[Help Thread] Algorithm Memorization Discussion

[rachmaninovian]

Well I use to have this problem and e-mailed the best speedcubers like Dan Knights,Erik Akkersdijk and so on.I recommend intuitive F2L ,two look OLL and PLL.If the PLL is three edge and three corners,use two look.Memorisation:read the algs aloud and practice it with a cube.I have memorize about 14 PLLs and a few OLLs.I read a book Instant memory improvement it is a great book and my memory is better.

LOL?!

kekekeke....I have so many algs that are NOT for 3x3...=D

well i'd just learn one or 2 algs a day, and just do them mindlessly while I'm on the bus traveling, watching tv, eg.

soon you realize you know the alg I can never recite out the algs fluently though...muscle memory ftw!

 

[_joe_]

This is not the place to ask speedsolving-related questions. Mods, please move this to the appropriate forum.

well you are all saying it`s a thread that shouldnt be in this section. i wouldnt consider my question out of topic since it's a "how to" and guide question. thank you for answering all

 

[shelley]

No, the actual description of the How-to subforum is

Here you can find a compilation of general how-to's, tutorials, guides, etc. This is not the place to ask speedsolving-related questions.

If you have a question, post in the Beginner forum. If you have written out a guide, post it here.

 

[rjohnson_8ball]

Also, try performing the alg over and over regardless of whether it is solving the cube each time. This speeds up the muscle memory. Some algorithms will restore the cube state if you repeat them 2 or 3 times -- this can help confirm you are performing it correctly.

 

[JTW2007]

Do them. short

 

[maxcube]

I made flash cards

 

[Deleted member 2864]

pll and oll often requires to move f2l pairs around. I just sort of find a smart way to track them and use pairs as a reference point because many of the algs go: take out pair, do fancy stuff, insert pair. Eventually, I don't need to track them cuz it's in my muscle memory

 

[d_sprink]

Ok, rather than telling you that this is the wrong place for the question, I'll try something new and answer it.

When starting, I liked to find pieces and track them. Now though, I have a procedure:
-Read the alg and execute simultaneously (SLOWLY!), looking as you need to at the cube. Repeat about 7 times.
-Try the alg without reading it(Slow, still), and if you must, look back (often times I find myself in a mess). Repeat until you can do it.
-Speed it up, either with a metronome, or just get slowly faster.
-Slow it back down, but mirror it to your left hand. I memorize all my algs with each hand, so I only need half the algs. Its not the most efficient things in the world, but I find I can execute the algs at the same speed with each hand.
-Try it again in about a half hour.
-Try again right before you go to bed. When you wake up, you'll remember it.

 

[Robert-Y]

What I did for most algs was I looked at where certain pieces go when I'm performing the algorithm, and also I sometimes break algorithms down into smaller parts which are easier to remember e.g. a 3 corner cycle alg:

R U' R D2 R' U R D2 R2 can be broken down to:

(R U' R) D2 (R' U R) (D2 R2) which is a lot easier to remember IMO.

 

[Don Tonberry]

I look for patterns that the stickers make when you do the first 3 or 4 moves and then go from there? I can't really explain it too well

 

[kickinwing2112]

After you had a lot of practice with learning algorithms, learning new ones shouldn't take much time at all. (As in memorizing 1 algorithm)

 

[EmersonHerrmann]

Just do the alg a lot....then eventually start doing it backwards so you can just go back and forth...learning to do the alg backwards also may help if you are learning some alg for F2L or OLL (do normal OLL alg with cube solves, inverse would solve the outcome OLL).

Basically, just do the alg a lot.

 

[abr71310]

The way I do it (for some reason it doesn't work for me and G-perms, maybe I'm just too scared of them or soemthing) is just watching corner-edge pairs move into the top layer (for OLL, for PLL I just watch random shapes form and make faces every time something cool happens).

 

[Ferret In A Cube]

I'd like to ask the experts if they could share tips on how they go about learning to remember the long algorithms.

Around December 2007, I started to browse the internet on how to solve the 3x3. I found a youtube video that helped me solve the puzzle. It taught me the following algorithms to help me solve the puzzle: (I noted them here, since I really don't know what system of algorithms I am using.)

