[Help Thread] 3x3 Cross Help and Discussion

[Kenneth]

I know it is all intuitive,but suppose there is a case where two cross edges on two opp. faces and they are flipped,so it will take some effort in doing that intuitively,so better use an alg for cases like that

If you like all cases, then look at this:

The first edge may be sitting in 12 positions and have 2 orientations, that gives 24
The second edge may be sitting in 11 positions (all but where the first is) and have 2 orientations, that gives 22
The third edge may be sitting in 10 positions and have 2 orientations, that gives 20
The last edge may be sitting in 9 positions and have 2 orientations, that gives 18

Now we multiply : 24*22*20*18 = 190,080 cases

Like to learn all those?



Yes, it is possible to reduce that a good bit because of duplicate cases but you get the point...

 

[Rune]

Hmmm. True, I guess.
Okay, set this up.
Let's say your finished cross pieces are on DR and DB.
Your flipped pieces are on UF and UR
I would do R' F R. This brings down the UR and flips the UF at the same time. Then you can finish the cross.
Try to play around and find some useful shortcuts for yourself.
Again, I reccomend to view badmephisto's tutorial, very helpful.

Maybe I don´t understand...
Firstly, he writes opp. faces. Must mean opposite faces, but you place them in UF and UR! Furthermore you place the other edges in DR and DB, not defining there orientations, which makes any analyse meaningless.
Secondly, in your case, why not do R´FL´ and both are unflipped in right position. The slice is free, isn´t it?
Will he really unflip two opposite edges, he does it simpliest with RLBF, which is two moves - RsBs - in an antislice metric!

 

[tdiggs]

Ways to get Faster at the Cross?

I am learning F2L, mostly intuitively right now, and the 2look oll and pll system, temporarily of course until I learn the full ones, but my cross building isn't as efficient as it should be. Neither is F2L, but I'm working on it. Is there any methods to building the cross faster or in much less moves. I find myself spending around 12 seconds to make one in the worst case...

 

[CubeLTD]

The answer to all your prayers

By far one of the best Cross Guide i ever seen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY_FbpdNRCQ

 

[teller]

The answer to all your prayers

By far one of the best Cross Guide i ever seen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY_FbpdNRCQ

This. There is no better cross video out there, and if you dig, you'll find he did a sequel.

 

[4.]

Don't worry though, even if you don't specially practice the cross you will pick up alot of tricks just by cubing.

 

[wontolla]

Keep in mind that
"most of the time the cross can be solved in 6 or less moves"

This site has an appliction that finds the best way to make the cross for a given scramble. Use the given solution a few times and with some practice you will find the movements yourself during inspection.

 

[Brest]

Prisma Puzzle Timer (thread: clicky) has a 'tips' section which gives you the moves sequence for the 'optimal cross' for each scramble. Although it is always for White cross (or cross on top).

Sometimes a single solution, other times there are several listed. When specifically practicing the cross I find it very useful to apply the scramble, then try to figure out the cross in the least moves, then have a look at the tips and see the optimal way.

When there are several different solutions, going through each one to see how the cross pieces move into place can teach you several tricks and give you ideas on what to look for during inspection. After solving a cross you can just reverse the moves to get back to the initial scramble position, rather than having to re-apply the whole scramble.

 

[rock1313]

There was 3 ways I got better:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY_FbdNRCQ

use cube explorer to find solutions

practise

 

[pi.cubed]

If you can't watch long videos on your computer (like me), there's a reasonable guide here.
Also practise.

(Using google can help too )

 

[ElectricDoodie]

This site has an appliction that finds the best way to make the cross for a given scramble. Use the given solution a few times and with some practice you will find the movements yourself during inspection.

That site is perfect. Thanks for it.
It's great, because it shows the cross solution for every single different face you want to solve it on, unlike others, who only show cross on white, and such.

I do the scramble, solve the cross my way, then check to see what the optimal cross was, and how close I was to it.

 

[Johannes91]

That site is perfect. Thanks for it.
It's great, because it shows the cross solution for every single different face you want to solve it on, unlike others, who only show cross on white, and such.

Well, it was written by a color neutral cuber.

Cool that someone still finds it useful!

 

[QueenCubeLover]

Badmephisto makes the BEST videos!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY_FbpdNRCQ
GO WATCH IT! IT'S AMAZINGLY AMAZING!

 

[Nos7portuga]

I find it very useful, although i don't understand the need of the x2 moves

 

[shelley]

Practice a lot. Use your 15 second inspection to plan ahead. As an exercise, find all four pieces of your cross, plan out your moves and do them blindfolded. As another exercise, find all four pieces of your cross, then try to solve them all in seven or fewer moves.

 

[FatBoyXPC]

If you'd like to get even more advanced, do what shelley suggests but also find and trace pieces during the inspection and try to influence your first pair while building the cross.

 

[Ltsurge]

Cross Help!!!

my cross varies between 4-15s and can average anywhere from around 10-15.
Without referring to a video (can't watch long videos) how can I solve the cross at the optimal no. of moves (7 I think it is).

Ps I solve the cross on the bottom but at the moment I am struggling with the first F2L pair look ahead.

 

[Vinny]

It's all practice. With your inspections, you should be plannign out the entire cross, or AT LEAST keeping track of all the pieces. If you can't do this, try tracking 2 pieces, then 3, then 4. Eventually you'll be able to do that plus an F2L pair or two.

 

[JackJ]

Example.
Scramble F2 L2 R B L' U' L B' L U2 L' U R U R F2 R' F2 U2 L2 D' R' F2 L' D'
Cross D' R' B2 D2 R2 D

 

[Ltsurge]

Thanks that helps- the only problem I think I have is that I solve each edge instead of two edges at a time etc (I insert each edge individually). I blindfold solve crosses well but when I do I concentrate on not messing up the cross rather than looking ahead to the F2L. Will lookahead come naturally or will I need to practice specific things?

Ps I am colour neutral- will going one colour help my f2l? (I know it will slow me down later but...)