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[Help Thread] FMC Discussion

TGBBO FMC Solutions, 25.00 (feat. 17 WR single) and 24.33 means :D

Round 1

#1: 27
R' U' F U' B2 F2 R2 B2 D F2 U' B2 F' U' F2 D L R D' U2 B L' D2 R' U' F

(B R L2 U2 B2 D' B') // pseudo 2x2x3
(F2 D' L) // F2L-1
(F D' F') // 13 to 3e4c

Skeleton: F D F' L' D ^ F2 B D & B2 U2 L2 R' B'
& F D2 F' D2 * //17 to 5c
* D2 F U F' D2 F U' F' (4 cancel)
^ R B2 R' F2 R B2 R' F2 (2 cancel)

Solution: F D F' L' D R B2 R' F2 R B2 R' B D F D2 U F' D2 F U' F' B2 U2 L2 R' B' (27)

Nothing too special about this one, besides the fact I found the all the insertions in the last 15 minutes.

#2: 31
R' U' F L U2 R D2 R2 F2 L2 F2 D2 R2 B' R' D' R2 D B D' L B F U' R' U' F

(L') F' L2 //square
U' L U' L2 U' D' F' R2 (D') //F2L-1
(F R F2 R' F D' F D) //F2L
(D2 F' D L D' F D2 F' D' L' D F) //LL

Solution: F' L2 U' L U' L2 U' D' F' R2 F' D' L D F D2 F' D L' D' F D F' D F' R F2 R' F' D L (31)

Obviously a bad solve, unfortunately missed the lovely EO which @porkynator found, but oh well!
I got too transfixed with this:
(L') F' L2 //square
D2 R2 //another square and a lot of pairs
But didn't find much at all from it.

#3: 17
R' U' F D' L2 B2 R2 B2 U F2 D U F2 R2 F D R2 B L D' B2 R' D' F2 R' U' F

R L' D' L //EO
(R2 F') //domino
U' R2 D' L2 D' L2 D //domino on all axis
F2 U2 F2 L2 // finish

Solution: R L' D' L U' R2 D' L2 D' L2 D F2 U2 F2 L2 F R2 (17)

Obviously the WR single and very, very lucky to find that domino!! Very happy that I managed to find the optimal solution in the end too, shame it was a bad mean already :/

Round 2
#1: 25
R' U' F D' L2 U' L2 F2 D' L2 R2 D' L' B2 D' L2 R U L B U B2 F R' U' F

B' U D' B // 2x2x2
(F2 R) //pseudo 2x2x3
L F2 L' R' //pseudo F2L-1
U' F U2 //13 to 3e3c

B' U D' B $ L F2 % L' R' U' F U2 R' F2
% L2 R' F' U' F U R L2 (3 cancel, 18 to 3c)
$ B L2 B' R B L2 B' R' (1 cancel)

Solution:
B' U D' B2 L2 B' R B L2 B' R' L F2 L2 R' F' U' F U L U' F U2 R' F2 (25)

Nice stuff here, missed @fabdabs1234 20 as well as @Robert-Y 's insertion (I found the skeleton though). Nice blockbuilding skeleton with average insertions.

#2: 25
R' U' F R D2 B2 D2 L2 F2 L B2 R F2 L F R B' D2 F' D2 U F2 R' F' R' U' F

B' R' D' F2 B' L' U2 // pseudo 2x2x3
D F' R F // EO
D R' D R D2 F2 R2 //18 to 3e3tc

Skeleton: B' R' ¥ D' F2 B' L' U2 D F' R F D R' D R D2 F2 R2
¥ B D' B' D2 B D2 B' D' (1 cancel)

Solution: B' R' B D' B' D2 B D2 B' D2 F2 B' L' U2 D F' R F D R' D R D2 F2 R2 (25)

A nice insertion saved this one thankfully, made up for missing the 3e3tc insertion on the last solve :p Not a great scramble in general, also had this 16 to 3e3c:
B' R' D' F2 B' L' U2 (R) // 2x2x3
(L D' L' B R F2 R' B') //16 to 3e3c