3x3 algorithm I use
Fi U Li Ui
Ri Di R D
Ui Li U L U F Ui Fi
U R ui Ri Ui Fi U F
F R U Ri Ui Fi
R U Ri U R U U Ri
U R Ui Li U Ri Ui L
Ri Di R D

Since these algorithms for the 3x3 weren't too long (each), it took me less than 48 hrs to remember the steps by memory without having to read them from a sheet of paper. My best time on the 3x3 is less than a minute. I am not using any speedcubing finger tricks (maybe at a later time, I will learn how to do that--since I think it looks so cool!)

anyway, now to my current problem. I am currently working the 4x4 cube. I was able to get help from another youtube.com tutorial on how to solve it (He is the same person that teaches how to use the 3x3).

anyway, the codes I must use (not always, but sometimes) goes as follows (after I have everything in the proper position, then I just solve the puzzle as I would a 3x3 using the algorithm system I noted above): (Again I don't know the name of the algorithms system I am using--hopefully you recognize them.) I highlighted in red the algorithms I am having difficulty remembering by memory--I have to look at my sheet of paper to be able to follow them.)

4x4 algorithm I use
R* - 2U - R'*
L'* - 2U - L*
L' - R - U - F - U' - L
(solve as 3x3)
D* - R - F' - U - R' - F - D'*
r2 - U2 - r2 - U2 - u2 - r2 - u2
r2 - B2 - U2 - l - U2 - r' - U2 - r - U2 - F2 - r - F2 - l' - B2 - r2

So my question to you guys, is there a method or tip you could give me to be able to remember the steps above I must remember by memory to solve my 4x4 cube? I think since they are many steps that are similar, plus the fact that not always you need to use all those algorithms steps during the puzzle solving, and also having to deal with inner and outer layers, it gets a bit difficult to remember the patterns. Well, at least for me at the moment.

I've had the 4x4 cube for at least a week and I still find myself having to look at my notes to proceed using the algorithms (I highlighted in red above) to continue with my puzzle solving (of course when I need to use those steps--since it's not always that I need to use them all or in a sequence.) Please keep in mind that I know when to use each algorithm when it's called for--that is not my problem, my issue is trying to remember the above three (in red) algorithms by memory, so I don't have to look at my notes). -- this way I look cool among my friends.

I really appreciate any tips you guys can provide and I do appreciate this forum.

I usually repeatedly say the algorithm or just solve the cube a couple of times while looking at the algorithm and then I start to see where the pieces are while I am doing the algorithm and then it finally gets into my head. Or sometimes I say part of the algorithm and remember that part and then work on the next part of the algorithm.

I had to say it in my head when I was learning the Fridrich Method and look at the way the pieces were when I had to learn how to do the V-Cube 7

 

[MichaelErskine]

D* - R - F' - U - R' - F - D'*
r2 - U2 - r2 - U2 - u2 - r2 - u2
r2 - B2 - U2 - l - U2 - r' - U2 - r - U2 - F2 - r - F2 - l' - B2 - r2

I'm really poor at learning algorithms but I've developed some quite diverse techniques to remember sequences but I doubt anyone would find them useful!

The first one I remember as an exclaimation: "Downright FURFuhD" which has an abstract meaning to me about Microsoft business practices!

The second one I just found easy to remember for some reason.

The third took me months to learn by memorising a story about R2D2's cousin and the band U2 "who should go to hell"

 

[CubeFreak122]

i just memorize them by groups like on the three by three the RUR' and the RUR'U' are common etc.

 

[hugorocks123]

Best Way to Memorze

I am trying to memorize both 2 look OLL and PLL. What specifically did u do to memorize those 13 algs.

 

[liljthedude]

I'm doing the same right now. When I memorize an algorithm I look at the algorithm perform it slow (50+ times). Then once I got it memorized I close my eyes and just do it over and over. Then I talk to myself and tell me when to do the algorithm. Ex. "When the yellow is in front on left" or something.

 

[JTW2007]

Just do them over and over and group them in triggers rather than individual turns.

 

[kjcellist]

I memorize algorithms right before I go to bed. I pick a few algorithms, say the algorithms out loud while doing them on my cube (I do this like 15 times), sleep (the best part!), and then when I wake up I usually remember them.