Help with solving 2x2 first face (for Ortega) with LEAST MOVES

[vanisle]

Hello.

New to speedcubing. LOVE it. I started learning 2x2 and 3x3 beginner methods to help teach my kids (9 and 10) but fell in love, lol.

I started with the beginners 2x2 method (Complete first layer, OLL, PLL). I am now working on Ortega but going about it purposefully slow (to become purposefully fast ). I am trying to learn some finger tricks, and the fastest way to solve the first face. I have been taking notes, and trying to learn the most efficient ways to complete the first face.

I have watched lots of videos (great one by Rowe), and been lurking on this site for a few weeks. I have googled/searched lots too... I promise.

One thing that is throwing me off, is that in the Wiki (http://www.speedsolving.com/wiki/index.php/Ortega) it claims MAXIMUM 5 moves (using HTM) to solve the first face. I still have cases where I need 7-8 moves, so I am not sure what I am missing.

As an example, lets say I start with 2 cubies side by side of one color (I put them on the DL quadrant, with the goal being to solve the bottom face so the cube is already oriented for the OLL step). I usually need 1-3 moves to bring the 3rd cubie to that face, then another 3-4 (R U R' or R U' R', sometimes with one move before it to get the cubie in the right place for the 3 move alg) to place the 4th cubie.

So while I do often have cases where 1-4 moves is enough, I have not always been able to reach the maximum 5 that is stated in the wiki.... sometimes I need up to 7 or 8. I must be missing something.

Any advice?

Do I need to post some examples of the cases that take me 7-8?

Is there any software that know how to find the quickest solve of a 2x2 face? My thought on this was that I could put my scramble in the computer, and tell it "solve the (insert color) face" in the least moves. Then I watch what it suggests and compare to my current method. That should expose my inefficiencies.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Rpotts]

I'd like to start by saying welcome to Speedsolving, and thank you for taking the time to make an informative first post.

To put it simply, the 5 move maximum is only true if you are color neutral, meaning you'd solve any color face first and not just one (usually white.)

For example with the scramble (scramble with white on top and green in front, standard WCA orientation)

F2 U' F R2 F2 U2 F' R2 F

If you do y2 you'll have a white bar in the DL quadrant

You could go on to do R U R' to put one more white corner in place, then U' R' U' R for a 7 move first face

But if you think about solving both corners at once and not individually you can do

y2 U R U2 R for a 4 move first face

Also, with the scramble F R' U' F2 U2 R U' R' U2

You could do z' U R2 to put one more corner in, then U' R U R' for a 6 move first face.

Instead, you could do x' F2 to make a bar at DL, then U' R' U' R' for a 5 move first face on yellow.

However, if you don't only use white/yellow , you can find a 3 move first layer on blue.

z2 F' U2 L

Hope this helps, feel free to post scrambles that give you difficulties, we'll try and help.

Ryan

 

[vanisle]

Awesome, thanks so much Ryan. Those example solves were just what I needed. I think I had found the most efficient ways to place the last two cubies one at a time, but your nudge is helping me look at options for doing the last 2 cubies at the same time. It would be awesome if there was a page somewhere of 10-15 example solves like that, showing the fastest way to orient the first layer. Your 3 move layer on blue was really cool.. I have been trying to start with 2 cubies, but in that example, there was no starting pair, but it was still a very quick solve.

Yes, I was assuming color neutral. Luckily the 2x2 and Ortega seem to lead themselves to easy color neutrality.

Its amazing how many possibilities there are for orienting the first layer with a simple 2x2. I am excited to eventually progress to the 3x3, my head will be spinning!
As an aside, is there any kind of software I can use to play with different algs and such?

 

[Rpotts]

It would be awesome if there was a page somewhere of 10-15 example solves like that, showing the fastest way to orient the first layer.

Here's 12.

Spoiler

R' F' R F2 U R' U R' U2

z y2 R U' R2 U' R' - white layer

-----

F' U2 F' R2 U F U2 F' U2

x2 U R' - white face

-----

R' U' F2 R' F2 R' U F2 R2 F'

R U x' U' R' U R' - white layer

-----

R2 U' R2 F U' R F2 R F' U2

x y2 U' R - yellow face

-----

F2 U' F2 U R' F2 U2 F' U'

y x' U' R' U L - green face

-----

U' F R2 F U R' U R'

x' R2 U' R U R' U' R - red layer

-----

F' R2 F' R2 U F' R2 F' U'

y' R2' U' R - yellow face

-----

F2 R U2 F' R U F' U' R2 U'

y2 U' R U R' - red layer

-----

R U F2 R' U' F' R' U R2

x R' U2 R' - blue face

-----

U2 F' R U2 F' U F' R' U'

x y' U' R U' R2 - orange face

-----

U' F R F' U2 R2 F' U R2

x' y' U R' U R2 - blue face

-----

U2 F2 R' U' F' R2 F' R F2

L U2 z' - green face

 

[Henrik]

Rpotts: If we are going for a face then some of your examples are bad, Ortega is face, orient, PBL, no need for a layer!

So here are some shorter examples than your 6 and 7 move examples.

R' U' F2 R' F2 R' U F2 R2 F'
z2 y U R' U R' (red face)

U' F R2 F U R' U R'
x' F U' R' (red face)

 

[chris410]

There is a thread which will contain more advanced methods however, it may be worth noting and reviewing some of the solutions to prompt ideas.

http://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?27830-THE-2x2-Example-solve-GAME-Thread

...and welcome!

 

[ThomasJE]

Being colour neutral REALLY helps. If you learned from Andy Klise's website (kungfoomanchu), then the blue lines and dots will help your recognition. You could apply them patterns to all colours, which means that the first step is shorter, you can predict the OLL, and times are generally quicker. I'll do an average with fixed colours and one with colour neutrality to compare.

EDIT: Fixed colour average: 7.84 8.51 (6.90) (12.01) 7.93 = 8.09
EDIT2: Colour Neutral average: 5.79 (9.12) 6.56 (4.51) 6.12 = 6.16
Nearly 2 seconds difference between the two.

 

[Zarxrax]

A while back I tried to generate "algorithms" for the first face of ortega.
I don't recommend learning them, but its nice to check them out, just to see how you can handle various cases.
http://www.amvhell.com/stuff/cubes/ortega.html

 

[Rpotts]

Rpotts: If we are going for a face then some of your examples are bad, Ortega is face, orient, PBL, no need for a layer!

So here are some shorter examples than your 6 and 7 move examples.

R' U' F2 R' F2 R' U F2 R2 F'
z2 y U R' U R' (red face)

U' F R2 F U R' U R'
x' F U' R' (red face)

I chose to go for layers there because they were nice 2 gen solutions and I thought I should include some to juxtapose with shorter faces. Judging by this guys enthusiasm he may go down the CLL path. Learning to make/see layers is super important, figured I might as well include some.

 

[vanisle]

@henrik @ rpotts re: 6-7 move layer solves: henrik, that was my first thought as well... WAIT, I can already do them in 6-7. But I DO very much appreciate the examples rpotts, and likely will eventually resemble you sentiment that my enthusiasm will lure me to great depths. I have already read about the advanced solves. I really dig that the little 2x2 has so much depth to it.

I have just been repeatedly solving the first face over and over, I havent even moved on to OLL and PBL yet. I think they will be relatively quicker for me to learn and then just pound in with repeated practice for muscle memory. As a new cuber, I think this initial phase I am in is really important. I need to keep studying it and understand all the moves to get the intuition needed to really nail the first step of ortega. I think this knowledge will serve me well for all aspects of my future cubing. I am sure one day I will want to try an advanced method, but one step at a time

@chris, thanks for the link, I hadnt come across that thread yet. I could get lost in there for days I am sure!

@Thomas, thanks for that link as well. I had an older version of that guide. Looks like a great resource.

@zarxrax AWESOME. This will be a great help. I still want to watch what is happening, and will not attempt to memorize them. But those will be a great jelp when I have a case where I can not find the way to a <=5 turn solve.

Thanks all for being so welcoming.

 

[Cube Equation]

I have a related question about Ortega first face as well. Once I become decent at Ortega, am I expected to find the shortest solution to the first face in the 15 seconds inspections or should I simply settle for a solution of 5 moves or less?

 

[DYGH.Tjen]

Simply settle for a decently short solution, no need to find the best solution. You'd be better off planning the OLL and if you get faster, the PBL as well.

 

[Cube Equation]

What would you consider as decent?

 

[kinch2002]

Scrambles arrive with a wide variety of first face difficulties, so you can't apply one answer to every scramble. Just do solves, and eventually you'll start to recognise cases that aren't so obvious at first, but can be done quickly.

 

[Schmidt]

If you get a scramble with no bars you might look for a hidden OLL on any color. Look here for inspiration. Some of them are ~8 moves, but fast to do.

 

[PurpleBanana]

Sorry about resurrecting the thread, but I thought it would be better than posting a new thread. Does anyone know of a quick solution to the cases where you are doing a face, you have a bar in the DL quadrant, and the other two stickers for your bottom color are diagonally across from each other on the R face? Also, any tips for scrambles without bars (other than what the above poster suggested, which is rarely an option)?

 

[Cale S]

Does anyone know of a quick solution to the cases where you are doing a face, you have a bar in the DL quadrant, and the other two stickers for your bottom color are diagonally across from each other on the R face?

U F U' R' or U' F' R F depending on where the diagonal stickers are

 

[PurpleBanana]

U F U' R' or U' F' R F depending on where the diagonal stickers are

Clever solution, thanks very much.

 

[qwr]

A while back I tried to generate "algorithms" for the first face of ortega.
I don't recommend learning them, but its nice to check them out, just to see how you can handle various cases.
http://www.amvhell.com/stuff/cubes/ortega.html

This is really nice for study. I was writing down important cases in a notebook (when we have 2 or 3 of first face solved).
IMO the most important basic cases are when the first face has 3 solved. The cases are basic 3-move insert, last sticker on top face (solve with U and R2), and last sticker on lower layer (shortest is 4 moves but the 2-gen ones are faster to execute).

For case 3 I would do y in inspection then L' U' L. One less move is easier for OLL prediction.

One tricky case I didn't know until recent experimentation is bar on bottom and checkerboard on side (case 14). I found out that it can be solved with D R D' R' or with z' in inspection R U R' U' z.
I'll look further into cases to try to optimize my first face.