[Help Thread] 4x4 Discussion

[Nmile7300]

Anything specific I can do to improve my cross edges(Yau)?

The main thing that helped me was making sure you always look for the first cross edge while you finish up the first two centers. Other that that I would say just turn a bit slower than you would during last four centers or the rest of the solve.

 

[ProStar]

How does OPA work? I couldn't find any info on it

 

[Nmile7300]

How does OPA work? I couldn't find any info on it

I looked it up on the Wiki and there was nothing, what is it exactly?
Edit: Oh wait I am so dumb, OLL parity avoidance

 

[xyzzy]

How does OPA work? I couldn't find any info on it

Time for you kids to learn some Chinese.

Trace cycles like in 4BLD to determine parity, and keep track of parity up until you have three centres solved. Every quarter wide/slice move toggles parity, while outer-layer moves and half wide/slice moves don't affect parity. Adjust the solution of the third centre so that there is even edge parity there, and you're done. (With Yau, that really means tracking parity throughout F2C, 3/4 cross, and one more centre. This is obviously really hard. This is easier with Hoya or redux.)

 

[RFMX]

I have a few questions on efficiency of Yau:

1) How can I make the First 3 Edges faster? I often a) cannot find the white wings, and b) placed them into the same slice, slowing me down.
2) Is there any resources for making the last cross edge in ways other than normal edge pairing? If not, is there any tips, or rule of thumb, or anything to be aware when doing it intuitively?
3) I cannot wrap my head around doing the first step of 3-2-3 Edge Pairing without rotating. Can anyone explains how it works? Actually, is it always possible to solve rotationless?

I average around 1:20 FYI. Thanks!

edit Just an extra question: when does lookahead and smooth solving matter?

 

[Micah Morrison]

In response to all of those things I would recommend watching Felik's (and other people's too) Intermediate and Advanced 4x4 Walkthrough/Example Solves. You can find Feliks's 4x4 Tips and walkthroughs here: https://www.cubeskills.com/categories/4x4

 

[SpeedCuberSUB30]

So guys I just started doing 4x4.
I learnt it from JPerm's Yau tutorial.
And I also learnt 3-2-3 edge pairing.
But my average is still 3 minutes so what should I do

 

[BenChristman1]

PRACTICE!!!

 

[SpeedCuberSUB30]

Still I want some tips to improve

 

[Zubin Park]

Honestly practice till you're working toward sub-1 then you'll need some tips

 

[Spacey10]

So guys I just started doing 4x4.
I learnt it from JPerm's Yau tutorial.
And I also learnt 3-2-3 edge pairing.
But my average is still 3 minutes so what should I do

If you just started, shouldn't you be learning redux?

 

[Skewb_Cube]

Still I want some tips to improve

Hello, I'm not good at 4x4 neither, but you could check this site if it helps: https://jperm.net/

 

[Zain_A24]

So guys I just started doing 4x4.
I learnt it from JPerm's Yau tutorial.
And I also learnt 3-2-3 edge pairing.
But my average is still 3 minutes so what should I do

Solve until you dont have to think too much about what step is next or what you have to do. This comes with practice. A lot of time can be gained by reducing pauses during first 3 edges, and there are certain techniques you can use to pair up the first 3 edges.

Once you get used to solving last 4 centres, take a look at a concept known as half-centres.

For edge pairing, it should reach a point that you dont have to look at the edge you are pairing, but more and what you are pairing it with. Again, practice is key.

Solves could be limited by the 3x3 stage, make sure all your 3x3 algorithms used in 4x4 are clean and optimised. As your 3x3 time improves so will your 4x4 time.

Summary
Practice practice practice. Once it becomes second nature, try picking some advanced techniques like the ones above. Best of luck.

 

[SpeedCuberSUB30]

Thanks for all the help.. But how did my thread move here?

 

[joshsailscga]

Thanks for all the help.. But how did my thread move here?

Mods often move threads that are similar into a bigger thread on the same topic. Whether someone is able to answer your questions or has the same issues you do, they are more likely to find your posts if they are in the mega-thread on that particular topic.
Some threads are even 'stickied' in their sub-forum (example, instead of posting a new thread to marvel about the crazy easy scramble you just found, put it in the stickied thread, "Easy/Hard/Lucky Scrambles").

 

[swburk]

When solving with Yau, after solving first two centers, how do you decide which side to solve first 3 cross edges onto? Do you just do whichever one you find the first edge pair for? Do you solve whichever one you solved the center for first? Or something else?

 

[One Wheel]

When solving with Yau, after solving first two centers, how do you decide which side to solve first 3 cross edges onto? Do you just do whichever one you find the first edge pair for? Do you solve whichever one you solved the center for first? Or something else?

Whichever edge pair I find first that matches one of my first 2 centers, but that's probably one of the weaker points of my 4x4 skills.

 

[PikachuPlayz_MC]

When solving with Yau, after solving the first two centers, how do you decide which side to solve the first 3 cross edges onto? Do you just do whichever one you find the first edge pair for? Do you solve whichever one you solved the center for first? Or something else?

I like to go with whites because white pieces are easier to spot for me.

 

[swburk]

I like to go with whites because white pieces are easier to spot for me.

That's what I had been doing. I've been working on CN lately, starting with blue/green, and have just been doing blue cross, but wondered how other people decided.

 

[xyzzy]

When solving with Yau, after solving first two centers, how do you decide which side to solve first 3 cross edges onto? Do you just do whichever one you find the first edge pair for? Do you solve whichever one you solved the center for first? Or something else?

Usually whatever I see first, but if I finish F2C with the centres already on left/right, I bias strongly towards whatever the left face's colour is (which is usually the first centre).

Sometimes I also try to preserve/form easy cross edges during F2C; in those situations I've already decided on the cross colour during inspection.