[Help Thread] FMC Discussion

[Hssandwich]

Did 19 solves in 3 days o_O
27, 29, 27, 24, 25, 25, 26, 28, 28, 27, DNF, 28, 28, 29, 27, 23, 24, 25 = 26.56 mean
All were done with a time limit, and I'm pretty happy with the results

I thought this scramble (1st from Brasileiro 2017) was really nice and relaxing. It was hard to find a bad start If you're looking for a nice scramble, but not stupidly easy, then I'd recommend this.
R' U' F L2 B2 L2 B2 D' R2 U F2 L2 U2 F' L2 R F' U2 R D2 F2 L' B' F R' U' F

My solutions (24 & 23)

Spoiler

U R U2 R' //pseudo 222
L & U D //square
B' L2 (L') //F2L-1
D2 B' D F' D B D' F //18 to 3c

& R B' R' F R B R' F' (24 moves)

(B L B) //EO
(L2 B2) //square
(L2 B2 D' L2) //2x2x3
R U' R' U' F2 R U2 R' U' F2 //19 to 3c

Skeleton: R U' R' @ U' F2 R U2 R' U' F2 L2 D B2 L2 B2 L2 B' L' B'
@ B U' F2 U B' U' F2 U
=23 moves

 

[Jaysammey777]

woot my first 23!
US Nats Practice Scramble 1 (6/30/17)
23 HTM
Scramble: D2 R U2 L2 U2 R2 F2 L' U2 D' L2 D' R2 B L' B' F2 L'

Spoiler

2x2x2: B L2 B (3/3)
Psuedo-2x2x3: U2 R2 (2/5)
Fix + EO: (U2 R' L' U' L) (5/10)
AB5C: (F2 U F2 U) (4/14)
Skeleton: B L2 B U2 [3] R2 U' F2 U' F2 [6] L' U L R U2
Insert @ [3] 234 -1 D R' U2 R D' R' U2 R (8/22)
Insert @ [6] 512 -6 U R U' L' U R' U' L (8/30)
Cancellations: B L2 B U2 D R' U2 R D' R' U2 (R R2) U' F2 U' F2 U R U' L' U (R' U' L L' U L R) U2 (-7/23)
Solution: B L2 B U2 D R' U2 R D' R' U2 R' U' F2 U' F2 U R U' L' U L R U2
23 HTM
Notes: 18 to 3T in 4m. 27HTM with that @ 20m. This skeleton (5C) found @ 40m. Finished with 20 seconds to spare.

Spoiler: 3T Solution

2x2x2: B L2 B (3/3)
Square: U2 (1/4)
F2L-1: (B U B' U2 R' F2) (6/10)
AB3T: (R U2 R' F' U F U' R2) (8/18)
Skeleton: B L2 B U2 R2 U F' U' [4] F R U2 R' F2 R U2 B U' B' [1]
Insert @ 1: -6 B U B' D2 B U' B' U2 (8/26)
Insert @ 4: -1 L B2 L' F2 L B2 L' F2

Edit: So ummm:
US Nats Practice Scramble 2
26 HTM
Scramble: R2 U2 F R' D R2 B2 L' U' F2 L' B2 R2 U2 F2 L' F2 U2

Spoiler

Square: (R2 B') (2/2)
2 Squares: R2 (1/3)
2x2x2: (B' U2) (2/5)
Solve Front Edges: (R D R2 F2) (4/9)
AB6C: (R' D F D2 F' D2 R') (7/16)
Skeleton: R D2 F D2 F' D' R [3] F2 R2 D' R' U2 B R2 B R2
Insert @ [3]: 123 -2 R F' L' F R' [5] F' L F (8/24)
Insert @ [5]: ABC -4 L B2 L' F' L B2 L' F (8/32)
Cancellations: R D2 F D2 F' D' (R R) F' L' F R' L B2 L' F' L B2 (L' F F' L) (F F2) R2 D' R' U2 B R2 B R2 (-6/26)
Solution: R D2 F D2 F' D' R2 F' L' F R' L B2 L' F' L B2 F' R2 D' R' U2 B R2 B R2
26 HTM
Notes: Skeleton in 36m. Done @ 60m

