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How to Get More Efficient at 15 Puzzle

SMTCubes

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May 22, 2019
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Hello. I am a beginner at 15 puzzle, I started 2 days ago. I average around 40-50 seconds and about 140-160 moves but I can see that most pros average around 60 to 70. I use LBL and I am trying to learn Fringe. I figured that if I can get my move count down, that my times will decrease exponentially, but I don't know how to go about doing so. Any help would be great! Thanks!
 

CLL Smooth

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Efficiency is an important factor but so is look ahead. Think of the first 4 pieces as planning your cross out. I almost always start with 1,3,4 or 1,2,4 then squeeze the 2/3 in. Then I’ll place the 5 and move to 9,13. Under the right circumstance I might do the 1,9,13 or 1,5,13 first then squeeze the 5/9 in and move onto 2,3,4. I also might do LBL if it looks like the best continuation. I don’t know if sticking exclusively to fringe is really beneficial on 15 puzzle. I do use it exclusively on larger puzzles though. Hope this helps
 

SMTCubes

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Efficiency is an important factor but so is look ahead. Think of the first 4 pieces as planning your cross out. I almost always start with 1,3,4 or 1,2,4 then squeeze the 2/3 in. Then I’ll place the 5 and move to 9,13. Under the right circumstance I might do the 1,9,13 or 1,5,13 first then squeeze the 5/9 in and move onto 2,3,4. I also might do LBL if it looks like the best continuation. I don’t know if sticking exclusively to fringe is really beneficial on 15 puzzle. I do use it exclusively on larger puzzles though. Hope this helps
This does help, thank you!
 

Christopher Mowla

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Last edited:

PapaSmurf

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Fringe is easy to switch to, so I would. I'm not very fast, but just try to plan out as much as possible before you start, like in any cubing solve. And the sim that Ben uses is called slidysim. There's a thread on it somewhere on the forums.
 

SMTCubes

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Fringe is easy to switch to, so I would. I'm not very fast, but just try to plan out as much as possible before you start, like in any cubing solve. And the sim that Ben uses is called slidysim. There's a thread on it somewhere on the forums.
I actually do use slidysim! I will use these tips, thanks.
 

SMTCubes

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Have you seen Ben Whitmore solve this puzzle? He has several videos, not just this one. He has some videos of him solving higher order ones as well. I would suggest to slow down the video to see his strategy.

Granted, the simulator he's using is much faster than just a simulator online that you must click with, but he's obviously one of the (if not the) best at this class of puzzle. He seems to use the "clean method" that Michael Gottlieb uses for VERY LARGE cubes.
I'll check these out, thanks!
 

shadowslice e

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Talking to Ben, he says the best way is to look at optimal solutions and see if you can replicate what they're doing or see if you can work out their strategies.

His movecount is also a good 10 moves more efficient (when going for efficiency) than almost anyone else.
 

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