Help with First Layer

[jjjjj18]

About a week ago I got a pb off 1:08.03 using the beginners method and I can't seem to best it. I believe that most of my time is being wasted on the first layer. So I timed myself doing the first layer, and then the second + third layer combined. The First layer was 27 seconds, and then the 2nd and 3rd layer was 47 seconds.

What I need is some advice on doing the cross, which seems to take the most time because I pause a lot trying to find the pieces and put them in the correct position. Also, I am currently looking into 2 look oll and pll. Any advice would be helpful. Thanks.

 

[byu]

Work on your cross. From any situation, the cross can be solved in 8 moves or less, and usually only 5 or 6 moves. Use this tutorial by Dan Harris to help you.

 

[jjjjj18]

What I don't understand is that are you supposed to formulate an algorithm in your head during inspection? I try and do that but I can't formulate an algorithm because I don't have the time to think about other pieces being moved out of position such as flipping a correct piece while flipping an incorrect piece. I read that page and read the examples but I'm still getting my average times.

 

[byu]

Try this for pre-inspection, in order.

1. Try to find out how to place one piece into the cross before you start in your mind. Do this for at least 10 solves.

2. Try to find how to place two or three pieces into the cross in your mind. This may take a few days.

3. Try to plan out the whole cross. It can take a while.

Other than that, its just practice.

 

[hr.mohr]

When you practice then try to use all the time it takes in order to form the cross. Try to visualize what state the cube will be in when you perform 1-2 moves. Then apply those moves and check if you planned right. Then repeat. And repeat. And repeat ;-)

The same technique can be used when you move on to F2L.

 

[blgentry]

I find Dan Harris' guide to the cross to be very difficult to follow. Maybe it's just me. <shrug>

What I do know, are the things that helped me to learn the cross better:

1. Memorize the color order of the cross. On my cube (which is a white opposite yellow color scheme), the cross on white follows the order, blue, red, green, orange. Since you know the order, all you have to do is put the cross pieces in that order, and then rotate the white face when you are done to align the cross pieces with the center caps below them. This should save you a lot of "realignment" time.

2. Getting the concept of "right edge, wrong edge" is very helpful. A "right edge" only requires a quarter or half turn to align it with the white face. A "wrong edge" needs at least 2 turns on different faces to align it. Bad Mephisto illustrates the concept quite well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hY_FbpdNRCQ

This is kind of advanced, so you may want to come back to this in a few weeks or months.

Brian.

 

[StI2ange]

Well, what you could do is give yourself a 15 second inspection time. That's what I do and its worked out pretty well for me so far. I use at least 12 seconds of the inspection to look at which side im goin to solve first, search for the middle pieces, and(if time) search for the croner pieces as well. That way I know which way to turn the cube because I know where the center pieces are. I hope this helps!