#3: 23
R' U' F U2 B2 D' R2 D F2 L2 R2 U' R2 U R' B F' L' F2 B2 R2 U' B2 D' R' U' F

F2 L B // EO
(L B2 D') // square
D' B2 // two more squares
F2 U' R // 11 to 4e4c

Skeleton: F2 L B D' B2 F2 U' R D B2 & L' *
* U2 R L D L' R' U2 (18 to 3c)
& D L' U L D' L' U' L (3 cancel)

Solution: F2 L B D' B2 F2 U' R D B2 D L' U L D' L' U R L D L' R' U2 (23)

Very happy with this! Love me a bit of 4e4c, unfortunately I couldn't find a way to fully setup to a move, but doing it to 3c is also nice :D
I also had this really nice skeleton (11 to 4e4ce3c, which I couldn't find anything better than 24.

Same skeleton as before: F2 L B D' B2 F2 ₩ U' R D B2 L' ^
^ L R D' R' L' (14 to 4e3c, 2 cancel)
₩ F2 Fw2 (5 cancel :D)
New skeleton:
F2 L B D2 L U Fw2 R D' R' L' // 11 to 3c4e4ce
From here I found:
F2 L B D2 L U Fw2 R ÷ D' R' L'
÷ L U' L' ^ D' L U L' D (3 cancel)
^ R' U R' F2 Fw2 R U' R (24)

What a competition.
 
GBBO solutions: 29.33 and 25.00 means with 20 single :)

Round 1
#1
R' U' F U' B2 F2 R2 B2 D F2 U' B2 F' U' F2 D L R D' U2 B L' D2 R' U' F
F' U R D2 L B' U2 D R' L' D' F2 U F B2 U F2 D' B2 R2 F2 B2 U F' U R

(B R L2 U2 B2 D' B' F2 D' L) //f2l -1
(B F D' F' D B') //f2l
(L D B D' B' L' D') //3c

D L B D B' D' L' B D' F [F' L B L' F L B' L' ]D F' B' L' D F2 B D B2 U2 L2 R' B' (29)

cheeky backup i found in not very many minutes

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

F' U B U L2 R U' B' L // 223
(U2 B U B' R U') //f2l

[D2 [F' R B2 R' F R B2 R' ]R' D' R D2 R' D' R D]F' U B U L2 R U' B' L U R' B U' B' U2 (31)

eww, couldnt finish what looked like a good start, guess i should learn optimal zbll.

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

R U (D2 R' F L2) //222 with extra move
(R B2 D') //square
(R2 F D F' D2 R2) //f2l/3e3c

R U R2 * D2 F D' F' R2 D B2 R' L2 F' R D2

*[R B R' U2 D2 L F' L' U2 D2]

R U R' [R D' R' U R D R' U']B R' U2 D2 L F' L' U2 F D' F' R2 D B2 R' L2 F' R D2 (28)

might have missed the 6 move domino oops.

Round 2
#1
R' U' F D' L2 U' L2 F2 D' L2 R2 D' L' B2 D' L2 R U L B U B2 F R' U' F
F' U R F' B2 U' B' L' U' R' L2 D B2 L D R2 L2 D F2 L2 U L2 D F' U R

B' U D' B //222
(F2 R U R2 U R2 U D' F D R) //3e

B' U D' B R' D' F' D [R' L F' R2 F R L' U' R2 U] U' R2 U' R2 U' R' F2

B' U D' B R' D' F' D R' L F' R2 F R L' U2 R2 U' R' F2 (20)

yay, glad I got a nice single after missing the domino
Edit: Also overall PB :D

#2
R' U' F R D2 B2 D2 L2 F2 L B2 R F2 L F R B' D2 F' D2 U F2 R' F' R' U' F
F' U R F R F2 U' D2 F D2 B R' F' L' F2 R' B2 L' F2 L2 D2 B2 D2 R' F' U R