US Nats Practice Scramble 3:
25 HTM
Scramble: U2 F2 L' U2 B2 L' B2 U2 R U2 R2 D' B' F2 D2 R U2 L' U' F' L'

Spoiler

Square: B2 (1/1)
Roux Block: R2 F U' R F' (5/6)
Solve 2x2x3: F' U2 R U' B2 R' U' F (8/14)
AB5C: L U' (2/16)
Skeleton: B2 R2 F U' R (F' F') U2 R [6] U' B2 R' [7] U' F L U' (-1/15)
Insert @ [6]: 234 -3 F2 U' B' U F2 U' B U (8/23)
Insert @ [7]: 512 -3 B U' F2 U B' U' F2 U (8/310
Cancellation: B2 R2 F U' R F2 U2 R F2 U' B' U F2 U' (B U U' B2) R' B U' F2 U B' U' (F2 U U' F) L U' (-6/25)
Solution: B2 R2 F U' R F2 U2 R F2 U' B' U F2 U' B' R' B U' F2 U B' U' F' L U'
25 HTM
Notes: 16m Skeleton, done @ 44m. 24.67 Mean

24.67 Mean?!?

 

[obelisk477]

woot my first 23!
US Nats Practice Scramble 1 (6/30/17)
23 HTM
Scramble: D2 R U2 L2 U2 R2 F2 L' U2 D' L2 D' R2 B L' B' F2 L'

Spoiler

2x2x2: B L2 B (3/3)
Psuedo-2x2x3: U2 R2 (2/5)
Fix + EO: (U2 R' L' U' L) (5/10)
AB5C: (F2 U F2 U) (4/14)
Skeleton: B L2 B U2 [3] R2 U' F2 U' F2 [6] L' U L R U2
Insert @ [3] 234 -1 D R' U2 R D' R' U2 R (8/22)
Insert @ [6] 512 -6 U R U' L' U R' U' L (8/30)
Cancellations: B L2 B U2 D R' U2 R D' R' U2 (R R2) U' F2 U' F2 U R U' L' U (R' U' L L' U L R) U2 (-7/23)
Solution: B L2 B U2 D R' U2 R D' R' U2 R' U' F2 U' F2 U R U' L' U L R U2
23 HTM
Notes: 18 to 3T in 4m. 27HTM with that @ 20m. This skeleton (5C) found @ 40m. Finished with 20 seconds to spare.

Spoiler: 3T Solution

2x2x2: B L2 B (3/3)
Square: U2 (1/4)
F2L-1: (B U B' U2 R' F2) (6/10)
AB3T: (R U2 R' F' U F U' R2) (8/18)
Skeleton: B L2 B U2 R2 U F' U' [4] F R U2 R' F2 R U2 B U' B' [1]
Insert @ 1: -6 B U B' D2 B U' B' U2 (8/26)
Insert @ 4: -1 L B2 L' F2 L B2 L' F2

Fight me at nats

 

[Jaysammey777]

Fight me at nats

19 Sub-30's in a row since Classic City Shhhhh, Hopefully I can maintain that consistency at Nats

 

[jpbrc]

Did 19 solves in 3 days o_O
27, 29, 27, 24, 25, 25, 26, 28, 28, 27, DNF, 28, 28, 29, 27, 23, 24, 25 = 26.56 mean
All were done with a time limit, and I'm pretty happy with the results

[/spoiler]

Nice solution! Did you try the third scramble from brasileiro 2017? I couldn't find anything good, just a l5c in 13 but with 2 corners flipped.

 

[Hssandwich]

Nice solution! Did you try the third scramble from brasileiro 2017? I couldn't find anything good, just a l5c in 13 but with 2 corners flipped.

