Blindsolving Discussion and Help

[Cubenovice]

Looking to do 5BLD at USNats. Corners, x-centers, +-centers, wings, midges: OP, comms, advanced M2, advanced R2, advanced M2.
That has been my order, but I could change it up.

What do I need to know about parities and stuff before I attempt? Thanks.

You are clearly more experienced in big BLD than me but perhaps this can still be of some use.
If not for you then perhaps for others

My order and parity fixes and reasons why I chose to do so

x-centers: cannot go wrong with comms
+-centers: are actually quite easy with comms because there are so many possibilities to set up the cycles (I use U l as buffer; this way I can use both M and r slices as insertion moves to create finger-friendly comms)
Wings: r2 and use normal r2 D’ L’ F l’ U2 etc etc parity (note: this requires solved centers)
Midges and Corners: Parity is done in two parts
Midges: M2 with normal 3x3 parity U’ F2 U M2 U’ F2 U (solves the M-slice and swaps UL and UB midges)
Corners OP: as OP rotates centers I do corners last on big BLD,
With parity after corners you have 2 + 2 swapped wings on UL and UB left (midges are solved because of M2 parity fix)
Parity fiix y2 - R U R’ U’ - Rw2 F2 U2 r2 U2 F2 Rw2 – U R U’ R’
Y2 brings them UR and UF
Sexy move places them opposite UF-UB
2+2 swap Rw2 F2 U2 r2 U2 F2 Rw2
Undo sexy move and you’re done

* Note that for 5BLD I am still in the phase of “written targets - BLD execution”
* THX to the guys on the chat for helping me with the M2 / Corners parity

 

[Julian]

Thank you Cubenovice

This will be my strategy, I think:

Corners (OP)
If corner/midge parity, additional Jb-perm, making an even number of total corner targets
If not multiple of 4 corner targets, U2

X-centers (comms)
If x-center parity, form comm with already solved piece on buffer face

+-centers (advanced M2)
If +-center parity, form 3-cycle with already solved piece on buffer face

If not multiple of 4 corner targets, U2

Wings (advanced r2)
If wing parity, setup last target to FUr, x l' U2 l' U2 x U2 l' U2 x' r U2 r' U2 l2 x', undo setup

Midges (advanced M2)
If corner/midge parity, (U' F2 U M2 U' F2 U') (Jb-perm U) (y2 R U R' U' Rw2 F2 U2 r2 U2 F2 Rw2 U R U' R')

 

[Phlippieskezer]

Sorry for the stupid and somewhat vague questions, but...

- When is a good time to transition into 3-cycle methods? As, in "earlier the better," or should I focus more on my memo at the moment (which still takes 3 - 5 minutes on its own), and learn 3-cycle methods (I'm thinking BH/TuRBo) later, once I can memo a lot faster? (I currently use M2/OP, if that changes anything)

- How does one usually deal with parity when solving the cube BLD using 3-cycles? (Again, sorry for vagueness, but not sure how to be more thorough with that one)

Thanks in advance.

 

[Renslay]

Hi folks!

I'm going to publish an intermediate-level BLD corners method (mainly because I can not find even similar one to show others what I'm currently using). It is a piece-by-piece method (I personally hate 3-cycles), which is exeption-, memorization- execution- and shortcut-friendly, and requires only 16 (or little more) algorithms. I can solve the corners blindfolded in 17 seconds with full (thus risky) TPS on average of twelve (measured only once, midnight, not even with my best cube... don't ask why. Best was 11, worst was 19), but I think others can be even faster with it.
(To be honest, I turn slower the cube during a normal BLD, feel more secure, so I solve the corners let's say in about 20 seconds. I think that is a moderate-level time.)

Just if anyone interested in.

 

[5BLD]

Is it boomerang?
I used it for a while after you taught me

 

[Zane_C]

- When is a good time to transition into 3-cycle methods? As, in "earlier the better," or should I focus more on my memo at the moment (which still takes 3 - 5 minutes on its own), and learn 3-cycle methods (I'm thinking BH/TuRBo) later, once I can memo a lot faster? (I currently use M2/OP, if that changes anything)

I think your times will drop faster if you focus on your memo before transitioning into a better execution method. Whatever area you think has the most room for improvement, focus on that.

- How does one usually deal with parity when solving the cube BLD using 3-cycles?

If solving corners first: Finish solving the corners (except leave 2 corners swapped), then solve the edges (and the final edge and 2 corners are solved simultaneously with a PLL).

If solving edges first: Pretty much the same thing as above, finish solving the edges (except leave 2 edges swapped), then solve the corners (and the final corners and 2 edges are solved simultaneously with a PLL).

 

[Julian]

For 5x5 (solving with fixed centers and fixed buffers), what is the average number of x-centers and +-centers you need to solve? And about how many if it was pretty bad?

Thanks.

 

[Renslay]

Is it boomerang?
I used it for a while after you taught me

Yes. I have the description wrote you; now I'm re-writing it and adding some nice images.

 

[Zane_C]

For 5x5 (solving with fixed centers and fixed buffers), what is the average number of x-centers and +-centers you need to solve? And about how many if it was pretty bad?

Usually there will be be around 18 centers (either + or x-centers) to solve, this number varies considerably though. Even with a really bad scramble, it's rare to cycle ~24 +/-centers, unless you break into a few cycles. I haven't done 5x5 BLD in a while, so my numbers might be off a bit.

 

[Ollie]

Big cubes - wings

Can anyone offer an improvement on this algorithm for the cycle DFl -> BUl -> FDr? Currently using (U R' l2 x') [r' U2 r : D2] (x l2 R U') which is 14 moves long.

Something with an easier set up would be nice.

 

[yoinneroid]

the alg you listed solve DFl -> FDl -> BDl, anyway, if that's the case you mean, i'll probable use [l' : D F' R D' F]

 

[Ollie]

the alg you listed solve DFl -> FDl -> BDl

Apologies, should read DFr (usual buffer) -> BUl -> FDl

 

[DrKorbin]

I do U2 r' D2 r' U2 r D2 r' U2 r2 U2

 

[Ollie]

I do U2 r' D2 r' U2 r D2 r' U2 r2 U2

Interesting still, thanks

 

[Julian]

Usually there will be be around 18 centers (either + or x-centers) to solve, this number varies considerably though. Even with a really bad scramble, it's rare to cycle ~24 +/-centers, unless you break into a few cycles. I haven't done 5x5 BLD in a while, so my numbers might be off a bit.

Thanks But with the variation (I've counted myself a few times, got >21 once or twice) I've prepared for 24.

 

[inthedark72]

Blindsolve Buffer Memorization Issue

I am trying to get blindsolving down by first getting the Old Pochmann method down eyes open. When listing out the Edge order (RG WG BY) I don't know what to do when i hit that cube that is correctly in the buffer position (disregarding orientation) Yes you're supposed to throw it in another spot but then you may run into that cubie again and i feel this really gets in the way of memorization. I use yellow top orange front, so the example above I ran into BY in buffer, then I thought okay I'll throw it to UL, but even without memorization I started getting confused) I feel the same way about solving the corners. Please help.

I guess in a nutshell my problem is comprehending how to memorize Edge / corner order when having to "break into a new cycle"

Thank you!

 

[Applecow]

example solve:
scramble: L B' D F L' U F2 U2 F' R2 B2 R D2 B2 D2 L2 F2 R D2 L2
x2 y'
first is RB
then RD
LD
BU
UF
then the buffer would be solved (but twisted)
just shoot to UL and proceed with:
BL
FR
DF
BD
now you have to shoot to LU and because the yellow-blue edge was twisted, it will be solved now

 

[Moops]

I use letter pair images to memo. I've learnt 100+ of them but i'm having a lot of trouble learning the other 300+

It's all in an Anki deck but my progress is painfully slow. How do you guys learn your lists?

 

[drewsopchak]

I use letter pair images to memo. I've learnt 100+ of them but i'm having a lot of trouble learning the other 300+

It's all in an Anki deck but my progress is painfully slow. How do you guys learn your lists?

It's a serious pain the ass. Zane studied his list for hours to memo it. Others use anki. I learn them by doing solves and looking at my printed list when I don't know them.

 

[Phlippieskezer]

So, I've been fiddling with freestyle and 3-cycle methods in general. I find freestyle edges to be quite easy to do on the fly, although naturally there's still a lot of pausing (I think my freestyle edges are already only just slower than my M2 edges). I could probably be a little more efficient, but that's okay and comes with experimentation, methinks.
However, I find corners to be a pain, which just happens to be the step I really want to switch methods with (I dislike OP). Sure, I'm familiar with commutators and whatnot, but it takes me a forever and a half to find the appropriate one for the job whilst blindfolded (not to mention mine seem to be inefficient and make me forget A' or B'). Does any one have any tips (other than the obvious practice) to get better at this? I know of this page but the amount algorithms (even if they are comms) is kind of disheartening. Is there perhaps a 3-cycle method that would help me transition into BH/freestyle, or is my only hope to study that page ("like it's boobs")?

Thanks in advance, and sorry for not being very articulate.
Phlippie

I use letter pair images to memo. I've learnt 100+ of them but i'm having a lot of trouble learning the other 300+

It's all in an Anki deck but my progress is painfully slow. How do you guys learn your lists?

I just finished a few weeks ago learning my full list. What I personally did was not solve BLD at all and instead study (off a printed booklet) two sets of letter-pairs (so, first would be AB - BX) one day, review and familiarise myself with the position of letters on the cube the next/relax. Then I learned the next two sets (CB - DX) whilst reviewing the previous day's pairs, the next review, and repeat until done. Then solve a bunch, and if I ever forgot whilst solving, I simply checked my printed list. That happened/happens rarer than I expected, though.
By "review," I mean I pretty much just quizzed myself.
Sorry if I'm not very clear.