Cubenovice
Forever Slow
Those of you following the FMC results in the weekly comp or the example solve thread may have noticed an increase in my FMC results.
This is a result of my quest to explore the limits of Human Thistlethwaite for FMC.
I have now had a few sub 40 solves with a best result of 35 HTM.
Here's my guide on Human Thistlethwaite for FMC (work in progress).
perhaps it can be of some use for those who want to try FMC but are afraid of blockbuilding ;-)
I know HTA probably cannot compete with the traditional blockbuilding approach but the method is quite easy to learn and could get you better results than a pure CFOP solve (excluding skips...)
Edge orientation
During EO pay attention to the following:
- Try a few different variations in EO to check what gives best continuation for edges / corners
- Try to get some U/D edges on U/D face
- Preferably leaving both with the same number of remaining edges
- With the final F or B face move place remaining edges on the same slice
- This enables adjusting U/D faces followed by a simple L or R move to solve two U/D edges
Solve edges
- Try to solve two edges at a time (set up by final move of EO)
- Try not to use too many R U R’ style stuff for edges but if you do: pay attention to U/D corners: check if an ADF will orient the corner in the D face
- If you get a 1x1x3 bar: try to preserve by placing it opposite to the final edge to be solved on the U/D face. When you place it next to an unsolved edge you will unsolve a corner.
- At your final R or L check try both CW and CCW for the resulting corner orientation case
Orient corners
- If you have more than 5 corners left you may want to go back and tinker some more with the previous step.
- Regular OLL’s can be used but beware of the move count.
- If you run into Superman you better take back some moves and try something else...
- Sune, Pi and chameleon are OK for move count but make sure to use mirrors and inverses to increase your chances of cancelling moves. Especially with Sune’s I find that I can often take a version that will cancel stuff.
Also: Don’t dismiss Heises’ “two corner twist” alg R’ D L2 D’ R too fast.
- It actually saves moves vs. pi and chameleon! You typically want to try both options to check which gives best continuation into “separation of corners”
Separate corners:
- At this stage I used to bring U corners to U and D corners to D but lately I have started to “just” separate. Direction to sort the corners to depends (again) on possible cancellations.
- You might as well combine “U to U” with the fix bad edges step later on which typically involves an M2.
- I do not have enough documented solves yet to see if one or the other gives better overall results…
Pair up corners:
- Ortega all the way! Note: these algs influence edge permutation, also in the equator.
Don’t worry: E edges will remain in E (This is the reason why I do not solve the equator early on in the solve)
- Worst case scenario: Y-perm…
- Best case: no pairs: good old R2 F2 R2 make sure to take the mirror that cancels with your last move.
Fix bad edges:
- Did you check the mirrors of the last alg?
- Your last alg will have an effect on the number and positions of your bad edges.
- Your righty Ortega -alg may have cancelled a move with pairing the corners but if it leaves a nasty edge case you may want to go back and check the lefty version.
- Or even the versions on “D” if you have the Ortega case with two bars
4 bad edges: Heise mentions setting up the edges for a D’ M2 D swap. This can actually work out just fine if you separated U/D corners onto the “wrong” face. But unfortunately you cannot predict this.
Other options:
U2 M2 U2 M2 or U2 R2 U2 R2 U2 R2 stuff, especially if you can use this to solve some edges and
r cancel some moves
2 bad edges: via edge 3-cycle
Note: If you do not have too many edges left after separating the corners you could also skip the fix bad edges step and go straight into solving the endgame.
End game
As Heise mentions: this can be done with nothing but double turns but for FMC I obviously prefer the shortcuts.
Some typical stuff for this stage:
Edge 3-cycles (you will often find this on the E slice)
3 edges
M U M’ U2 or B2 M B2 M’ depending on cancellations (3 possible start / finish moves!)
If you’re a diehard HTA user: R2 U2 F2 U2 R2 D2 B2 D2 or starting with D2 depending on cancellations
Swapping of edge pairs
4 edges -2 pairs on R and U slice
R2 U2 R2 U2 R2 U2 or starting with U2 depending on cancellations
4 edges – 2 pairs on M slice
M2 U2 M2 U2 or starting with U2 depending on cancellations
4 edges – 2 pairs offset on L and R slice, normal swap on D
F2 U’ D’ R2 U D F2 D2 or starting with D2 depending on cancellations (thx Atilla)
Diehard HTA version:
R2 U2 F2 U2 R2 B2 D2 B2 (this is a variation of the double turn edge 3-cycle)
6 edges - normal swap on U + 4-cycle on E (D solved)
F2 U D R2 U D B2 D2 or starting with D2 depending on cancellations (variation on Atilla’s)
6 edges - normal swap on D + 4-cycle on E (U solved)
F2 U’ D’ R2 U’ D’ B2 U or starting with D2 depending on cancellations (variation on Atilla’s)
Done? Hell no!
