[Help Thread] FMC Discussion

[TDM]

I just thought it could be interesting for some people to see my 22 move solution from Franconia Open 2015 It's a really cool scramble!

Nice solution, congrats on the official PB.

There are now 7 Germans in the top 4.

 

[2180161]

Scramble: B' R D' R2 D2 B D' U L' B' L R2 B U' R B U'

Someone please get sub 25. Optimal is 17.

 

[Mark Boyanowski]

Scramble: B' R D' R2 D2 B D' U L' B' L R2 B U' R B U'

Someone please get sub 25. Optimal is 17.

B2 R2 U2 B R2 B' // 2x2x3
B U' B2 R B // EO, 2 moves cancel
U2 R2 // L5C
Skeleton:
B2 R2 U2 B R2 U' B2 R B @ U2 R2
@ = B U F U' B' # U F' U'
# = B D2 B' U B D2 B' U'
Solution(21):
B2 R2 U2 B R2 U' B2 R B2 U F U' D2 B' U B D2 B' F' U R2

I sort of lucked into the skeleton in the first 15 mins or so, then tried absolutely every combination of insertions I had time for before going with this. I used insertion finder afterwards, and these are apparently optimal. Way too lucky to consider my PB, I average around low 30s!

 

[Torch]

Here's my FMC solution from the Speedsolving weekly competition. Any tips or ideas?

Spoiler

Scramble: U2 R2 B2 L2 F' R2 B D2 U2 B D2 U' B' R' U' F' U2 B U L'

F D2 L U' F//2x2x2
D2 R' B2//Pseudo 2x2x3
R2 B R2 B'//Pseudo F2L minus 1
B' D2 B R D R' D'//L5C
R' B'//correct pseudoblocks

Skeleton: F D2 L U' F D2 R' B2 R2 B R2 B2 D2 B R D R' [1] D' R' B' [2]
[1]: F D' B2 D F' D' B2 D
[2]: B U F U' B U F' U' B2

Solution: F D2 L U' F D2 R' B2 R2 B R2 B2 D2 B R D R' F D' B2 D F' D' B2 R' U F U' B U F' U' B2 (32)

 

[Torch]

Sorry to double post, but I just found a pretty interesting FMC solution that I thought was pretty cool (and somewhat lucky). Check it out!

Scramble: L2 U2 L F2 L' F2 L U2 L' U2 L F L2 F R2 F' U' L B R2

R2 U'//2x2x1
switch to inverse
B D' F L'//Pseudo 2x2x3
D' F D' F'//Another 2x2x1 block
D2 F' L' F2 L//Another 2x2x1 block
L D' L' D'//3e3c
L'//Correct pseudo

Skeleton: R2 U' L D L [1] D L2 F2 L F D2 F D F' D L [2] F' D B'

[1]: L D' R' D L' D' R D
[2]: L R' D2 L' R F2

Solution: R2 U' L D L2 D' R' D L' D' R D2 L2 F2 L F D2 F D F' D L2 R' D2 L' R F D B' (29)

 

[spyr0th3dr4g0n]

Here's my FMC solution from the Speedsolving weekly competition. Any tips or ideas?

Spoiler

Scramble: U2 R2 B2 L2 F' R2 B D2 U2 B D2 U' B' R' U' F' U2 B U L'

F D2 L U' F//2x2x2
D2 R' B2//Pseudo 2x2x3
R2 B R2 B'//Pseudo F2L minus 1
B' D2 B R D R' D'//L5C
R' B'//correct pseudoblocks

Skeleton: F D2 L U' F D2 R' B2 R2 B R2 B2 D2 B R D R' [1] D' R' B' [2]
[1]: F D' B2 D F' D' B2 D
[2]: B U F U' B U F' U' B2

Solution: F D2 L U' F D2 R' B2 R2 B R2 B2 D2 B R D R' F D' B2 D F' D' B2 R' U F U' B U F' U' B2 (32)

My attempt if you are interested

Spoiler

scramble: U2 R2 B2 L2 F' R2 B D2 U2 B D2 U' B' R' U' F' U2 B U L'

