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[Help Thread] FMC Discussion

Easy edge 3-cycles I should learn? At the moment I know only
  • 6-move [M, U2] + inverse (1 premove is okay, but still I get to use this very rarely)
Then the intuitive 10-movers:
  • Comms where interchanges are in the same face like [L' E2 L, D']
  • Interchange is already in M, E or S slice like [U R2 U', M']


When I don't find anything but the 10-movers and not any cancellations, I'm pretty much ****** up. An example (the current weekly comp):
D F B2 R' L B2 L B' R2 U D' R2 D' B2 D R2 L2 D2 R2

My skeleton (corner insertions already done):
U2 B' R U2 R' U F' U F L' D' L' B L F2 L' B L' F' R2 F L2 * F' R2 F' L2 B
*[F' E2 F, U'] ([F' D2 U2 B, U'])

So I searched and searched and got tired to searching and messed up by doing this insertion. The insertion finder found multiple 8-movers (not really comms) cancelling 3 moves. I want to learn some of these.


Which edge 3-cycles do you use, I'd like to learn some easy ones to find better edge insertions. Cases that often come up?

(R2 U' R2 f2)2 and variations
 
Scramble from FLIP Open 2017, two 24s found in 1 hour!
R' U' F L2 U R2 F2 D B2 U' L2 D B F' L' D' U2 F D' B L R D B R' U' F


24 #1
R' U' F L2 U R2 F2 D B2 U' L2 D B F' L' D' U2 F D' B L R D B R' U' F

U' //pair
(L B2 D B) L //XXcross
(F2 D' F' D) //F2L-1
(L F L') //F2L
L' U' R U' R' U2 L //16 to 2 twisted corners

Skeleton: U2 R U' @ R' U2 L2 F' L' { D' F D } F2 B' D' B2 L'

Here I tried something I'd been thinking of using for a while, but I hadn't tried it in practice
Replace {} with L' D' F D F' L F (cancelling 2 and leaving 18 to 3c)

@ [B L2 B', R'] //cancels 2 for 24 moves

Solution: U2 R U' B L2 B' R' B L2 B' U2 L2 F' L2 D' F D F' L F' B' D' B2 L' (24)

24 #2
R' U' F L2 U R2 F2 D B2 U' L2 D B F' L' D' U2 F D' B L R D B R' U' F

U'//pair
(L B2 D B) L //XXcross
(F2 D' F' D) //F2L-1
(L F L') //F2L

Then I tried using this as a 'skeleton'

U' L2 F' L' D' F D F2 B' £ D' B2 @
@ L' U B L2 B' L2 U' //leave 3c in 18 (again :p)
£ [B2, D F' D'] 2 cancel for 24 moves

Solution: U' L2 F' L' D' F D F2 B D F' D' B2 D F D2 B2 L' U B L2 B' L2 U' (24)

Finally, a 14 to 5c skeleton that I found at the end of the time (IF says 25 anyway)

U' //pair
(L B2 D B) L // XXcross
(U' D' F D) //F2L-1
U' R' F R // 14 to 5c

Cool scramble!
 
weekly fmc, I found a almost linear 28 but it's not my start so I'm not gonna submit it.

S: L R B2 U' F2 L2 R' F U B' L2 U2 L F D' R' B2 D U2 F'

F2 R B2 U' R' F'//2x2x2 (6/6)
U2 R2 U2//2x2x3 (3/9)
B U R U2 B2 U//EO (6/15)
R' B' R2 B//pseudo F2L (4/19)
F' R2 F R F' R F R' B//LL+fix pseudo (9/28)
 
Special insertions for Atlantic Open Special scramble 2 :
S // R' U' F L2 R B2 U2 R2 F2 D2 L' D2 U2 F' U F' D' B R' D F2 D2 F U2 R' U' F
I // F' U R U2 F' D2 F2 D' R B' D F U' F U2 D2 L D2 F2 R2 U2 B2 R' L2 F' U R

(+ U' L' D' L' U') // 222
(D2 B' D' B' * D R2 B R') // 2E3C

* B R' B' R2 B R' B' R'
+ F U' B2 U F' U' B2 U

Solution // R B' R2 D' R B R B' R2 B R D B D2 U L D L B2 U F U' B2 U F' - 25 Moves

edit : and also for scramble 3 :
S // R' U' F U2 R' B2 D2 U2 F2 R' F2 L D' F' L' U B L' U' L D2 F2 U2 R' U' F
I // F' U R U2 F2 D2 L' U L B' U' L F D L' F2 R F2 U2 D2 B2 R U2 F' U R

L2 B L // 122
(U D R F') // 222
R2 D' R' D2 // PF2L-1
R' D' // 4E3C

Skel // L2 B L R2 + * D' R' D2 R' D' F R' D' U' - 13
* F2 B U' L' B L U F2 B'
+ R' B L2 B' R B L2 B'

Solution // L2 B L R B L2 B' R B L2 F2 U' L' B L U F2 B' D' R' D2 R' D' F R' D' U' - 27 Moves
 
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FMC PB!

