[Member Intro] Hi there!

[sqAree]

Hello dear speedsolving.com-community!

I'm Konstantin, 21 years (minus one day) old, from Berlin.
I learned how to solve a 3x3x3 cube like 7 years ago because I wanted to impress my parents, using a totally inefficient layer per layer method. Eventually I convinced a friend to try it and we cubed against each other for speed but he surrendered after I ordered a speedcube and learnt cfop. :S Without sparring partner however, my interest expired quickly.
Two months ago I found out another friend of me was trying to solve a cube and I taught him F2L. His arising excitement totally reanimated me for cubing so I decided to pick it up again and relearnt cfop (I forgot almost all last layer algs). This time I seriously want to improve my times and keep it as a main hobby!

So, as I said I use cfop, mainly because it was a natural extension of the beginner's method and also because I like learning algs. More specifically:
I'm not color-neutral, so I'm commited to solve the white cross. As I don't use any inspection time yet, I usually need 4-6 seconds for this step and also solve it on the top. I learnt intuitive F2L and later like 4 algs for difficult cases so I think I can effectively solve a F2L pair with three already solved slots and sometimes make good use of free slots. Currently switching from 2-look OLL to 1-look, and only the G perms are missing..
My personal best is 24.24 seconds, and I average around 33 seconds usually. My current speedcube is not a particularly good one, so I ordered a Moyu HuaLong and expect it to arrive in the next days. Can't wait for it!
Generally I'm not so interested in other types of puzzles, but maybe I'll pick up a 2x2x2 or 4x4x4 sometime.

In the forum guidelines it says it's ok to pose like two little questions so here we go:
1. I learnt intuitive VHLS (not using it in solves though) and wonder if it is efficient compared to full OLL?
2. Is it normal to struggle with L, D and B face moves in general? I love <RUF> algs and can execute the standard Jb perm sub1.5.. But algs that make use of other faces just give me a headache.. And how would I turn L and L' one-handed (using the left hand)?
3. I understand why we use "cfop" instead of "Fridrich" nowadays but why do we call the others Roux, Petrus etc. then?

Apart from cubing my other hobbies include:
(a) Maths, which I also study at the moment.
(b) Strategy board games. For example I'm one of the best Dots and Boxes players, but also enjoy chess, Hnefatafl and similar. Although I don't have a lot of time to play those nowadays unfortunately.
(c) Tool assisted speedruns especially for Mario games.
(d) Table tennis, which I used to play in a club.
(e) League of Legends (under account InflectionPoint if anyone is interested ^^).

Anyway, great to have found this site and now using the summer to prepare for first competitions.

Greetings
sqAree

 

[cashis]

Greetings! I like your attitude, and you're always welcome here. I'm not sure about the first question, but it's totally normal to struggle with L, B and maybe D moves. I personally force myself to use L move algorithms too, because I like being ambidextrous, but thats all up to you. D moves, however, should be pretty easy to get used to. Just use your left ring finger for single moves, and for D2, do ring then pinky. It'll get fast eventually. Ls one-handed are generally done with a z or z' rotation, which essentially turns the moves into R and U moves.
About question 3, we don't call it Fridrich because Jessica Fridrich did not invent the method, just popularized it. There is no single inventor of CFOP, because at different times people were having the same ideas, because of how naturally it transfers to from a beginners method. However, other methods are solely invented by one person. Gilles Roux made up the method all by himself, and so did Lars Petrus. Others donated to the ideas, but the concepts are theirs.
Welcome to the forums!
E: Its still acceptable to call it Fridrich, but its usually called CFOP

 

[Isaac Lai]

Welcome! I do find L moves awkward, but D moves are usually fine for me. As for B moves, hardly anyone uses algs which contain them.

 

[sqAree]

Hey, thanks for the welcome!

It's a relief to hear others struggle with L moves as well. In fact I banned any L turns from my PLLs.. For D moves, you are maybe right, at least the standard E perm works out well for me with the fingertricks you mentioned.
Also, thanks for the other answers.

Btw, I just got a new pb of 20.04 seconds.

 

[molarmanful]

Welcome to the grand microcosm of the cubing community!

Answers:
1) Depends. I use the 3-5 move cases, which are obviously more efficient than insert+OLL. However, anything above that move count is like doing 2-look OLL, which will hold you back at a certain point. Unless you plan on learning COLL or ZBLL, stick with the easy and short algorithms.
2) L, D (2H): No.
---B (2H/OH): For sure.
---D (OH): Meh. Okay with it.
---L (OH): OH MY GOD YES! In fact, I usually rotate to make it R moves (or in the case of L, I sometimes perform as Rw).
3) Cashis explains it quite nicely.

 

[LiCuber]

I never use algs with L and B in them (mostly because there aren't many) but down face I'm starting to get used to.
Welcome to the community! I know as little as you do!