Yup I did all three scrambles:

#3 R' U' F D' F2 U L2 U B2 U' L2 D2 F R' B' L F' R D U' R' B2 F2 U2 R' U' F

Spoiler

B (B L) // square
F2 L' F //EO
L U' R U' //two squares
D' B2 //leave 5c2e

Skeleton: B F2 & L' F L U' R U' D' B2 @ L' B'
@B R' B' R2 F B R' B' R & F' R2 (1 cancel)
&R' U R D2 R' U' R D2 (2 cancel)
=28 moves

I also found 18 to 5c that also ended in 28, but this is more interesting

And #2 too
R' U' F U R2 D2 R2 B2 D L2 U' L2 U2 B' L' B2 D U2 B F2 L' D2 U B R' U' F

Spoiler

U D' R2 F //EO
U2 //pseudo 2x2x2
(D' L') D2 //2x2x3
U F2 U' //F2L-1
(R' F) F //F2L
F R D R' D' F' //17 to 3c

U D' @ R2 F D2 U' F2 U' F2 R D R' D' F2 R L D
@ U R2 U' L U R2 U' L'
=24 moves

23, 24, 28 = 25.00 mo3

Shame about your last solve, it was a tricky scramble for sure. Do you have your solutions to the first and second scrambles?

 

[obelisk477]

If you're doing 3c3e insertions, is it generally better to look for edge insertions or corner insertions first?

 

[Cale S]

If you're doing 3c3e insertions, is it generally better to look for edge insertions or corner insertions first?

I usually use reverse NISS so I can see if there are any places I can insert 4-6 movers (like F' U R U' R' F) to L3C, and you can also see both the edge and corner cycles at the same time

 

[Neuro]

I can't find an efficient solution to this but I'm positive this can be solved in under 30 moves. I got a really lucky scramble that got me to L4C in 15 moves but I can't seem to figure it out

D2 F2 L2 R2 D' L2 R2 F2 U' L2 U B' D' R F L U2 R F2 D2

y2 R' D2 R F B u U2 B U B2 y2//F2L-1 (10/10)
R B U2 B' R'//L4C Setup (5/15)

 

[guysensei1]

I can't find an efficient solution to this but I'm positive this can be solved in under 30 moves. I got a really lucky scramble that got me to L4C in 15 moves but I can't seem to figure it out

D2 F2 L2 R2 D' L2 R2 F2 U' L2 U B' D' R F L U2 R F2 D2

y2 R' D2 R F B u U2 B U B2 y2//F2L-1 (10/10)
R B U2 B' R'//L4C Setup (5/15)

Insert 2 corner commutators in your skeleton to solve the 4C.

Insertion finder gives 25 as optimal btw

 

[Cale S]

First scramble of US Nationals 2017

R' U' F R2 F2 R2 F2 U F2 L R U' B2 U' R' B' F L F2 D B' R' U' F

my solution:
(D2) // 2 pairs
(R) B2 // square
(U' B' D) // 2x2x2
(L2 F U) // F2L - 1 without some corners
L' U L2 U' // 3e6c

B2 L' U L2 @ U2 F' ^ L2 D' B U R' D2
@ = U' D2 L U L' D2 // 18 to 5c
^ = [F D F', U'] // cancels 3

B2 L' U L2 U' D2 L U L' D' U2 % F' U' F D' F' U L2 D' B U R' D2
% = [U B U', F2] // cancels 2

Solution: B2 L' U L2 U' D2 L U L' D' U' B U' F2 U B' U' F U' F D' F' U L2 D' B U R' D2 (29)

 

[ChrisCuber123]

Nats stuff:
1st scramble: R' U' F R2 F2 R2 F2 U F2 L R U' B2 U' R' B' F L F2 D B' R' U' F
2nd scramble: R' U' F D' L2 F2 L2 D' F2 D' R2 U2 B' R U' B F R D2 B' F D B' R' U' F
3rd scramble: R' U' F D2 F' L2 D2 F2 D2 U2 B' U2 B' U' R D' B' L U' F D R2 D U2 R' U' F

my solutions:
scramble 1:

Spoiler

(R') F L' U L // EO
U2 R2 // square
F' U' F' U F' B // 2x2x3
D R2 // F2L-1 missing a corner
B' D' B D' B' D B D2 // fml shitty L4C skeleton
skele: F L' U L U2 R2 F' U' F' * U ^ F' B D R2 B' D' B D' B' D B D2 R
*: F U F' D2 F U' F' D2 (cancels 5)
^: D B2 D' F' D B2 D' F (cancels 3)
final solution: F L' U L U2 R2 F2 D2 F U' F' D' U B2 D' F' D B2 D' B D R2 B' D' B D' B' D B D2 R (31)

scramble 2:

Spoiler

B2 L' F B' // EO
U F2 U // 2x2x2
D' U R' U' R2 // 11 to 3e6c
skeleton: B2 L' % F B' U * F2 U2 D' R' U' R2
*: B2 F D' R D R' B2 ^ F' // solves edges+corner, cancels 1, 18 to 5c
^: D2 F U2 F' D2 F U2 F' // cancels 4
%: L2 F' R F L2 F' R' F // cancels 2
final solution: B2 L F' R F L2 F' R' F2 B' U B2 F D' R D R' B2 D2 F U2 F' D2 F D' R' U' R2 (28)

scramble 3:

Spoiler

L' B R' // EO
U' R2 // square
(R2) // square
(D F2 L2 F2 B) // ps2x2x3
(R2 D R2 D2) // psF2L-1
(F' R2 F R2 F) // L4C
skeleton: L' ^ B R' U' R2 F' R2 F' R2 * F D2 R2 D' R2 B' F2 L2 F2 D' R2
*: D B' D' F D B D' F'
^: L U2 L' D2 L U2 L' D2
final solution: U2 L' D2 L U2 L' D2 B R' U' R2 F' R2 F' R2 D B' D' F D B D R2 D' R2 B' F2 L2 F2 D' R2 (31)

31, 28, 31 = 30.00 mean rip, tied with Cale for both single and mean

I somehow missed a 6 move 2x2x3 on inverse on the 3rd solve, if I had seen that I probably would have podiumed

 

[Emilien]

28 on the first, DNF on the second .. Nothing interesting .. But Roux is amazing.

Spoiler

R' U' F D2 F' L2 D2 F2 D2 U2 B' U2 B' U' R D' B' L U' F D R2 D U2 R' U' F

L' B R' // EO (3)
U' R2 // Block (2)
(R2) // Blocks (1)
B' D' F' B D B' D2 // Master Roux(7)

Skel : L' B R' U' R2 B' D' B + F' D B' D2 - R2 (13)

+ B L2 F B' U2 F' (6-2 = 4)
- D2 F B' L2 F' B (6-3 = 3)

Solution : L' B R' U' R2 B' D' B2 L2 F B' U2 F2 D B2 F L2 F' B R2 (20)

20 HTM

 

[ChrisCuber123]

28 on the first, DNF on the second .. Nothing interesting .. But Roux is amazing.

Spoiler

R' U' F D2 F' L2 D2 F2 D2 U2 B' U2 B' U' R D' B' L U' F D R2 D U2 R' U' F

L' B R' // EO (3)
U' R2 // Block (2)
(R2) // Blocks (1)
B' D' F' B D B' D2 // Master Roux(7)

Skel : L' B R' U' R2 B' D' B + F' D B' D2 - R2 (13)

+ B L2 F B' U2 F' (6-2 = 4)
- D2 F B' L2 F' B (6-3 = 3)

Solution : L' B R' U' R2 B' D' B2 L2 F B' U2 F2 D B2 F L2 F' B R2 (20)

20 HTM

nice solution, you used the same start as me but used it well! could you post your solution for the first also? I thought that scramble was pretty hard, as did other people

 

[Mark Boyanowski]

I finally have some time to sit down and post my solutions from US Nationals 2017. I had a ton of fun at this competition, and while some of my results weren't quite what I wanted, two wins at a major competition is a big achievement for me. Congratulations to Walker Welch and Raymond Goslow for placing 2nd and 3rd respectively, and I know that Walker deserves this win a lot more than I do Anyway, here are my solutions:

Scramble 1: R' U' F R2 F2 R2 F2 U F2 L R U' B2 U' R' B' F L F2 D B' R' U' F

Spoiler

(D2) // 2 pairs
(R B L2 D B2) // 2x2x2
(B L2 B' U) U' // 2x2x3
L' // pair
F' L // set up BOY pair

From this point, I explored lots of options. I'll show the two that led somewhere:

D' L D // F2L -1
F2 U L' U' L // L3E

In total this is 21 to L3E. I did the insertions for a safety 28 move solution. After writing that down, I found this (continuing from the "set up BOY pair" step):

F U' F U // place BO edge with the intention of building the BOW block
L' // I decide instead to go for the BOY block to preserve the YRG pair
F' L' F L // F2L -1. Inserting the pair with F2 L F2 L' gives 26 to L3C (optimal 31), so I instead did the following:
L' U L U' // F2L
U L' U2 R U2 L U2 R' U // Finish (standard OLL alg)

Final(26): U' L' F' L F U' F U L' F' L' F U' R U2 L U2 R' B L2 B D' L2 B' R' D2

Obviously the final solution is very lucky, involving a skip and tons of cancelled moves. But at least I had the 28 as a backup in case this crazy skip didn't happen

Scramble 2: R' U' F D' L2 F2 L2 D' F2 D' R2 U2 B' R U' B F R D2 B' F D B' R' U' F

Spoiler

(R' U') // 2x2x1
L' B F U B2 U F2 // 2x2x3
F L' F' // EO
L' D L D' // 2x2x3 + 2x2x1
L' D2 L' D' L2 // L4C

Skeleton: L' F @ B U B2 U F' L' F' L' D L D' L' D2 L' D' L2 U R

@ = D B U B' # D' B U' B'
# = B' D' F D B D' F' D

Final(28): L' F D B U B2 D' F D B D' F' B' U F' L' F' L' D L D' L' D2 L' D' L2 U R

Scramble 3: R' U' F D2 F' L2 D2 F2 D2 U2 B' U2 B' U' R D' B' L U' F D R2 D U2 R' U' F

Spoiler

(U) // pair
(L' B F2 L D') // 2x2x3

I first found this continuation:

(F' L' F2 U' F') // EO
(U L2) // F2L -1
(U2 L' U' L U) // L5C

I finished the insertions for a 30 (and missed incredibly obvious insertions for a 29 according to IF), then decided to mess around with inserting random moves and finishing the 2x2x3 differently. I found this with about 5 minutes remaining:

(U) // pair
(L' B F2 L2 F L' F' D') // 2x2x3 (not sure if I was trying to connect the YO edge with the O center or just trying moving the pair out of the way before finishing the 2x2x3)
(L' U L') // F2L -1 missing a corner
(U' L' U' L U L' U L U2) // L3C

Skeleton: U2 L' U' L U' L' U L U @ L U' L D F L F' L2 F2 B' L U'

@ = D L' U2 L D' L' U2 L

Final(28): U2 L' U' L U' L' U L U D L' U2 L D' L' U2 L2 U' L D F L F' L2 F2 B' L U'

IF shows that I actually missed optimal, which I was shocked to see on 3 corners. I think this was due to being exhausted during this attempt, and also partly due to thinking too much about the stakes of the attempt and not focusing.

 

[YouCubing]

first time using a premove, cool
here
U' F2 D2 L' F2 R B2 L B2 R2 U2 R' U' B' D2 L' F' L' D' R' B2

D' L'
F' U2 F U2 R B'
U2 R U R' B' R B
R' U' R U' R B' R' B
R' F R F' U R U R' U2 F R' F' R U D

 

[porkynator]

My solves @Worlds

Scramble #1: R' U' F U2 L2 F' R2 F U2 F L2 D R' U L2 F2 L' U B' R2 U' B2 F2 R' U' F

Spoiler

Solution: L' U2 R' D R U' R' D' F' R D' R' B D R' F R B2 R' F' R B' U L2 B' D' B' D2 B' D' R2 (31)

L' U * D' R' //EO (4/4)
B D & B U L2 //2x2x2 (5/9)
B' D' B' D2 B' D' R2 //All but 7 pieces (7/16)