Now the fun really starts, it is time for some info on insertions.
Corner cycles typically make for good insertions, regardless of method.
Edges insertions typically are very tricky.
This is where the unique features of HTA kick in. HTA is great for edge insertions!
A listing of the possible insertions
- Ortega case with three bars? Those who solve this via an A-perm will realize this is just a corner 3-cycle. You can check for an insertion of this one at the end of the solve (take care to cycle in the right direction though)
- Fix bad edges: edge swapping makes for great insertions. Try insertions if the regular edge fix takes too many (set up) moves
- 4 bad edges: swap edges with U2 M2 U2 M2 or U2 R2 U2 R2 U2 R2
- Here you have several options:
- Case 1 Sticker just the two “red” edges and swap with any ”blue” edge (or vice versa)
- Case 2 Sticker four edges if you have an edge pair that can be solved with swapping.
- If you do not find a good insertion to solve all four than just treat as case 1
- 2 bad edges: use an edge 3-cycle
- Cycle Red – Blue – Red or Blue – Red – Blue “swap” a Red and a Blue edge
- You only have to sticker the two bad edges (but may sticker preferred 3rd edges)
- Endgame: this is all edge swaps and 3-cycles so again insertions are possible
Notes:
If you do a “Bad edge fix” insertion you typically should do this before end game insertions.
This because you will probably use “any” edge in your insertion. Using “any” edge will affect edge permutation in your endgame.
Want to explore more starts?
Have a go at the inverse scramble...
Or try some NISS: do EO on the inverse and then switch back to normal with (EO)' as premoves.
Want less moves for EO?
xyz moves are your friend: By simply re-orienting the cube you change the number of mis-oriented edges.
Drawbacks:
- recognition, especially when using different U/D colors as usual.
- less mis-oriented edges does not perse mean fewer moves so choose wisely
For info on the actual HTA method:
Ryan Heise's page on HTA - The Original
Speedsolving Human Tistlethwaite Help/ Discussion Thread
This is a result of my quest to explore the limits of Human Thistlethwaite for FMC.
I have now had a few sub 40 solves with a best result of 35 HTM.
Here's my guide on Human Thistlethwaite for FMC (work in progress).
perhaps it can be of some use for those who want to try FMC but are afraid of blockbuilding ;-)
I know HTA probably cannot compete with the traditional blockbuilding approach but the method is quite easy to learn and could get you better results than a pure CFOP solve (excluding skips...)
Edge orientation
During EO pay attention to the following:
- Try a few different variations in EO to check what gives best continuation for edges / corners
- Try to get some U/D edges on U/D face
- Preferably leaving both with the same number of remaining edges
- With the final F or B face move place remaining edges on the same slice
- This enables adjusting U/D faces followed by a simple L or R move to solve two U/D edges
Solve edges
- Try to solve two edges at a time (set up by final move of EO)
- Try not to use too many R U R’ style stuff for edges but if you do: pay attention to U/D corners: check if an ADF will orient the corner in the D face
- If you get a 1x1x3 bar: try to preserve by placing it opposite to the final edge to be solved on the U/D face. When you place it next to an unsolved edge you will unsolve a corner.
- At your final R or L check try both CW and CCW for the resulting corner orientation case
Orient corners
- If you have more than 5 corners left you may want to go back and tinker some more with the previous step.
- Regular OLL’s can be used but beware of the move count.
- If you run into Superman you better take back some moves and try something else...
- Sune, Pi and chameleon are OK for move count but make sure to use mirrors and inverses to increase your chances of cancelling moves. Especially with Sune’s I find that I can often take a version that will cancel stuff.
Also: Don’t dismiss Heises’ “two corner twist” alg R’ D L2 D’ R too fast.
- It actually saves moves vs. pi and chameleon! You typically want to try both options to check which gives best continuation into “separation of corners”
Separate corners:
- At this stage I used to bring U corners to U and D corners to D but lately I have started to “just” separate. Direction to sort the corners to depends (again) on possible cancellations.
- You might as well combine “U to U” with the fix bad edges step later on which typically involves an M2.
- I do not have enough documented solves yet to see if one or the other gives better overall results…
Pair up corners:
- Ortega all the way! Note: these algs influence edge permutation, also in the equator.
