Do you research how to solve a cube?

[jknox]

I'm getting into (back into) cubing and am wondering if you guys look at the solution for a new cube or if you figure it out on your own.

 

[Mike Hughey]

I always try to figure a new puzzle out on my own first (not worrying about how good a method it is - just trying to solve it any way possible), then after I solve it once, look around and try to find better ways to solve it from other sources (if I care about the puzzle enough to try to get faster at it).

An example: with square-1, I figured out everything but parity relatively quickly (a few days, I think). Then it took me a week or two to figure out a crazy parity solution, which was probably about 80 moves long. Totally impractical, but it allowed me to consistently solve it. Once I had a parity solution that worked, even though it was awful, I immediately went out and looked up a good parity solution to take its place. But I always like to figure out something, however bad, that will work on my own first, before I give in to looking for better solutions.

 

[TDM]

I always try to figure a new puzzle out on my own first (not worrying about how good a method it is - just trying to solve it any way possible), then after I solve it once, look around and try to find better ways to solve it from other sources (if I care about the puzzle enough to try to get faster at it).

This is exactly what I do to, except I'm sometimes not patient enough to solve it once.

 

[NewCuber000]

I've solved all my puzzles completely on my own besides 3x3 (I got stumped after finishing 2 layers) but then of course I look up faster solutions online (Some people don't). So basically what Mike said. It definitely feels more accomplishing, but you don't have too.

 

[Hssandwich]

I remember when I got my skewb, I wanted to figure it out myself and I did after about 3 hours with a corners skip after the first layer, it felt so great when I finally did it though. I also managed to do my magic after completely scrambling it when I first got it.

 

[Dane man]

I didn't have internet to look up how when I first got the cube, so I was essentially forced to invent my own method (which I still use to this day because I'm too lazy to learn something else). After that I started looking into other methods and their designs, their benefits, the move counts, speeds, algorithm counts, etc. I love looking into the ways to solve the cube, but I never actually migrated to using a competition worthy one.

It's really up to you though. For the sake of education and science, I say try to solve it with no help first, even if it takes you a few weeks (or months). Only after you've sufficiently given up should you look up how to do it.

 

[megaminxwin]

An example: with square-1, I figured out everything but parity relatively quickly (a few days, I think). Then it took me a week or two to figure out a crazy parity solution, which was probably about 80 moves long. Totally impractical, but it allowed me to consistently solve it. Once I had a parity solution that worked, even though it was awful, I immediately went out and looked up a good parity solution to take its place. But I always like to figure out something, however bad, that will work on my own first, before I give in to looking for better solutions.

Please tell me you remember that parity. Please.

 

[TraciAG]

It's not a big deal to me if I have to look up a tutorial or a faster method, but I will usually try to figure it out for myself.

 

[Sauce]

I have to research myself on solving puzzles. You can also try figuring out yourself, but with 3x3x3 I had to look up tutorials