F D2 L U' R' F //found a similar start, but I decided to preserve the line, and it worked out
R D R2 D2 //potentially 2 3 corner cycles and 1 edge cycle, but finding insertions for this wouldn't be worth the 2/3 moves it would possibly save, unless really major cancellations
B2 D B2 D' B' R' B2 R B'
[1] bwo -> byr -> boy //nowhere to cancel really, so put it at the end
[2] rgw -> ryg -> boy
34 moves without insertions

F D2 L U' R' F
R D R2 D2
B2 D B2 D' B' R' B2 R B' [1]
[1] B2 R F R' B2 R F' R'

so far: F D2 L U' R' F R D R2 D2 B2 D B2 D' B' R' B2 R [2] B R F R' B2 R F' R'
[2] rgw -> ryg -> boy
R' F' R B R' F R B'


final:
F D2 L U' R' F R D R2 D2 B2 D B2 D' B' R' B2 (R R') F' R B R' F (R (B' B) R) F R' B2 R F' R'
F D2 L U' R' F R D R2 D2 B2 D B2 D' B' R' B2 F' R B R' F R2 F R' B2 R F' R'
29 moves

Finding those insertions took a long time, but I'm happy that its optimum for them, I checked

 

[TheDubDubJr]

Finally got a good Official FMC Mean that I am happy about.

http://cubecomps.com/live.php?cid=1035&cat=15&rnd=1

Spoiler: Attempt 1 - 26

Scramble - D2 F2 U2 B2 R B2 R' F2 D2 B2 R' U' L U' L2 B' R' B2 D U'
Inverse - U D' B2 R B L2 U L' U R B2 D2 F2 R B2 R' B2 U2 F2 D2

Start on Normal
n: U R' B2 F' R2 // 2x2x2 (5/5)
L D' B2 // Pseudo 2x2x3 (3/8)
Switch
i: B2 L' B D2 L' D // F2L-1 extension (6/14)
Switch
n: B D B' L' D' F' D F L' // L3C (9-1/22)

Skeleton:
U R' B2 F' R2 L D' B' D B' L' D' F' D F L' D' L D2 B' @ L B2

@ - (B L F L' B' L F' L') // (8-4/26)

Pretty good solve and Happy I was able to cancel 4 moves on the Insertion.

Optimal Insertion :tu

Spoiler: Attempt 2 - 29

Scramble - L2 F' U2 B L2 B2 R2 F' U' L' R D F D' L2 R' D2 U'
Inverse - U D2 R L2 D F' D' R' L U F R2 B2 L2 B' U2 F L2

Started on Inverse
i: B' R2 L U B U // 2x2x2 (6/6)
R2 D2 F' D2 F2 D // F2L-1 extension (6/12)
R' F D R D' R // L5C (6/18)

Skeleton:
R' D @ R' D' F' R D' F2 D2 F D2 R2 & U' B' U' L' R2 B

@ - [451](D2 R U R' D2 R U' R') // (8-2/24)
& - [234](R' U' L2 U R' U' L2 U) // (8-3/29)

Found this 18 to L5C in the first 10min and left it as backup.
I went back and started doing it 22min left after I couldn't find anything else.

Optimal Insertions :tu

Spoiler: Attempt 3 - 28

Scramble - B' L2 D2 B U2 F' L2 U2 B L2 D' R' D' R' D2 B D2 L' U' F
Inverse - F' U L D2 B' D2 R D R D L2 B' U2 L2 F U2 B' D2 L2 B

Started on Inverse
i: U2 D' B R' L' U2 // 2x2x2 (6/6)
Switch
n: R' U F' U' R2 D2 // F2L-1 Extension (6/12)
Switch
i: D' F' D // F2L-1 + Pair (3/15)
B D B' R B D' B' // Block Comm to L3C (7/22)

Skeleton:
R' U F' U' R2 D2 B D B' R' B D' B' @ D' F D U2 L R B' D U2

@ - (F2 D' B2 D F2 D' B2 D) // (8-2/28)

I was freaking out during the attempt because I hadn't found anything promising with 20min left.
I found all the above skeleton with 10min left and spent the next 5min trying to figure out why I wrote the skeleton down wrong.
Then I quickly went through the Insertions and took the first thing that cancelled.

Luckily this was also optimal so :3

= 27.67 Mean and 11th in the World

Time for FMC Mean Round 2 Tomorrow :3

 

[okayama]

My winning solution from Kawasaki Summer 2015.

