General cubing tips for every skill level for every event

[Caleb Valenzuela]

This is collaborative guide thread so post your tips for any event here! No satire, please, as this thread is supposed to provide helpful tips, drills, and whatever is needed to improve.

Spoiler: 3x3

Sub-60:
Get faster TPS
Sub-50:
Start solving cross without doing the daisy
Sub-40:
Learn 2-look OLL/PLL, learn intuitive F2L
Sub-30:
Solve your cross in 8 moves or less, start learning full PLL to get you down to 20
Sub-10: https://www.speedsolving.com/threads/how-to-be-sub-10-with-the-cfop-method.93567/

Spoiler: 2x2

“Sub-3/sub-4: you want to learn CLL, make sure your first layer is less than 8 moves, and then just turn fast. Fingertricks are essential for 2x2. Learn all the CLL cases from the “Best 2x2 Algs” spreadsheet. Watch example solves/reconstructions to see how top cubers solve faces/layers. Make sure you can solve layers on any color as well.
Sub-2: Learn EG-1 and start practicing one-looking. CLL and EG-1 are enough for 1-look. Learn EG-1 algs from the Best 2x2 Algs spreadsheet again. As for one-looking, you should follow this flowchart:
Plan first face/layer
Recognize the OLL case and CP
Recognize the alg needed to solve the EG-1/CLL
Decide how you will fingertrick the solution.
Overtime you will be able to do this faster and faster, to the point where you won’t have to think of each individual step. Will Callan has a youtube video that covers one-looking.” - Caleb Valenzuela

Spoiler: OH

“For the event OH, remember to stretch your hands out before solving (also useful for other events). Remember to use look ahead since your turning will be slower, and to avoid table abuse.” - SpeedCubingLord

 

[SpeedCubingLord]

Can you capitalize "g" in "general", my eyes hurt. Also can you compile the tips into the first message of the thread? This way it stays organized.

For the event OH, remember to stretch your hands out before solving (also useful for other events). Remember to use look ahead since your turning will be slower, and to avoid table abuse.

 

[Caleb Valenzuela]

avoid table abuse.

rouxers:

Can you capitalize "g" in "general", my eyes hurt. Also can you compile the tips into the first message of the thread? This way it stays organized.

For the event OH, remember to stretch your hands out before solving (also useful for other events). Remember to use look ahead since your turning will be slower, and to avoid table abuse.

noted boss

 

[Caleb Valenzuela]

here are some tips for 2x2
Sub-3/sub-4: you want to learn CLL, make sure your first layer is less than 8 moves, and then just turn fast. Fingertricks are essential for 2x2. Learn all the CLL cases from the “Best 2x2 Algs” spreadsheet. Watch example solves/reconstructions to see how top cubers solve faces/layers. Make sure you can solve layers on any color as well.
Sub-2: Learn EG-1 and start practicing one-looking. CLL and EG-1 are enough for 1-look. Learn EG-1 algs from the Best 2x2 Algs spreadsheet again. As for one-looking, you should follow this flowchart:
Plan first face/layer
Recognize the OLL case and CP
Recognize the alg needed to solve the EG-1/CLL
Decide how you will fingertrick the solution.
Overtime you will be able to do this faster and faster, to the point where you won’t have to think of each individual step. Will Callan has a youtube video that covers one-looking.

 

[Sub20Soon]

Most helpful member 2026 im defenitly voting you. Do you have some tips for sub 5 2x2 ? im averaging 5-7 secs with LBL.

 

[Sub20Soon]

ive been thinking about ortega and i saw your post and i migth learn CLL after. is this a good idea ? also how many algs is CLL and it consists of what ?

 

[Caleb Valenzuela]

Most helpful member 2026 im defenitly voting you. Do you have some tips for sub 5 2x2 ? im averaging 5-7 secs with LBL.

ok thanks

Sub-5: you can go with two routes: Ortega or “CFOP” (CFOP on 2x2 is really more like layer then OLL and PLL). I suggest learning both, since they are pretty much setting you up for CLL and EG-1. I would start with learning CFOP on 2x2 which only requires like 8 algs for OLL, and then two algs for PLL (Y perm and J perm). Then once you’ve memorized those algs you pretty much just need to turn fast, so learn good fingertricks. Then you can learn Ortega. Get your algs from speedcubedb or the Best 2x2 Algs spreadsheet.

ive been thinking about ortega and i saw your post and i migth learn CLL after. is this a good idea ? also how many algs is CLL and it consists of what ?

42 algs. see what i wrote before this.

 

[Sub20Soon]

oh i was actually doind CFOP on 2x2 and not LBL. thank you ill finish ortega and learn cll after

 

[Michael Wimberly]

Sub-60 on 3x3:
Get faster TPS
Sub-50:
Start solving cross without doing the daisy
sub-40:
Learn 2-look OLL/PLL, learn intuitive F2L
Sub-30:
Solve your cross in 8 moves or less, start learning full PLL to get you down to 20

 

[Caleb Valenzuela]

Sub-60 on 3x3:
Get faster TPS
Sub-50:
Start solving cross without doing the daisy
sub-40:
Learn 2-look OLL/PLL, learn intuitive F2L
Sub-30:
Solve your cross in 8 moves or less, start learning full PLL to get you down to 20

I feel like 2-look OLL and PLL and intuitive F2L are enough to get you to sub-30

 

[Michael Wimberly]

I feel like 2-look OLL and PLL and intuitive F2L are enough to get you to sub-30

It got me to around 30, improving my cross is what helped me personally

 

[abunickabhi]

Any tips for multi blind?

 

[Caleb Valenzuela]

Any tips for multi blind?

none, but you can give some!

 

[L4NC3_D4_AS14N]

Tips for sub 2 megaminx? @Cubist-Guitar

 

[Michael Wimberly]

I need tips for sub-2 4x4

 

[SpeedCubingLord]

I need tips for sub-2 4x4

Learn Yau if you havent and practice it comes naturally.

 

[SpeedCubingLord]

For 3BLD, when you learn, turn slowly and make sure you are doing the correct buffer exchange.
My preferred schem is the one is Charlies videos, AEIMQU

 

[Cuber2s]

Tips for sub 2 megaminx? @Cubist-Guitar

Just went on a mega grind, going from 1:50 to 1:09ish, for me thinking of megaminx f2l/s2l as different from 3x3 was helpful. Try using more creative pair solutions, have a set s2l order(I start at yellow then go clockwise), and just do a bunch of solves.

 

[Caleb Valenzuela]

Learn Yau if you havent and practice it comes naturally.

i got sub-2 on 4x4 with beginner’s/redux

 

[SpeedCubingLord]

i got sub-2 on 4x4 with beginner’s/redux

So did I, but the earlier you switch the better in the long run...