* = + R' F' R //All but 4 corners (3/19)
+ = U R' D R U' R' D' R //3c (5/24)
& = R' F R B2 R' F' R B2 //3c (7/31)

Scramble #2: R' U' F D' L2 D2 F2 U F2 R2 F2 R B R2 D2 L2 U' F2 L2 R2 D F2 U' R' U' F

Spoiler

Solution: ??? (25)

D L2 //2x2x1 (2/2)
F D //Pseudo 2x2x2 + pair (2/4)
B2 R2 D2 //2x2x3 (3/7)
R U' R2 F' R U //F2L-1 (6/13)
R' F R //All but 4 corners (3/16)

I can't find insertions on my sheet, no idea why. Ended up with a 25.

Scramble #3: R' U' F U R2 B2 D' L2 F2 D U' F2 R' B D' F' U' L R D F2 U F' R' U' F

Spoiler

Solution: R2 D2 R2 D' B2 D B2 D L' F L B2 L' F' L D2 L B' F D U' R' U' B2 L2 U2 (26)

I used "skew centers", i.e. inserted M' E M E' at some point. If you this at the beginning, you see a nice 2x2x2 block ready there. I don't know what the best way to follow this solve i, it took a lot of rewriting taking into account the movement of the centers.

(U2 L2 B2 U) //3 pairs (4/4)
R2 D2 R2 //blocks (3/7)
(L B') //2x2x3 + square (2/9)
(L2 U2 L' U2 L' U2 L) //All but 3 corners (and centers) (7/16)

Skeleton: U2 L2 B2 U L + B' L2 * U2 L' U2 L' U2 L B2 L2 B2
* = F' D F U2 F' D' F U2 //3c (6/22)
+ = M' E M E' //Centers (4/26)

31, 25, 26 = 27.33 Mo3

Hopefully enough for podium. Don't be shy, share your solves!

 

[ChrisCuber123]

My Worlds solutions:
Scramble 1: R' U' F U2 L2 F' R2 F U2 F L2 D R' U L2 F2 L' U B' R2U' B2 F2 R' U' F

Spoiler

Solution: DNS

overslept :/

Scramble #2: R' U' F D' L2 D2 F2 U F2 R2 F2 R B R2 D2 L2 U' F2 L2 R2 D F2 U' R' U' F

Spoiler

Solution: U B2 D U' F U' R2 F2 L' U B' R2 B L B' R2 U F' U' B U F2 U F D' (25)

U B2 D (D) // 2x2x2
U' F U' R2 // 2x2x3
(F' U' F') // EO+square
(U' L' U' L F2) // 16 to L4C
skeleton: U B2 D U' F U' R2 F2 L' U L ^ * U F U F D'
*: B' U F' U' B U F U'
^: L' B' R2 B L B' R2 B

Scramble #3: R' U' F U R2 B2 D' L2 F2 D U' F2 R' B D' F' U' L R D F2 U F' R' U' F

Spoiler

Solution: some shitty 33

my start:
B2 D2 L' B F // EO+4 pairs

couldn't find anything good off of this within the hour, settled for 33 on 27 to 3c :/

DNS, 25, 33 = DNF mean

Kinda annoyed that I missed the first attempt, but my last attempt was bad anyway so I got less annoyed. Satisfied with the single though

 

[Emilien]

1# R' U' F U2 L2 F' R2 F U2 F L2 D R' U L2 F2 L' U B' R2 U' B2 F2 R' U' F

ZZ solution

Spoiler

L' U D' R B' U' // EO Line Pairs (6)
(L2 F L2 B D2) // Blocks (5)
L2 F' L2 // Blocks (3)
(B2 D B' D' F D) // 3C (6)

Skel : L' U D' + R B' U' L2 F' L2 D' F' D B D' B2 D2 B' L2 F' L2

+ U2 R' D R U2 R' D' R (8-2=6)

26 HTM

 

[Prakhar]

I am having a bit trouble doing twisted double swap for last 4 corner insertions. Can anyone provide any example solve in which l4c inserted is a twisted double swap. Also, please tell what sticker is put where for the insertions.