Learning Algorithms

[Lloyd1337]

Right now my time for the 3x3 is around 35 seconds, and I want to improve it.

I currently do the following method:
1. Cross
2. F2L
3. Rotate edges of last layer to form cross on bottom (FURU'R'F' or FRUR'U'F')
4. OLL
5. Swap corners
6. Permutate edges

I've started to learn the 57 OLL algorithms. Right now I know about 15 of them.

I'm trying to learn about 2 or 3 algorithms per day. I have the chart of all the algorithms printed out and stuck on my wall.

Every day I pick 3 algorithms off the chart (generally ones that are grouped together). I then do the set-up move to get my cube into position for the algorithm, and memorize the pattern so that I can recognize it when I'm solving. Then, I do the algorithm reading off the chart. I repeat this a few times (set-up, then do algorithm). Once I've got the general feel for the algorithm down, I try to do it a few times without looking at the chart. If I can do this, then I generally spend half and hour or so just repeating the algorithm over and over.

Finally, once I've done this for all three algorithms I want to learn, I try to do every algorithm I've learned so far, including the ones I learned on previous days, just to make sure I still remember them all and can distinguish them when solving.

After I've done this, I generally solve the cube a bunch of times and try to use the algorithms I've learned if they come up.

I'm kinda concerned about what will happen when I start learning a lot of these algorithms. Hopefully I won't forget some of the ones I learned earlier.

I also had a peek at the PLL algorithms, and some of them look pretty difficult. Also, the diagrams with arrows going all over the place are kinda confusing. How am I supposed to recognize which algorithm to use for the PLL quickly? The diagrams are so confusing.

 

[TheBB]

Also, the diagrams with arrows going all over the place are kinda confusing. How am I supposed to recognize which algorithm to use for the PLL quickly?

Recognizing PLL is actually very easy. The strip of stickers right beneath the U layer form "blocks" of coherent colors. Every case has a unique pattern of such blocks. Personally, I don't remember how the permutation works in terms of cycles/arrows, I just know these sticker patterns.

Try setting one up, you'll see.

 

[FU]

I also had a peek at the PLL algorithms, and some of them look pretty difficult. Also, the diagrams with arrows going all over the place are kinda confusing. How am I supposed to recognize which algorithm to use for the PLL quickly? The diagrams are so confusing.

you can recognise PLLs easily by the blocks of stickers. there are some very easy to spot patterns like U-perms, T perms, H perms and stuff. very very obvious. i believe the ones you described with arrows going all over the place are the 4 G-permutations. there are actually so called 'shortcut' methods to recognise which of the 4 g-perms to apply.

 

[magicsquares]

Yup, G-perms are actually pretty easy. Check out Bob Burton's website, cubewhiz.com go to his PLL page and you'll see how to recognize them.

 

[LarsN]

Maybe you should learn all the PLL algs before you learn all OLL algs. There are only 21 PLL algs and I presume you are already using a few of them to swap corners and permute edges, which leaves you with lesser algs to learn. You can get sub20 without knowing all OLL algs. I know a few who are.
I learned the hard way that it's not the number of algs you know that define your speed.

You sound very persistent, so I wouldn't worry about learning too many algs. Of course you will occasionally forget some, but then you just pull out your chart again and repeat that alg. Then it will stick in your memory even better because you will get so anoyed by the fact that it slipped your memory.

 

[Todd]

My best time is 17s and my ave is 25 and i only know maybe 10 OLL's.

Something else you might want to do is do cross ont he bottom (sounds like ur doing it on top). Also yes id leanr the PLLs first, probably more beneficial..

 

[ExoCorsair]

Knowing all 21 PLL will make you faster than knowing all 57 OLL.

I only know something like 10 OLL algorithms, but I only really need 10 thanks to inserting the last F2L pair differently (R' F R F' vs. R U' R', with cross on bottom, for example).

 

[Lloyd1337]

So would you consider the PLL algorithms more beneficial to improving my times than the OLL ones? I suppose having to use 2 algorithms to do the OLL isn't that slow.

Also, I am doing the cross on the bottom.

I'll have a look at some of the links you suggested for the PLL and see if I can figure it out. The PLL algs appear to be significantly longer, though, and would probably take me longer to memorize, so I'd probably only learn one a day. =/

 

[ExoCorsair]

So would you consider the PLL algorithms more beneficial to improving my times than the OLL ones? I suppose having to use 2 algorithms to do the OLL isn't that slow.

Yes. .

 

[Todd]

It's not so much memorization, you shouldnt be tryign to remember the notation.

Just do it a few times and and watch the pieces move, muscle memory etc.

Personally i know:
3 algs to orient edges
7 algs to orient corners
all 21 PLL's (Some from different angles)
and a couple of other OLL's.

Orienting the edges never takes more than 1 or 2 seconds MAX.

The Y permutation is made up of 2 OLL's, yes its like 17 moves long or something like that but its not hard. Its actually quite easy.

Also dont use algs all off the one site (unless you like them), look around and find the ones that are easiest for you to do. I use some from Dans site, some from Leyan Lo's, some from Macky's site.


Edit:
When i finished learning all 21 Pll's (in particular the G perms) my average dropped like 3 1/2 seconds quite quickly. The PLLs look confusing but once you know them all recognition is easier than when you only know half...

 

[masterofthebass]

I would say learn the 7 COLLs and 21 PLLs. After that, you can decide when to start learning the rest of the OLLs. I just finished them up, but I only started in like August. They helped my times by a couple of seconds, but I could still get sub-20 without them.

 

[ExoCorsair]

I would say learn the 7 COLLs and 21 PLLs.

You mean OCLLs.

 

[masterofthebass]

yeah... w/e I meant Corner only orientations.

 

[Lloyd1337]

I learned 3 PLL algorithms yesterday. They aren't as bad as I initially thought.

It takes me a while to see what PLL case I have, and then to remember the corresponding algorithm. But I'm assuming that once I learn more of them and start to use them more often I'll be able to recognize them faster. Muscle memory ftw.

 

[FU]

But I'm assuming that once I learn more of them and start to use them more often I'll be able to recognize them faster. Muscle memory ftw.

yep u can assume that