Scramble: U' L F2 R2 B' R' B2 U R2 D' B2 L D2 L' D2 F2 U2 R F2 R'
Solution: F2 L' U D2 F2 R B R' L U' R' U' R U2 B2 L2 B' L B L' B' D' L2 D L D' L D L (29 moves)

Spoiler

Here is 7 min backup solution (30 moves).

2x2x1 block: F2 L' U
2x2x2 block: D2 F2
2x2x3 block: B L B
F2L minus 1 slot: U' L F U2 F' U
Finish F2L: L' U' L2 U L2 U' L2 U
LL: F' L2 F L F' L F L'

In the next 15 min, I found:

2x2x1 block: F2 L' U
2x2x2 block: D2 F2
More square: R B R' L
More square: U' R' U' R
F2L minus 1 slot: U2 B
Finish F2L: B L2 B' L B L' B'
LL: D' L2 D L D' L D L

In the remaining time, I found another 29 move solution (19 2c2e + insertion):

F2 L' U D2 F2 R B R' L B2 L B' L U L' U' B (B [B D' B Lw2 B' D B Lw2 B2 D] B') L B'

but not better than above. So I submitted the above solution.

Seems a good scramble, but I couldn't find any better solution in time.

 

[joshsailscga]

Rami Sbahi 20 move single.
http://cubecomps.com/live.php?cid=1035&cat=15&rnd=2

 

[Berd]

Rami Sbahi 20 move single.
http://cubecomps.com/live.php?cid=1035&cat=15&rnd=2

What! ?! I didn't know he was so good!

 

[bobthegiraffemonkey]

A little off-topic from Rami's WR, but something fun I meant to put in my post there, following from his start.

Spoiler

Scramble: U2 L' D L2 F U2 F L2 U' R2 D2 F2 U2 L2 B' D2 L2 F R2

R2 B' // pseudo 2x2x2
switch to inverse
F U F' L D L2 F2 U' F // lolwat

Any good finish to this? Seems awkward, but 11 move F2L+EO is crazy.

 

[not_kevin]

Well, according to some optimal solver I pulled off the Internet, that specific case is 14-moves optimal - one particular solution can cancel a couple moves:

Spoiler

Scramble: U2 L' D L2 F U2 F L2 U' R2 D2 F2 U2 L2 B' D2 L2 F R2

R2 B' // pseudo 2x2x2
switch to inverse
F U F' L D L2 F2 U' F // lolwat
F R' B' R' F' B R U2 R U2 R' B U2 B' // magic alg

Solution: R2 U2 B' R U2 R' U2 R' B' F R B R F2 U F2 L2 D' L' F U' F' // 22 moves

Using the basic skeleton you suggest, 'tho, I found this:

Spoiler

R2 B' // pseudo 2x2x2
switch to inverse
F U F' L D L2 F' // F2L - 1
U' F' U' F U' F' U F // AB3C

Skeleton: R2 B' F' U' F U F' U F * U F L2 D' L' F U' F' // 17 to AB3C
Insert at *: B' U F U' B U F' U' (cancels 4)

Solution: R2 B' F' U' F U F' U F B' U F U' B U L2 D' L' F U' F' // 21
Still loses to Rami, 'tho

 

[2180161]

I need some tips for my NISS solves

I still don't seem to under stand the purpose of premoves and inverses, and how they work even after MDiPalma's explanation, I still create blocks, and then inverse of that then inverse of scramble, but they then end up as pseudo-blocks. WHY?

 

[Kit Clement]

I need some tips for my NISS solves

I still don't seem to under stand the purpose of premoves and inverses, and how they work even after MDiPalma's explanation, I still create blocks, and then inverse of that then inverse of scramble, but they then end up as pseudo-blocks. WHY?

I don't think you're creating pseudo-blocks on the other scramble if they are still pseudo-blocks. First, you'll need understand the purpose of NISS. Any given piece that is occuping a given spot will become the correct piece of that spot in the location that would solve the original piece. For example, let's say that the white-orange edge is in the space of the green-yellow edge in a given state, and we apply NISS. This means that you will find the green-yellow edge in the space of the white-orange edge.

