[Help Thread] 3x3 Cross Help and Discussion

[Daniel Wu]

I can't do the cross blindfolded, like some people are suggesting, without really thinking about it during inspection. I average 1-2.5 seconds normally on cross. What I did was just sit down and come up with creative ways to make the cross and just practised a lot.

 

[frogmanson]

Cross help/practice?

Hey, I average around 12-14 but my crosses are usually 1.5-2.5 seconds, id like to get down to .5-1 second

i have REALLY bad crosses, most of them time its like 7-9 moves, any way to practice to get it around 5-7....

obviously practice is advised so please don't say something so redundant like "practice" or "look-ahead"

 

[LewisJ]

Make sure when you are putting in the first pieces, you're not setting others into bad spots. If you end up with 3 pieces done and the last sticker in FD when it should be in UF (or some other similar bad situation), you should've done the rest differently, as it will take 4 moves just for that one piece. Basically just keep the other pieces in mind when doing the first 1-3.

Also, if you always do the same color cross, consider learning to do it on the opposite color as well, sometimes it's a much better option. Optimal opposite colors cross is 7 moves or less about 99.99993% of the time. I do opposite colors and my average cross is probably 6-6.5 moves (with average optimal being 5.39)

 

[pjk]

Well if you're averaging 7-9 moves, obviously reducing your move count is where you can save time the easiest.

Try learning to find closer-to-optimal cross solutions. This may help.

 

[eastamazonantidote]

That is a pretty fast cross...You may want to work on other parts of your solve, though practicing Cross -> first F2L pair can help a lot. Also, start looking for X-Crosses and you'll find new ways to do your cross.

Though move count may seem like an issue, if you can plan it all out in inspection it doesn't make that much of a difference as you can still track any F2L pieces without checking your cross. BLD your cross and start giving yourself less inspection time. It really makes you find the pieces quickly and forces out all your creativity.

 

[cuberkid10]

Cross Help Needed!

My cross seriously sucks. I take 6-8 seconds! Although my average is sub-20, If my cross were to improve, it would be alot better. I solve on either white or yellow and have no intention on becoming color neutral. I solve with the color on top and do X2 when Im done to start F2L. Ive tried hard to fix that and solve it on the bottom. It doesnt work and I gave up on that idea. I dont see what I can do. The cross takes 9-10 moves that are fuyll of paUSES. The black and blue stickers are really close and I pause due to that and the speed at which Im going at. (And yes, I use a white cube)

Thanks!

~Cuberkid10

 

[nlCuber22]

You're sub 20 and your cross is 6-8?

o_O
Do cross BLD, and get down to where you can memorize the moves for your cross during inspection. Also, use more advanced tricks to help your cross become more efficient. I wholeheartedly recommend badmephisto's tutorials. With practice, a 1-2 cross will become easy.

 

[Tim Major]

I solve with the color on top and do X2 when Im done to start F2L. Ive tried hard to fix that and solve it on the bottom. It doesnt work and I gave up on that idea.

Cross on bottom will be slower at first, but it will improve. Go back to cross on bottom, and make sure your cross is under 8 moves every solve. Memorise the moves to make the cross, so then you can do it while looking ahead to f2l. Just practise scrambling, memorising quickly, doing cross on bottom, and do the first pair (not X-cross style). Then re-scramble.
This got me from 6ish cross, to 2.5ish cross, though my cross could be quicker, but I turn a bit slow to help lookahead.

 

[eastamazonantidote]

Don't worry about cross on the bottom. Many fast people sometimes do their cross on top. What you want to avoid is the x2. Instead, find a way to do a double layer turn to naturally bring the cross towards the bottom. Even x is much better than x2. For example, instead of doing R2 x2 to finish, perform it as Lw2. F2 x2 can become Bw2, etc.

Also, practice your cross BLD. I had a bad cross at one point and now I feel really bad about 6 second crosses (I average 20-21). What helped me the most was something I created for myself (well, 2 things).

1. Scramble. Give yourself 5 seconds to find the cross pieces. Then close your eyes and think of a solution. Limit this to 10 seconds (this is your 15 second inspection time!). Then go. Don't track the cross pieces and scout for F2L pieces instead. This way your cross gets faster (and you get more confident in it) and you don't have to change your focus from cross to F2L.

2. Scramble. Find 3 cross pieces and find a solution for them. Then find your last cross piece. Perform the solution for the other 3 cross pieces and try to fit the last piece in there somehow. Your cross will become more inventive (which in the end means faster) and your confidence will go up as you get solutions you never would have thought of trying to place all 4 pieces.

Also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY_FbpdNRCQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTydBg21aaw
Though it may not change your speed, it will get you thinking about your cross differently. Unless of course you've already seen these...

 

[JL58]

I think you got the message.

Cross on bottom. Do it BLD. Practice, practice practice.

I would had a few things that helped me:
- 8 moves or less are good. But 9 or 10 moves you can memorize is better.
- Work from a fixed reference: start with a stable color in front and stick to it. End with that color in front. Mine is red.
- In some cases I work by combining moves: turning one side will position the adjacent one in place. That's all about pairs.
- In other cases I place all (most of) pieces 1 move from being solved and then place them one by one.
- In many cases the pieces are placed on bottom relative to each others, but rotated all at one at the end. This requires to know the relative place of colors. (blue is left of red, which is left of green, etc.). Or Two are placed, rotation, two more are placed, rotation again. But I keep my red reference center in front.
- Take all the time it takes to find a solution you can memorize before starting it. Again and again. This WILL make you improve fast.

Bonus: when you insert the last cross piece, don't hesitate to include a U, U2 or U' to avoid inserting F2L pieces. If you are a white cross cuber, it's time to dig for yellow insertion. F2L pieces are better on top.

 

[a small kitten]

Everyone seems to be stressing cross down but it can also be done on the side (left if you are right handed). It's not as common but there are a couple of fast people who use that.

 

[Weston]

I think you got the message.

Cross on bottom. Do it BLD. Practice, practice practice.

(other stuff)

I do cross on top and I average 12.5 ish.

 

[jiggy]

The black and blue stickers are really close and I pause due to that and the speed at which Im going at. (And yes, I use a white cube)

I used to have a similar issue with blue and green. Let me tell you, my friend, it is all about the light blue cubesmith stickers/tiles. (I also go with florescent orange for maximum contrast with red, but that's just me.)

 

[amostay2004]

My suggestion is to post a few of your example cross solves and we'll help you find better ones, move count wise or finger trick wise.

 

[Toad]

Practice planning the whole cross in inspection, first two pieces until that's nearly instant, than the same with three then four... Should be under 10 moves nearly every time and it should just be rattling off pre-planned moves.

 

[janelle]

Everyone seems to be stressing cross down but it can also be done on the side (left if you are right handed). It's not as common but there are a couple of fast people who use that.

I do my cross on the left side too. I can get it done in usually 3-5 secs.
I think it's more about practice. I can't really do the cross bld most of the time, I just plan out a few move and wing at the rest xP It's not really the best way, but it works for me. I might consider focusing more on planning the cross later though.

 

[dada222]

Man, I feel your pain. Not that the BLD tip isn't good, but I have been able to do BLD cross for a month and still average 5ish on the cross. So I kind of think you shouldn't worry about speed and fit your inspection time within 15 seconds, just give yourself as much time as needed to figure out a good and efficient solution. Then gradually I guess you'll be able to do that in 15 secs or lower... I guess...

 

[riffz]

I find it very hard to believe that you would take that long to do the cross and yet you're still averaging 20. That is so weird...

 

[cuberkid10]

I find it very hard to believe that you would take that long to do the cross and yet you're still averaging 20. That is so weird...

Lol. Yea, And I use 2 look OLL and PLL.

I average a bit above 20, but close.

 

[Zarxrax]

Wtf, do you insert your f2l pairs in like 5 seconds??
If you improve your cross, and learn 1 look OLL and PLL, you will probably be sub-15.