(B2 D') D R' //222
U' B L B2 L2 //223
B2 U2 B' L' B2 L U' L U2 L' B'

[R' U R D R' U' R D']D R' U' B L B2 L2 B2 U2 B' L' B2 L U' L U2 L' B' D B2

R' U [U' B' D' B U B' D B] R D R' U2 B L B2 L2 B2 U2 B' L' B2 L U' L U2 L' B' D B2 (29)

inserted with not much time left, so not too disappointed to have only missed optimal by 1

#3
R' U' F U2 B2 D' R2 D F2 L2 R2 U' R2 U R' B F' L' F2 B2 R2 U' B2 D' R' U' F
F' U R D B2 U R2 B2 F2 L F B' R U' R2 U R2 L2 F2 D' R2 D B2 U2 F' U R

(L D' F D' F') //222
(U R B')//ps223
(R2 U' F' U' F R2 U' R B2) //5c

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

B2 R' U R2 F' B U F U' [U L2 U' R U L2 U' R'] B' U2 R2 B R' U' F D F' D L' (26)

fairly happy with this really boring solve
 
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It's my turn then!

1. R' U' F U' B2 F2 R2 B2 D F2 U' B2 F' U' F2 D L R D' U2 B L' D2 R' U' F
Solution: B2 F' U R2 F D F' U' F D' B' R D2 B' L F' L' B2 L F L' R' D2 B U' F' R L' F' B' (30)
On inverse:
B F L R' F U //222 + 2 pairs (6/6)
B' D2 //Square (2/8)
R # B' R' * B' //3e4c (4/12)

* = R D2 R' B F' + U R2 U' F B' //Leaves 4c (7/19)
+ = F D F' U F D' F' U' (4)
# = L F' L' B2 L F L' B2 (7)

I have found the skeleton with around 20 minutes left, without any other backup skeleton or solution whatsoever. I did a quick pass to check if I could insert a sexy move to solve edges, and I couldn't find anything. I decided to just insert edges and go on with 4 corners. I am fairly sure that my insertions are not optimal, but I am still satisfied that I managed not to panick and still hand in a half-decent solve.

Completely missed the F2L-1 in 10 moves :p

2. R' U' F L U2 R D2 R2 F2 L2 F2 D2 R2 B' R' D' R2 D B D' L B F U' R' U' F
Solution: F' U' D' B2 F2 L F R2 F' L' F D L2 D L D' L2 U2 R2 U R' U' R' U2 (24)
F' U' D' F' //EO + pair + square (4/4)
B2 * R2 D //222 + square (3/7)
L2 D //321 (2/9)
L D' L2 //3e5c (3/12)
U2 R2 U R' U' R' U2 //3c (7/19)

* = F' L F R2 F' L' F R2 (5)

This time I was the only one that did NOT miss that nice start :)

3. R' U' F D' L2 B2 R2 B2 U F2 D U F2 R2 F D R2 B L D' B2 R' D' F2 R' U' F
Solution: R L' D' L D2 U B2 D' R2 D' U2 R2 U2 R2 D' L2 F' R2 (18)
R L' D' L //EO (4/4)
(R2 F) //Domino Reduction (2/6)

First solution (19):
(L2 U F2 U' D' L2) 6
(U D2 F2 D R2 D' U2) 7

Second solution (18) (it's the same on U/D layers):
(L2 D R2 U2 R2) 5
(U2 D R2 D B2 U' D2) 7

At first I used (R2 F') to make that extra square, but I could not finish the domino solve from there. Changing F' to F gave an easier (in my opinion) but sub-optimal (objectively ;) ) solve. I found the 18 in about 20 minutes total. The two solutions that I have found are the same if you disregard the E layer; I have tried improving it further with the same strategy, possibly leaving some E-layer edges unsolved and inserting them, without success.