This means two things -- any solved piece is preserved, and any blocks of pieces are preserved, but may become different colored blocks. So if you have a solved green-red edge with a 2x2x1 block on the white face with blue/orange as the other two colors, you can put this block over the solved edge, then switch, and the correct 2x2x1 (with red-green) will appear on the other scramble.

 

[BboyArchon]

3x3 Fewest Moves. Second attempt I do at home for practising in last 7 months. My previous PB was 37...

SCRAMBLE: L2 D' R2 B2 D' B2 U2 L2 U' F2 D' L2 R F U L2 D F' D L

2x2x2 on inverse: B2 D R B2 D R2
XXCross White on inverse: F D L' D F2
Switch to red face (still on inverse): L D2 L2 D L' D' L' D
L3C - Magic (yep, on inverse): B' L2 B

Final skeleton: B' L2 B D' L D L D' L2 (--) D2 L' F2 D' L D' F' R2 D' B2 R' D' B2 (22, going for the sub30 finally)

Insert at (--): L2 D R D' L2 D R' D' (5 cancelled!)

Final solution: B' L2 B D' L D L R D' L2 D R' D L' F2 D' L D' F' R2 D' B2 R' D' B2 (25)

I can't believe it, I'm starting to love this thing

 

[obelisk477]

I've been having an issue with both insertion finder and weekly comp where the formatting of my apostrophes doesn't carry over when copying from MS Word, and they get ignored or an error appears. Is there a particular font that fixes this problem? Or some other solution I can't think of? I can manually change them in the browser, but that's a little painstaking.

 

[Kit Clement]

Michigan 2015 FMC means!

Round 1 -- 30.00 average.

Spoiler: Solve 1: D2 F2 U2 B2 R B2 R' F2 D2 B2 R' U' L U' L2 B' R' B2 D U'

I: D2 U2 L D U2 F2 \\2x2x2 + 2 pairs (6/6)
N: L2 D2 L' D' B \\PS-2x2x3 (5/11)
L B2 L2 \\PS F2L-1 (3/14)
I: L2 F' D' F D F' D2 F \\L4C, 3-cycle+1 twisted (8/22)

Skel: L2 D2 L' D' B (1) L B2 L2 F' D2 (2) F D' F' D F L2 F2 U2 D' L' U2 D2

1: B2 L F2 L' B2 L F2 L' (cancels 3)
2: D' B' D F D' B D F' (cancels 5)

Final: L2 D2 L' D' B' L F2 L' B2 L F2 B2 L2 F' D B' D F D' B F' D F L2 F2 U2 D' L' U2 D2 (30)

Spoiler: Solve 2: L2 F' U2 B L2 B2 R2 F' U' L' R D F D' L2 R' D2 U'

I: L2 D2 B U2 \\2 opp squares (4/4)
N: L2 F B2 \\PS 2x2x3 (3/7)
I: F' B2 \\2x2x3 (2/9)
(F') U2 F R2 U2 R' \\F2L-1 (5/14)
B U2 B' U2 R' U2 R B U' (B') \\L3C (9/23)

Skel: L2 F B' U B' R' U2 R U2 B U2 B' R (1) U2 R2 F' U2 F2 B2 U2 B' D2 L2

1: R' U' L' U R U' L U (cancels 3)

Final: L2 F B' U B' R' U2 R U2 B U2 B' U' L' U R U' L U' R2 F' U2 F2 B2 U2 B' D2 L2 (28)

Spoiler: Solve 3: B' L2 D2 B U2 F' L2 U2 B L2 D' R' D' R' D2 B D2 L' U' F

Premove: U2 (1/1)
Rest on normal.

F' L' F U' B' U B L2 \\2x2x3 (8/9)
F D R D' R F' R2 \\F2L-1 + EO (7/16)
F' R F2 R' F2 \\L4C, 3-cycle+1 twisted (5/21)

Skel: F' L' F U' B' U B L2 F (1) D (2) R D' R F' R2 F' R F2 R' F2 U2

1: F' L' F R2 F' L F R2 (cancels 3)
2: F' L2 F R F' L2 F R' (cancels 2)

Final: F' L' F U' B' U B L F R2 F' L F R2 D F' L2 F R F' L2 F D' R F' R2 F' R F2 R' F2 U2 (32)

Round 2 -- 28.33 average.

