frogmanson
Regular
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2009
- Messages
- 172
Hey, everyone. I’m just here to share a little game you can play with another person using a 3x3x3 Rubik’s cube. Kind of similar to team solving, but not really; just wanted to add another activity two cubers can do with each other. Obviously there can be multiple variations to the game I’m about to propose, but here is the variant I’ve come up with. Also, I’m not sure if this has already been “invented” yet, but thought I would post anyway.
Also, this variant is written revolving a method that includes the cross as the first step, but again, variants can be developed open to deviation.
Objective: To force the other player to solve the first two layers of the cube. (See rule 7)
Rules:
1.) The players must pre-decide on the number of k possible turns on the cube that may be applied each turn, where k is a digit. Recommended value: k = up to 3 moves per turn by each player.
2.) In the case that a player applies more than one move per turn, then the opposing player cannot repeat the last turn that the first player has made. (e.g. If Player 1 applies R U R’, then Player 2 may not play a move from the <R> set for his/her first move.)
3.) The players must pre-decide before the game begins on a move set containing two members. Default <R, U>
4.) The game must be played with rotations and the pre-decided move set. Example: <x, y, z, R, U>
5.) The players must be playing towards a solved state. (Somewhat a loose rule, might not be necessary, since rule 1 and 3 might already prevent destruction of the current solve position of the cube.)
6.) A player may skip once every 2 pairs of turns, i.e. every 4 turns, a player may opt to skip a turn. (Might be unnecessary, but added this to combat any issues rule 2 and 5 might cause.)
7.) The first person to solve the F2L loses. (In my variant, the cross is already solved just to make the game easier and simpler, but a deviation from this rule can be made if preferred.)
(I should also note that talking is allowed but not entirely necessary throughout the solve.)
I think those are all the rules necessary. I’ll verify later, or if anyone who actually plays this game finds a mistake, feel free to post. Or if anyone sees potential improvement to the game with the removal or addition of a rule, feel free to post.
Example game:
Scramble: R2 U' L2 U B2 U B2 U2 B2 D2 L2 R' U R F R B L B D (scrambled with white on top, and will solve white cross in the example)
Pre-game step (solving the cross): [z2] R L F B2 D’
[Turns per turn: Up to 3 ]
[Move restrictions: <x, y, z, R, U>]
Player 1: U’ R’ (Strategy since Player 2 cannot play from the <U> set as his/her first turn)
Player 2: [y x z’] (Player 2 would have had to skip turn, but since rotations count as a move, Player 2 uses this rule to force Player 1 to waste some turns.)
Player 1: [z2 x’] U’
Player 2: R [y’] R
Player 1: U’ R2 (Player 1 tries to employ the same strategy as in the first turn)
Player 2: [y y’] U’ (This double rotation would have negated Player 1’s strategy if there had been a possible movecount 4 pre-agreed upon, but I added this in just to include this strategy]
Player 1: R U’ R
Player 2: U2 R’ U2
Player 1: R U’ R’
Player 2: [y’] R U2
Player 1: R’ U R
Player 2: U’
Player 1: R’
And Player 1 loses, probably could’ve done other stuff to avoid the loss, but just wanted the example to be finished. I think the idea was communicated properly. Not sure if there’ll be any interest in this, though. Nevertheless, enjoy!
Also, this variant is written revolving a method that includes the cross as the first step, but again, variants can be developed open to deviation.
Objective: To force the other player to solve the first two layers of the cube. (See rule 7)
Rules:
1.) The players must pre-decide on the number of k possible turns on the cube that may be applied each turn, where k is a digit. Recommended value: k = up to 3 moves per turn by each player.
2.) In the case that a player applies more than one move per turn, then the opposing player cannot repeat the last turn that the first player has made. (e.g. If Player 1 applies R U R’, then Player 2 may not play a move from the <R> set for his/her first move.)
3.) The players must pre-decide before the game begins on a move set containing two members. Default <R, U>
4.) The game must be played with rotations and the pre-decided move set. Example: <x, y, z, R, U>
5.) The players must be playing towards a solved state. (Somewhat a loose rule, might not be necessary, since rule 1 and 3 might already prevent destruction of the current solve position of the cube.)
6.) A player may skip once every 2 pairs of turns, i.e. every 4 turns, a player may opt to skip a turn. (Might be unnecessary, but added this to combat any issues rule 2 and 5 might cause.)
7.) The first person to solve the F2L loses. (In my variant, the cross is already solved just to make the game easier and simpler, but a deviation from this rule can be made if preferred.)
(I should also note that talking is allowed but not entirely necessary throughout the solve.)
I think those are all the rules necessary. I’ll verify later, or if anyone who actually plays this game finds a mistake, feel free to post. Or if anyone sees potential improvement to the game with the removal or addition of a rule, feel free to post.
Example game:
Scramble: R2 U' L2 U B2 U B2 U2 B2 D2 L2 R' U R F R B L B D (scrambled with white on top, and will solve white cross in the example)
Pre-game step (solving the cross): [z2] R L F B2 D’
[Turns per turn: Up to 3 ]
[Move restrictions: <x, y, z, R, U>]
Player 1: U’ R’ (Strategy since Player 2 cannot play from the <U> set as his/her first turn)
Player 2: [y x z’] (Player 2 would have had to skip turn, but since rotations count as a move, Player 2 uses this rule to force Player 1 to waste some turns.)
Player 1: [z2 x’] U’
Player 2: R [y’] R
Player 1: U’ R2 (Player 1 tries to employ the same strategy as in the first turn)
Player 2: [y y’] U’ (This double rotation would have negated Player 1’s strategy if there had been a possible movecount 4 pre-agreed upon, but I added this in just to include this strategy]
Player 1: R U’ R
Player 2: U2 R’ U2
Player 1: R U’ R’
Player 2: [y’] R U2
Player 1: R’ U R
Player 2: U’
Player 1: R’
And Player 1 loses, probably could’ve done other stuff to avoid the loss, but just wanted the example to be finished. I think the idea was communicated properly. Not sure if there’ll be any interest in this, though. Nevertheless, enjoy!
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