EDIT: reconstruction video

1. R' U' F D' L2 U' L2 F2 D' L2 R2 D' L' B2 D' L2 R U L B U B2 F R' U' F
Solution: B' U D' B L F2 L2 U F R F' L F R' F' U' R' F' U' F2 U2 R' F2 (23)
B' U D' B //222 + pair (4/4)
(F2 R U') //Pseudo 223 (3/7)
L F2 L' R' //F2L-1 (4/11)
L' * U L U' F' U' F2 U //2c (6-2/17, cancelling also with premove)

* = R U + L U' R' U L' U' (0) Free insertion club!
+ = F R F' L F R' F' L' (6)

Lucky insertions :)
Fun fact: when I wrote down the skeleton I first thought it was 20 moves. Then I realised that the last U cancelled with the premoves. Then I saw the L' R' L'. Finally, it took me some good 5 minutes to realise that I had left there san F2 (after the 222) that was used for a different skeleton, but not for this one.

2. R' U' F R D2 B2 D2 L2 F2 L B2 R F2 L F R B' D2 F' D2 U F2 R' F' R' U' F
Solution: B2 L' U' L U B R' U' L2 U' B U' L' B U B' U B U2 B' U2 L2 B' U D B2 D (27)
B' R' //2 pairs + pseudo square (2/2)
(D' B2 D') //Xcross (3/5)
(U' B L' U B' U2) //F2L-1 (6/11)
R B' L' U' L U B R' U' L2 U //3ct3e (7/18)

Skeleton: B2 L' U' L U B R' U' L2 U' B U' L * B' U D B2 D
* = L2 B U B' U B U2 B' U2 L2

Is it the international Sune-insertion day?

3. R' U' F U2 B2 D' R2 D F2 L2 R2 U' R2 U R' B F' L' F2 B2 R2 U' B2 D' R' U' F
Solution: F2 L B U R2 U F2 L D2 R2 U R U2 R U2 R2 D R' U R D' R2 U' R U' R' (26)
F2 L B //EO + 3 pairs (3/3)
U R2 U F2 L D2 //223 (6/9)
R2 U R U2 R //F2L-1 + pair (5/14)
U2 R * U R' U' R U' R' //3c (8/22)

* = R D R' U R D' R' U' (4)
 
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Hi, I'm new around here, I've only been cubing for less than 3 months. I recently found out about FMC and I'm extremely interested in it. I read some basic resources and understand most of the theory. I would appreciate advice on these solves and on what my next steps should be.

(The first file that I found, so that's why I had a shot on these first)
(Scrambles from FMC Europe 2015 Round 1)
http://kubing.no/files/scrambles/eurofmc2015.pdf

Scramble 1: B R F2 L U' L D2 B L B2 U' F2 U B2 R2 D F2 L2

I spent 1.5+ hours on this one.

U' F L2 U' F * (5/5) 2x2x2 block
D2 F D F' D R D' B R' (9/14) 2x2x3 block
R D' R' B2 D2 B' (6/20) F2L-1
(B R' B' R B R' B' R) (8/28) F2L
D R D R' D R D2 R' D (9/37) All but 3 corners
* = R U2 R' D2 R U2 R' D2 (8/45) L3C
4 moves cancel

Final: U' F L2 U' F R U2 R' D2 R U2 R' F D F' D R D' B D' R' B2 D2 B' D R D R' D R D2 R' D R' B R B' R' B R B' (41)

Overall I think this was a solid first try, I learnt many things here, for example at first I ended up having 4 bad edges for last layer, which I found out is really bad so I need to pay more attention to EO.

I spent 1.5+ hours on this one.

Scramble 2: U' L' D' F' D B' D' B' U L2 F L2 F L2 D2 F' L2 B' R2
(U2 B U') (3/3) 2x2x2 block
(R' D' F' R' F2 R2) (6/9) 2x2x3 block
(D F' D) (3/12) F2L-1
(L D' L' D2 F D') (6/18) F2L
D F D' F D F2 D' F' * (8/26) All but 3 corners
* = R U' R' D R U R' D' (8/34) L3C
2 moves cancel

Final: D F D' F D F2 D' F' R U' R' D R U R' F' D2 L D L' D' F D' R2 F2 R F D R U B' U2 (32)

I spent about 50 minutes to find F2L in 18 moves, mostly because I kept trying stuff in the normal direction, only to get nothing but then go to the inverse and instantly find a quick solution for each of the F2L steps.

So far I got 2 moves cancelling insertions twice. I think I'm happy with that. I checked with insertion finder for this solve and there were insertions cancelling 4 moves instead of 2.

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

This time I decided stay in the time limit so only one hour.

D' R F U2 D' F2 (6/6) 2x2x2 block
L2 U' B L' (4/10) 2x2x3 block
U L U' R L' B' R' (7/17) F2L-1
U' R' U R2 B' R' B (7/24) F2L
R' U' R U' R' U2 R U' (8/32) All but 3 corners
L' B L' F2 L B' L' F2 L2 (9/41) L3C
Final: D' R F U2 D' F2 L2 U' B L' U L U' R L' B' R' U' R' U R2 B' R' B R' U' R U' R' U2 R U' L' B L' F2 L B' L' F2 L2 (41)

This one was quite lame as I didn't go to the inverse, but at least I finished on time. I wasn't sure but I thought I was making lots of pairs? idk
I couldn't find an insertion for last 3 corners, so I just did a normal A-perm at the end. I checked with insertion finder and turns out I missed a lot of places, there were 4 spots to insert which gave 34 move solutions instead (6 moves cancel).

And yes, my method was coincidentally the same for all 3, Petrus but EO could be at 2x2x3 or F2L-1, then for last layer I explore many possibilities hoping for a pll skip, but there was none. So I did one sune from a certain angle to permute all the edges as well as one corner, which leaves a 3 corner insertion. I never even solved the cube with petrus before.

Some final questions:
Is there some weekly competition online? Theres one on the reddit page r/cubers but is there also one here?
How many moves should a 2x2x2 block take? (any colour allowed, doesn't have to be fixed) I feel like I can't always do it in 5 moves or less. Is there a computer program which solves 2x2x2 blocks so maybe I can go practice using that?

Again, I appreciate any help I can get.
 
In general, after F2L-1 avoid completing the F2L (unless you get all but 3 corners or a skip this way). As h2f said, try solving all edges and see if it is possible to solve the corners with two insertions; or you can try building last-layer "blocks" like in the Heise methods, and leave 3 corners.

There is a weekly competition in this forum. Another popular one is the German forum competition. This other one has been gaining popularity recently.

For a 2x2x2 block more than 5 moves can also be good, if they leave a good continuation (i.e. more blocks are solved, or are easy to solve, or EO is done). Check out HARCS for optimal blocks. You might also like Block Trainer.

Lastly, check out my tutorial :) Most of the advice I can give is already contained in there.
 
My GBBO solves. Only 5th in round 1 and 6th in the final but good enough for successive African records.

1.
Scramble: R' U' F U' B2 F2 R2 B2 D F2 U' B2 F' U' F2 D L R D' U2 B L' D2 R' U' F
2x2x1: B D' [2/2]
2x2x2: (R F2) [2/4]
2x2x3: B U L' B [4/8]
EO: F U F' [3/11]
F2L-1: (U2 L U' * L U L' U' L2 U L) [10/21]
AB3C: (L U2 L' U) [3/24]
Insert corners at *: (D L' U2 L D' L' U2 L) [7/31]

Solution: B D' B U L' B F U F' U' L U2 L2 U' L2 U L U' L2 U2 L D L' U2 L D' U L' U2 F2 R' (31 moves)

2.
Scramble: R' U' F L U2 R D2 R2 F2 L2 F2 D2 R2 B' R' D' R2 D B D' L B F U' R' U' F
pseudo-2x2x2: F' U B U L2 [5/5]
pseudo-2x2x3: (U2 L') [2/7]
2x2x3: R U' [2/9]
EO: F L' D L F' [5/14]
F2L-1: R' * B R2 B R2 B R2 @ B [8/22]
AB4C: B R' B' [2/24]
Insert corners at *: R F R' B R F' R' B' [1/25]
Insert corners at @: D' F' D B2 D' F D B2 [6/31]

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

3.
Scramble: R' U' F D' L2 B2 R2 B2 U F2 D U F2 R2 F D R2 B L D' B2 R' D' F2 R' U' F
2x2x2: B' * U' F D' R2 [5/5]
2x2x3: (L2 F2 U' L F' L2) [6/11]
EO: R U R' (R @ U R') [5/16]
AB5C: F U' F U' F U2 F2 U F2 [9/25]
Insert corners at *: F D' F' U' F D F' U [2/27]
Insert corners at @: (R' D R U2 R' D' R U2) [5/32]

Solution: F B' D' F' U' F R' U R' F U' F U' F U2 F2 U F2 R U R' D R U2 R' D' L2 F L' U F2 L2 (32 moves)

1.
Scramble: R' U' F D' L2 U' L2 F2 D' L2 R2 D' L' B2 D' L2 R U L B U B2 F R' U' F
2x2x2: B' U D' B [4/4]
2x2x3: (F2 R U R2 U2) [5/9]
EO: (D R D' *) [3/12]
pseudo-F2L-1: (R2 F' R2) [3/15]
AB5C: R' F' R' @ F' [4/19] - found an AB4C skeleton in the same move count but this gave better insertions
Insert corners at *: (D R' U' R D' R' U R) [2/21]
Insert corners at @: R' B' R F2 R' B R F2 [6/27]

Solution: B' U D' B R' F' R2 B' R F2 R' B R F R2 F R U' R D R' U' D' R2 U' R' F2 (27 moves)

2.
Scramble: R' U' F R D2 B2 D2 L2 F2 L B2 R F2 L F R B' D2 F' D2 U F2 R' F' R' U' F
pseudo-2x2x2: (R2 U D2 R2) [4/4]
2x2x3: B2 R' B U2 L U L [7/11]
partial EO: (R B2 * R') [2/13]
F2L-1: B U' [2/15]
AB5C: L' B' L B2 [4/19]
Insert corners at *: (B2 U' F' U @ B2 U' F U) [6/25]
Insert corners at @: (U2 B' D' B U2 B' D B) [6/31]

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

3.
Scramble: R' U' F U2 B2 D' R2 D F2 L2 R2 U' R2 U R' B F' L' F2 B2 R2 U' B2 D' R' U' F
2x2x2: (L D' U2 F) F [5/5]
2x2x3: (@ R' D' B' D2 B') B [6/11]
EO: B' D2 B (B R * B') [2/13]
F2L-1: (D2 R' D R D2 R' D2 R2) [8/21]
AB4C: (D' R' D' R) [4/25]
Insert corners at *: (R' B' L B R B' L' B) [4/29]
Insert corners at @: (B R' F' R B' R' F R) [6/35]

Solution: F D2 B R' D R D R2 D2 R D2 R' D' R D2 L B R' B' L' B D2 B D F' R B R' F R B' F' U2 D L' (35 moves)
 
Anyone know roughly how many moves 4c3e and 3c3e insertions use on average?

Rough estimate says those should take around 5 (3e without preserving corners) + 5 (3c) + 6 (3c) = 16 moves and 8 (3e) + 6 (3c) = 14 moves respectively, but I use 4c3e/3c3e skeletons so rarely that I don't know whether these estimates are reasonable.
 
I think estimating something that does not use pure insertions is impossible really, there can be so much variance (with 3e4c that is). There could be a way to insert 4 moves to solve it, somewhere to insert 4 moves to leave 3c, to leave 4/5c or maybe even nowhere at all to insert 4 or 5 moves to solve edges. With 3c3e it's a bit easier to estimate, I'd go for about 12 move average with pure insertions, bringing it down to 11 with reverse NISS.
 
I tried EO first and got F2L-1 in 11 moves! (with the edge in the last slot solved)

I couldn't find a good continuation, can someone have a look?
Note: This is from the current weekly competition on reddit

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

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

(R2 D' B') (3/3) EO
(U R' L2 U') (4/7) 2x2x2
(D R2 F2) (3/10) 2x2x3
(D) (1/11) F2L-1

And I end up with an opposite edge swap for the last layer. I would be happy to see someone do a continuation on this (or improve the previous moves to get a better last layer position). But of course I tried to continue it myself.

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

(R2 D' B') (3/3) EO
(U R' L2 U') (4/7) 2x2x2
(D R2 F2) (3/10) 2x2x3
(D) (1/11) F2L-1
R' D R D' R' D' F D2 R' D' R' D R D' F' (15/26) All but 5 corners, underlined is T-perm
Skeleton: R' [1] D R D' R' D' F D2 R' D' R' D R D' F' D' F2 R2 D' [2] U L2 R U' B D R2
[1] = R' U' R D R' U R D'
[2] = D R' D' L' D R D' L
7 moves cancel

Final: R2 U' R D R' U R2 D' R' D' F D2 R' D' R' D R D' F' D' F2 R D' L' D R D' L U L2 R U' B D R2 (35)

I only knew the normal PLLs, so I just did the 14 move (probably not optimal) T-perm to solve all edges and left with a 5 cycle of corners.
This time I managed to find the most optimal insertions but I took nearly half an hour.

Also how are insertions done by most people? Do you just go through the entire skeleton and choose the insertion which cancels the most moves? I do it this way and I take 10+ minutes, and still miss a ton of good insertions. Will I get faster through practice or is there another strategy that doesn't requiring brute forcing the whole skeleton?
 
I couldn't find a good continuation, can someone have a look?
Note: This is from the current weekly competition on reddit

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

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

(R2 D' B') (3/3) EO
(U R' L2 U') (4/7) 2x2x2
(D R2 F2) (3/10) 2x2x3
(D) (1/11) F2L-1

And I end up with an opposite edge swap for the last layer. I would be happy to see someone do a continuation on this (or improve the previous moves to get a better last layer position).

Probably not super helpful, but here's an easy continuation you could do that gives a PLL skip
(R2 D' R D R2 D' R D) - F2L
(U R U' R U R2 U' R2) - OLL + PLL skip

Also how are insertions done by most people? Do you just go through the entire skeleton and choose the insertion which cancels the most moves? I do it this way and I take 10+ minutes, and still miss a ton of good insertions. Will I get faster through practice or is there another strategy that doesn't requiring brute forcing the whole skeleton?

I'm in the same boat. Finding optimal or at least really good insertions for 5C takes me 20-25 minutes. Though I'm by no means a top FMC solver. I have found some tricks though that speed up the process a bit. One good one is that when looking for your first insertion for 5C there's no need to check all 5 of the cycles after each move when walking through the skeleton. Only check cycles where the previous move rotated two stickers on an interchange plane. For example, say your insertion stickers are in the following positions:

1-UBL
2-UBR
3 - FRD
4 - FRU
5 - LBD

1 and 2 are on the U interchange plane. 2 and 4 are on the R interchange plane. etc. If the previous move in your skeleton was a U, U' or U2, you would only check insertions for 5-1-2 and 1-2-3. If it was an R, R' or R2 you would only check insertions for 2-3-4. The reason for this is that any insertion that cancels 3 or more moves is guaranteed to show up in this form where two stickers are rotated on an interchange plane during the skeleton. With 5C insertions there's a very good chance that at least one cycle will cancel 3 moves or more. So you're still able to find the optimal first insertion but by checking many fewer cycles. Of course this method won't give the optimal insertions if you get unlucky and your second insertion doesn't cancel anything or only cancels one. But in my opinion the amount of time saved is definitely makes it worthwhile.
 
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Hi everyone, I've been trying to get sub 30 for a while now and would just like some advice. Here's my most recent solve which IF confirmed was optimal:

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

B' D' B // 2x2x1 3/3
L' U' F // 3x2x1 3/6
(U2 L U B' U) // 2x2x3 + 2 Bars 5/11
(R2 B R B' D2 F' R F) // Square + 2 Bars 8/19
(B) // Square 1/20
(R') // another 1x2x3 1/21
(B' D' R D2) // twisted L3C 4/25

Skeleton

B' D' B L' U' F D2 R' D B R B' F' R' F D2 B R' B' R2 U' B U' L' * U2

* L U R' U' L' U R U' // 8-5/28

New Skeleton

# B' D' B L' U' F D2 R' D B R B' F' R' F D2 B R' B' R2 U' B R' U' L' U R U

# R' F R B' R' F' R B // 8-2/34

R' F R B' R' F' R D' B L' U' F D2 R' D B R B' F' R' F D2 B R' B' R2 U' B R' U' L' U R U (34)
 
I couldn't find a good continuation, can someone have a look?
Note: This is from the current weekly competition on reddit

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

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

(R2 D' B') (3/3) EO
(U R' L2 U') (4/7) 2x2x2
(D R2 F2) (3/10) 2x2x3
(D) (1/11) F2L-1

And I end up with an opposite edge swap for the last layer. I would be happy to see someone do a continuation on this (or improve the previous moves to get a better last layer position). But of course I tried to continue it myself.

Other than the F2L into LL skip that @BenBergen already showed, the best continuations I found were:
  • (D' R' D R' D' R' D R D' R2 D R2) for AB2C in 21 moves (solving in 29 moves)
  • (D' R' D R' D' R D R2 D' R' D) for AB5C in 20 moves (also solving in 29 moves)
Both of these effectively insert an R-face move before the F2L-1 step to avoid the "2 swapped edges" case.
 
Hi everyone, I've been trying to get sub 30 for a while now and would just like some advice. Here's my most recent solve which IF confirmed was optimal:

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

B' D' B // 2x2x1 3/3
L' U' F // 3x2x1 3/6
(U2 L U B' U) // 2x2x3 + 2 Bars 5/11
(R2 B R B' D2 F' R F) // Square + 2 Bars 8/19
(B) // Square 1/20
(R') // another 1x2x3 1/21
(B' D' R D2) // twisted L3C 4/25

Skeleton

B' D' B L' U' F D2 R' D B R B' F' R' F D2 B R' B' R2 U' B U' L' * U2

* L U R' U' L' U R U' // 8-5/28

New Skeleton

# B' D' B L' U' F D2 R' D B R B' F' R' F D2 B R' B' R2 U' B R' U' L' U R U

# R' F R B' R' F' R B // 8-2/34

R' F R B' R' F' R D' B L' U' F D2 R' D B R B' F' R' F D2 B R' B' R2 U' B R' U' L' U R U (34)

Couldn't find anything sub-30 with your start. Eventually, after trying a bunch of different starts (more than I ever could in a competition time limit), I found this:
(D' B' U B2 R B') B // 2x2x2 + 2 Bars [7/7]
(R' F U2 R' F) // 2x2x3 + 1 Bar [5/12]
(S R' S') = (B F' U' B' F) // AB5C [2/14]
The 5 corners aren't in a cycle so need 3 insertions to solve. IF gives the optimal insertions as 23.
Skeleton: B2 F' U @ B' R U2 F' * R B R' B2 U' % B D
Insert at *: F' R B R' F R B' R' [1/15]
Insert at @: L2 B' R B L2 B' R' B [4/19]
Insert at %: U B2 U' F2 U B2 U' F2 [4/23]
Solution: B2 F' U L2 B' R B L2 B' U2 F2 R B R' F U' F2 U B2 U' F2 B D (23 moves)

Not sure how this helps you, except that the more different starts you can try, the more likely you are to reach something really good.
 
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can someone help me find something better from this start?

weekly comp(2019-4)

R' U' F B R2 D2 B R2 U2 F2 R2 F' U2 F2 L D2 B2 D F U2 L' U L R' U' F
B' U//sq
L'//set up 2 move 222 on inverse
(D')//remove edge
(B' L2)//222
(R U F2)//223
(U R')//PF2L-1
 
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