Don’t worry: E edges will remain in E (This is the reason why I do not solve the equator early on in the solve)
- Worst case scenario: Y-perm…
- Best case: no pairs: good old R2 F2 R2 make sure to take the mirror that cancels with your last move.
Fix bad edges:
- Did you check the mirrors of the last alg?
- Your last alg will have an effect on the number and positions of your bad edges.
- Your righty Ortega -alg may have cancelled a move with pairing the corners but if it leaves a nasty edge case you may want to go back and check the lefty version.
- Or even the versions on “D” if you have the Ortega case with two bars
4 bad edges: Heise mentions setting up the edges for a D’ M2 D swap. This can actually work out just fine if you separated U/D corners onto the “wrong” face. But unfortunately you cannot predict this.
Other options:
U2 M2 U2 M2 or U2 R2 U2 R2 U2 R2 stuff, especially if you can use this to solve some edges and
r cancel some moves2 bad edges: via edge 3-cycle
Note: If you do not have too many edges left after separating the corners you could also skip the fix bad edges step and go straight into solving the endgame.
End game
As Heise mentions: this can be done with nothing but double turns but for FMC I obviously prefer the shortcuts.
Some typical stuff for this stage:
Edge 3-cycles (you will often find this on the E slice)
3 edges
M U M’ U2 or B2 M B2 M’ depending on cancellations (3 possible start / finish moves!)
If you’re a diehard HTA user: R2 U2 F2 U2 R2 D2 B2 D2 or starting with D2 depending on cancellations
Swapping of edge pairs
4 edges -2 pairs on R and U slice
R2 U2 R2 U2 R2 U2 or starting with U2 depending on cancellations
4 edges – 2 pairs on M slice
M2 U2 M2 U2 or starting with U2 depending on cancellations
4 edges – 2 pairs offset on L and R slice, normal swap on D
F2 U’ D’ R2 U D F2 D2 or starting with D2 depending on cancellations (thx Atilla)
Diehard HTA version:
R2 U2 F2 U2 R2 B2 D2 B2 (this is a variation of the double turn edge 3-cycle)
6 edges - normal swap on U + 4-cycle on E (D solved)
F2 U D R2 U D B2 D2 or starting with D2 depending on cancellations (variation on Atilla’s)
6 edges - normal swap on D + 4-cycle on E (U solved)
F2 U’ D’ R2 U’ D’ B2 U or starting with D2 depending on cancellations (variation on Atilla’s)
Done? Hell no!
Now the fun really starts, it is time for some info on insertions.
Corner cycles typically make for good insertions, regardless of method.
Edges insertions typically are very tricky.
This is where the unique features of HTA kick in. HTA is great for edge insertions!
A listing of the possible insertions
- Ortega case with three bars? Those who solve this via an A-perm will realize this is just a corner 3-cycle. You can check for an insertion of this one at the end of the solve (take care to cycle in the right direction though)
- Fix bad edges: edge swapping makes for great insertions. Try insertions if the regular edge fix takes too many (set up) moves
- 4 bad edges: swap edges with U2 M2 U2 M2 or U2 R2 U2 R2 U2 R2
- Here you have several options:
- Case 1 Sticker just the two “red” edges and swap with any ”blue” edge (or vice versa)
- Case 2 Sticker four edges if you have an edge pair that can be solved with swapping.
- If you do not find a good insertion to solve all four than just treat as case 1
- 2 bad edges: use an edge 3-cycle
- Cycle Red – Blue – Red or Blue – Red – Blue “swap” a Red and a Blue edge
- You only have to sticker the two bad edges (but may sticker preferred 3rd edges)
- Endgame: this is all edge swaps and 3-cycles so again insertions are possible
Notes:
If you do a “Bad edge fix” insertion you typically should do this before end game insertions.
This because you will probably use “any” edge in your insertion. Using “any” edge will affect edge permutation in your endgame.
Want to explore more starts?
Have a go at the inverse scramble...
Or try some NISS: do EO on the inverse and then switch back to normal with (EO)' as premoves.
Want less moves for EO?
xyz moves are your friend: By simply re-orienting the cube you change the number of mis-oriented edges.
Drawbacks:
- recognition, especially when using different U/D colors as usual.
- less mis-oriented edges does not perse mean fewer moves so choose wisely
For info on the actual HTA method:
Ryan Heise's page on HTA - The Original
Speedsolving Human Tistlethwaite Help/ Discussion Thread
Last edited:
