[Help Thread] 4x4 Discussion

[Daniel Lin]

what's the easiest way to check for PLL parity? it's hard to recognize before I do ZBLL. If i do parity at the end i might get an adjacent swap, which i don't like

 

[Berd]

what's the easiest way to check for PLL parity? it's hard to recognize before I do ZBLL. If i do parity at the end i might get an adjacent swap, which i don't like

Adjacent swap can be set up to opp swap with R U R' U' remember!

 

[Daniel Lin]

Adjacent swap can be set up to opp swap with R U R' U' remember!

yeah, but that's 8 extra moves. I guess it's not that bad. Do fast people do ZBLL first and then adjacent parity? Or parity first?

 

[mitja]

yeah, but that's 8 extra moves. I guess it's not that bad. Do fast people do ZBLL first and then adjacent parity? Or parity first?

If you setup with R2D', its only 4 moves.

 

[Cale S]

If you setup with R2D', its only 4 moves.

mind = blown

why have I never done it like this

 

[mitja]

Of course I usually do xR2F'. It is easier to contininue with parity alg.

 

[xyzzy]

yeah, but that's 8 extra moves. I guess it's not that bad. Do fast people do ZBLL first and then adjacent parity? Or parity first?

(Disclaimer: I'm not fast, I know only around 20% of ZBLL, and I don't use reduction as my main method.)

The BH recognition system has the problem that if the two adjacent edges you look at happen to be adjacent colours (relative to each other) and you have permutation parity, then you'll end up with the not-so-nice adjacent swap case. (Like this, where applying the pure corner twist will leave you with an adjacent swap. For this particular case it turns out that it's way better to do parity first then ZBLL, but in general you'd have to work out whether that's the case and that sounds like a lot of effort, plus you cannot use two-sided ZBLL recognition.)

Tran-style ZBLL recognition but using opposite colours instead of adjacent colours (i.e. you look for, say, the red and orange edges, as in hyperorientation) will force the opposite swap case if you do have parity, which is nice. And if you don't have parity then it's just ZBLL as normal, which is even nicer.

 

[bobthegiraffemonkey]

Tran-style ZBLL recognition but using opposite colours instead of adjacent colours (i.e. you look for, say, the red and orange edges, as in hyperorientation) will force the opposite swap case if you do have parity, which is nice. And if you don't have parity then it's just ZBLL as normal, which is even nicer.

Funny you should mention that, I realised yesterday that this is a great idea for PLL too, and especially for an improvement to the parity with TTLL I made a video for a few posts ago. Using it for PLL to leave an opposite swap speaks for itself, but requires relearning PLL recognition, as for the other case where you have OLL parity:

1) F2L with edge flipped and U-layer corner (with U sticker on D)
2) OLL
3a) recognise "PLL" using opposite edges (either green/blue or red/orange for me, it would help to track these during OLL)
3b) PLL to solve up to opposite swap (can use TTLL too, see below)
4) OLL parity or double parity to finish

I'll make a video later, but I think it's pretty awesome. It also has potential for nice tricks, such as if the "PLL" looks like an N perm:
R U' R' U R U2' R' U' R U R'
z' (F2 x) l2' U2 l U2 l' U2 l U2' (B2 x2') r U2 r U2' (r' l') U2 L

That's right, I just did an "N perm" 2-gen.

 

[Dom]

I currently average about 2:20.
How long did it take y'all to improve from 2 mins to sub 1:30?

 

[Daniel Lin]

Tran-style ZBLL recognition

can you send me a link of tutorial or something?

 

[xyzzy]

I currently average about 2:20.
How long did it take y'all to improve from 2 mins to sub 1:30?

I averaged 3:40 for many years because of bad hardware (I was using a Rubik's brand with crappy stickers and all that), and getting a better cube in February got me to sub-2 immediately. I think my average stabilised at 1:25 since July or so.

can you send me a link of tutorial or something?

Here's a video by Chris Tran:

 

[Berd]

Any good algs for W or O plls?

 

[Daniel Lin]

Any good algs for W or O plls?

lol I think it's faster to do parity and U perm
you can use this O perm if you like it tho
M2 U M2 U M' U2 l2 U2 r2 Uw2 r2 u2 M'

 

[Dom]

I averaged 3:40 for many few years because of bad hardware (I was using a Rubik's brand with crappy stickers and all that), and getting a better cube in February got me to sub-2 immediately. I think my average stabilised at 1:25 since July or so.

What method were you using during that time? I just recently switched to Hoya.

 

[xyzzy]

What method were you using during that time? I just recently switched to Hoya.

I was about equally slow with sandwich and reduction prior to getting a new cube, but after that I've been practising mostly with the method in my sig.

 

[LastSicarius]

Hi,
which 4x4 cubes are now good? I didnt think about it since 2014 and im not on time with 4x4 news...

 

[One Wheel]

Hi,
which 4x4 cubes are now good? I didnt think about it since 2014 and im not on time with 4x4 news...

I think the Moyu Aosu is considered the gold standard, but I personally prefer the smaller size, lower price point, and better inner layer speed of my cyclone boys g4.

 

[sqAree]

Hi,
which 4x4 cubes are now good? I didnt think about it since 2014 and im not on time with 4x4 news...

I'm pretty sure many people would agree with me when I say the YJ GuanSu is the best 4x4 currently.

 

[LastSicarius]

I'm pretty sure many people would agree with me when I say the YJ GuanSu is the best 4x4 currently.

Well, that's sounds great. My friend have Aosu(fells good) but GuanSu is 3 times cheaper. For begin it will be fine. Thanks.

 

[One Wheel]

I'm pretty sure many people would agree with me when I say the YJ GuanSu is the best 4x4 currently.

I've only handled a GuanSu briefly once, and I was not impressed. It is undeniably cheap, especially if you go to someplace like Cubezz, and not the worst 4x4 I've handled.