!
 
Had to look up what commutators are, but you are right, a lot of my moves are based on small reversible sequences. For instance fixing all the centres when all the edges are solved
 
cmhardw said:
Also, I have had a number of cubing insights just before falling asleep. Those moments can be quite exciting! I can definitely understand the eureka moments you get while in the shower!
Click to expand...

I just hope you don't run down the street naked afterwards.

Anyway, welcome flegmatron! If you still use the beginner's method for the last layer, you may want to check out my 4LLL guide here:
http://thomasje.webs.com/4lll-tutorial-2
Good luck!
 
flegmatron said:
Complete 1 face
Solve remaining 4 corners
Solve 3 edges of OPPOSITE face (move one full edge to bottom face and ensure that edges are only lost from the missing 2 edges)
Return full edge to completed first face
Click to expand...

You may prefer to do this instead;

Face minus a full edge
Corners
3 opposite edges
Complete face

This gives more freedom during the creation of the three opposite edges and solving the last edge of the first layer is made easier as there are less places for the pieces to be, leading to more efficient solutions.
 
Hello Thomas,

I don't have a last layer with my method. On a 3x3 I do the top layer, then the bottom layer then the middle band. I like solving using my own methods but I am gradually learning the methods that other people do. I will have a look at yours. I recently searched YouTube and can now do edge pairing on the 4x4 (I think it's called a 6 pair method). I find it slower than my own method, mainly because locating and bringing in the next edge is not automatic to me. I have had a look at F2L but I am struggling to memorise the combinations.

I must admit, I prefer intuitive solving to learning algorithms. I struggle to memorise things, but I consider myself to be very logical. I enjoy cubes as logic puzzles rather than having a strict sequence for every situation.

I guess I will never break any records. I just did my 7x7 in a new personal best of 18 minutes 24 seconds. I am slowly working out new tactics for finishing with the centres and that has greatly improved my time.
 
flegmatron said:
I don't have a last layer with my method.
Click to expand...
y knew this? Was just suggesting a small possible improvement.

If you don't like memorising algorithms, you should learn about commutators and conjugates.
I'm confused. I already knew this? Was just suggesting a small possible improvement.

If you don't like memorising algorithms, you should learn about commutators and conjugates.

Or not, seems you're quite happy just doing your own thing anyway - and that's cool :)
 
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