Scramble: R2 F' B2 U2 D' L U' L' B' D' U' F' R D' F2 U2 L' F' B2 U2 (from David Adams' site, week 186)

B' L' U' B2 // 2x2x2
(L' D' L F D2 L' D' F2) // pseudo F2L-1
F L2 D L' D2 F' D' F // AB4C

skeleton: B' L' U' B2 F L2 D L' D2 F' D' F' D L D2 F' L' D * L (19 to AB4C)
* [D', L U L'] - cancels 6

new skeleton: B' L' U' B2 F L2 * D L' D2 F' D' F' D L D2 F' U L' D L U' (21 to AB3C)
* [L2, B' R2 B] - cancels 3

solution: B' L' U' F B R2 B L2 B' R2 B D L' D2 F' D' F' D L D2 F' U L' D L U' (26)

IF says my insertions were optimal :)
 
I average about 43 moves with CFOP, blockbuilding and stuff like doing eo.
I am really lost right now with all these methods so can someone help me with what to do next.
 
I average about 43 moves with CFOP, blockbuilding and stuff like doing eo.
I am really lost right now with all these methods so can someone help me with what to do next.
Practice more efficient blockbuilding. Learn to do commutators and start finding insertions.

And, learn doing NISS! It can be an extremely helpful technique. Also pseudo blocks help a lot.

Speedcubereview's tutorial gives a nice overview of the basic fmc techniques. Definitely check that one out, it helped me a lot.
 
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Flip Open 2017 or two ways to beat Insertion finder ;)

S // R' U' F L2 U R2 F2 D B2 U' L2 D B F' L' D' U2 F D' B L R D B R' U' F
I // F' U R B' D' R' L' B' D F' U2 D L F B' D' L2 U B2 D' F2 R2 U' L2 F' U R

L U' // 122
(L B2 D B) // XXcross
(F2 D' F' D) // F2L-1
(F2) F2 L // PTripod
(F' L F2) // 3E3C

Skel // L U' F2 L F2 L' F' D' * F D F2 B' D' B2 L' - 15
* L F L' F' L2 F' R' B D2 B' R F

Solution // L U' F2 L F2 L' F' D' L F L' F' L2 F' R' B D2 B' R F2 D F2 B' D' B2 L' - 26 Moves

Skel // L U' F2 L F2 + * L' F' D' F D F2 B' D' B2 L' - 15
* L2 U2 B' U' B U' L2
+ F2 L B L' F2 L B' L'
Solution // L U' F2 L2 B L' F2 L B' L U2 B' U' B U' L F' D' F D F2 B' D' B2 L' - 25 Moves

Optimal with seperate insertions is 27.
 
I used a 2e2c insertion for the first time:

U F R' U L2 D' R L' B R2 D2 U2 L U D' R U2 L' B' F' (David Adams' Weekly FMC 185)

B2 R B // EO
D R2 U F2 B2 * // more pieces
L' U' L' U L2 U' L' D2 // pseudo F2L-1
U2 R U R' D // AB2E2C

* x2 D L Fw2 L2 D L D’ L Fw2 L' x2 // shifted 10-mover (cancels 1)

solution: B2 R B D R2 U F2 B2 U L F2 R2 D R D' R F2 L2 U' L' U L2 U' L' D2 U2 R U R' D (30)

What's the process for finding cancellations for this type of insertion? I was able to cancel 1 move but it was mostly just luck.
 
I used a 2e2c insertion for the first time:

U F R' U L2 D' R L' B R2 D2 U2 L U D' R U2 L' B' F' (David Adams' Weekly FMC 185)

B2 R B // EO
D R2 U F2 B2 * // more pieces
L' U' L' U L2 U' L' D2 // pseudo F2L-1
U2 R U R' D // AB2E2C

* x2 D L Fw2 L2 D L D’ L Fw2 L' x2 // shifted 10-mover (cancels 1)

solution: B2 R B D R2 U F2 B2 U L F2 R2 D R D' R F2 L2 U' L' U L2 U' L' D2 U2 R U R' D (30)

What's the process for finding cancellations for this type of insertion? I was able to cancel 1 move but it was mostly just luck.
Memorise a lot of short 2c2e algs and hope the pieces give you a case you know.
 
My mean PB (27.33) solutions from Cube Camp in Kanazawa 2017.

1st scramble: R' U' F U2 L2 R2 B2 D2 U L2 F2 L' B D' B2 R B2 D' B U' L2 F' D R' U' F
1st solution: F2 U2 D2 R F B2 U D2 B' U' B2 D' L D L' D L D' L' D B' D F' D' B D F B' (28 moves)
30 min backup solution.

Pre-scramble: B

2x2x1 block: F2 U2
2x2x2 block: D2 R F
More 1x2x3 block: B2 U D2
F2L minus 1 slot: B' U' B2
All but 3 corners: D' L D L' D L D' L' D2
Corner 3-cycle: D' B' D F' D' B D F
Correction: B

On inverse,

Orient edges: D2 L F'
2x2x2 block: U2 F2 D L

looked interesting, but I couldn't find any good continuation.

2nd scramble: R' U' F R2 D2 L R2 D2 U2 F2 D2 L D F L' F L2 U L2 B R' D' R' U' F
2nd solution: U2 F' R2 U R' B2 R D F' D' L D2 L2 D R2 D' L2 D R' D L' B D2 R2 D U' B2 U (28 moves)
30 min backup solution.

1st square: U2 F' R2 U
2nd square: R' B2 R
2x2x3 block: D F' D2
All but 4 corners and 3 edges: R D * B D'
Edge 3-cycle: D' R2 D U' B2 U

Insert at *: D' R' D L D' + R D L'
Insert at +: D' L2 D R2 D' L2 D R2

IF says optimal insertions give 24 moves. :eek:

3rd scramble: R' U' F U2 R2 F2 L F2 R' U2 F2 L U' B L' U2 L U2 R D' L2 R' D' R' U' F
3rd solution: U2 R F' R' L B' L F2 R B2 R' B' R2 B2 R B' R' B2 U2 F' U B2 U' F U2 B' (26 moves)
20 min backup solution.

1x2x3 block: U2 R F' R'
2x2x3 block: L B' L F2
F2L minus 1 slot: R B2 R' B' R2
Orient edges: B2 R B' R'
All but 3 corners: B2 U' * B2 U B'

Insert at *: U' F' U B2 U' F U B2

On inverse, EO start U' B' U looked interesting, for example

U' B' U F' L' R F B' R' B2 R' F R' F' R F2,

but I couldn't find any good finish based on the start.

Shuto Ueno got 1st place with 26.33 mean, hopefully he will post his solutions here.
 
Decided to post my PB solve here from a few days ago:

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

pseudo-2x2x3: D F D B2 L' R' B' D' F B D2 (11/11)
another 2x2x1: F' R F2 R (4/15)
AB3C: D' F' D' L D L' D2 (7/22)

Skeleton:
D F D B2 L' R' B' D' F B D2 F' R * F2 R D' F' D' L D L' D2 (22)
*: R D' L D R' D' L' D

Solution:
D F D B2 L' R' B' D' F B D2 F' R2 D' L D R' D' L' D F2 R D' F' L D L' D2 (29)

I usually fix pseudoblock then continue, but instead I just kept going and it turned out to be a good choice. Also I actually did both p223 and AB3C in two steps(222 and 122, 122 and the rest) but IIRC there were 1 move cancellations in both of them. And IF says my insertion is optimal. Basically had a stroke of luck, I should say :D

Now I'm curious if there's any better continuation... I'd appreciate it if anybody finds it :)
 
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weekly fmc, I got a 27 and unintentionally didn't use B moves lol
s: F D U L2 R2 B R2 D' B2 F2 D B L2 U L2 B D F' L' D2


D' F2 L F'//EO
L F2//1x2x3
U' L2 U'//2x2x3
L ** D' L'//F2L-1
* R' D' R D2//AB4C

*=D' L' D R' D' L D R
**=R2 D L D' R2 D L' D'

Final: D' F2 L F' L F2 U' L2 U' L R2 D L D' R2 D L' D2 L' D' L' D R' D' L R D2 (27)
 
22.67 mean from GLS Cup IV 2017!

#1: 21

R' U' F U2 F' D2 R2 F' D2 B' F2 U2 L2 R2 D R' B' F R' B' R U2 B' R' U' F
(L2 U') //EO
(B) //222
(L' F' L2) //square
(F2 B' L2 B) //solve another square
(D2 L2 D2 F) //14 to 3c!

Skeleton: F' D2 L2 D2 * B' L2 B F2 L2 F L B' U L2
*[D' L2 D', R] (1 cancel)
=21 moves

And another :p
(L2 U') //EO
F2 D2 F' //3 squares?!
(B L' F2 D2 F L2) //11 to 5c
Skeleton: F2 D2 @ F' L2 F' D2 F2 L & B' U L2
@ [R2, F' L2 F] (5 cancel)
& [D F D', B] (1 cancel)
=21 moves

Very nice scramble :D

#2: 23
R' U' F U2 R' B2 L' U2 R2 U2 B2 L D R2 U2 R2 U' R' F' L' B2 R' F2 R' U' F

{L'} R2 D2 R2 B D //222 with inserted L'
{L} F' U' //223 with inserted L
F' L2 //F2L-1
L F L' //pairs
(U L' U' L) //F2L
(F' L F D' L D L' F' L') //LL (3 moves cancel with NISS)

=23 moves

#3: 24
R' U' F R2 F2 U L2 U2 B2 D U' R' D2 U' B2 F' L R F' L2 B2 U' R' U' F
B' (B' R B2 R') //222
(F' D' F') //223
(L D L') //leave 3 edges + some corners

B' L @ D' L' F D F R B2 R' B &
@ D' B2 F2 R F R' F B2 D // leave 3c (2 moves cancel)
& B' L B R' B' L' B R (2 cancel)

=24 moves

A very nice set of scrambles!
 
does anyone have a good list of commutators i can use for fmc? I just got into this and im starting from cfop, and as it is known, cfop is pretty bad in fmc. all i know for edges is u perm (but i do know the optimal one) and all i know for corners is a perm.
 
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