Spoiler: Solve 1: F2 L D2 R' U2 R2 F2 R' B2 R2 D' F L' U' F2 D2 B' L' D2 L

N: U' B' R2 \\2x2x2 (3/3)
I: B2 L B' L \\pairs that magically come together when you switch (4/7)
N: L2 D B2 \\2x2x3 + square (3/10)
I: D' \\fix square (1/11)
N: F' D' F L' D F' D' F2 L' F' \\L3C (10/21)

Skel: U' B' R2 L2 D B2 F' D' F L' (1) D F' D' F2 L' F' D L' B L' B2

1: F U' F' D F U F' D' (cancels 3)

Final: U' B' R2 L2 D B2 F' D' F L' F U' F' D F U F2 D' F2 L' F' D L' B L' B2 (26)

The L3C ending kind of felt like button mashing in a video game, just trying sledges and sexy moves until something happened.

Spoiler: Solve 2: U2 L' D L2 F U2 F L2 U' R2 D2 F2 U2 L2 B' D2 L2 F R2

N: R' F2 R L F D2 \\2 squares (6/6)
I: F' L' F U2 L2 B D \\2x2x3 + pair (7/13)
F' L2 F2 \\F2L-1 (3/16)
L2 F L' F' \\L5C (4/20)

Skel: R' F2 (1) R L F D2 F L F' (2) L2 F2 L2 F D' B' L2 U2 F' L F

1: D2 R U' R' D2 R U R' (cancels 2)
2: F L B L' F' L' B L' (cancels 4)

Final: R' F2 D2 R U' R' D2 R U L F D2 F L2 B L' F' L' B L F2 L2 F D' B' L2 U2 F' L F (30)

Spoiler: Solve 3: B2 F2 L' F2 R' U2 L' F2 D2 R' U' R2 D B2 U L B' D' L' D

N: L U2 R U' R B' \\2x2x2 + 2 pairs (6/6)
U R2 U F' U \\2x2x3 (5/11)
R2 \\align pair/edge (1/12)
I: R' U F U' D' F D \\L4C, 2 pure 2-cycles (7/19)

Skel: L U2 R (1) U' R B' U R2 U F' U R2 D' (2) F' D U F U' R

1: B D2 B' U' B D2 B' U (cancels 2)
2: D2 F' U' F D2 F' U F (cancels 4)

Final: L U2 R B D2 B' U' B D2 B' R B' U R2 U F' U R2 D F' U' F D2 F' D U2 F U' (29)

not optimal

 

[cuBerBruce]

I've been having an issue with both insertion finder and weekly comp where the formatting of my apostrophes doesn't carry over when copying from MS Word, and they get ignored or an error appears. Is there a particular font that fixes this problem? Or some other solution I can't think of? I can manually change them in the browser, but that's a little painstaking.

Don't use Word. Word likes to change things that you type to something else. If you really want to use Word, go to the preferences and uncheck the preference that causes quotation marks to be replaced with smart quotation marks. Otherwise your apostrophes become some non-ASCII character instead of the ASCII apostrophe.

 

[obelisk477]

Don't use Word. Word likes to change things that you type to something else. If you really want to use Word, go to the preferences and uncheck the preference that causes quotation marks to be replaced with smart quotation marks. Otherwise your apostrophes become some non-ASCII character instead of the ASCII apostrophe.

Cool, just changed the preference, thanks!

 

[CyanSandwich]

Wow, just got a 23 move solution and my PB is 34. Not counting as PB because it was over an hour.

Spoiler

Scramble: B2 F2 R2 U2 R2 U B2 D2 B2 U L2 B' L F' R' D2 R B2 R' F2

L' R2 B F' U' R2 //2x2x2 (6/6)
L' B2 L' B' L' B D //L4E (7/13)

Skeleton: L' R2 B F' U' (+) (*) R2 L' B2 L' B' L' B D

Insert at (+): U2 S U2 S'
Insert at (*): S R B' R' S' R B R'
6 moves cancelled total.

Solution: L' R2 B F' U Fw F' U2 R B' R' Fw' F R B R L' B2 L' B' L' B D (23)

I'm quite happy with this, despite the luckiness and going over an hour. It'd be interesting to see some good FMCers try it.