Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum but have a keen interest in cubing and was directed here by a local website.
I'm old enough to have been around when the original 3x3x3 hit the market and although I had a play with several in the day, I never learned to solve it and gave up (switching back to arcade games as most kids do!).
Only until as recently as this Xmas past, I didn't own a cube until the kids (who know I'm into 80s retro in a big way as it was my era I grew up in) bought dad a shiny new Rubik's original.
I loved the trip down memory lane and apart from giving the cube a quick play over the next week or two, didn't really get down to learning it until about 3 months back. At that time the kids asked quite innocently why I hadn't solved it yet and as a challenge I decided to give it a crack and actually learn to solve the cube for myself.
I did a little reading online and stumbled across a number of beginner methods, settling on this LBL method :
http://www.chessandpoker.com/rubiks-cube-solution.html
I chose it for it's beginner friendly explaination and use of graphics to show what face to turn. Notation for cubing might be very easy for the experienced cuber, but for someone new to the hobby it can be a little confusing to pick up. I admit I still am not overly familiar with the Notation method, finding it simpler to just follow little diagrams as the above article indicated.
About 6 weeks after starting to learn how to solve the cube I was able to remember the last 'hard' algorithm by heart (the Dedmore Fish) and for the first time in my life I was able to actually solve a rubik's cube on my own.

Fast forward a couple months and whilst I'm able to solve every time with this method, it's Sloooooooow! I can get sub 2 minutes without a problem, but it's still way too slow for what I'm after so recently I've decided to step it up and go from LBL to a much faster method.
For a start, I've picked up a White Grade A pre-lubed speed cube (which I've fallen in LOVE with - what a difference!) and whilst it's shaving a fair amount off my LBL times, I'm still looking for a 'proper' solve method.
My ultimate goal is to go sub 30 seconds and I don't care how long it takes to get there!
Now to someone with less than 6 months experience under the belt, the Fridrich is quite frightening. Whilst the algorithms are not on par with the massive Dedmore Fish (22 moves!) which I've now remembered, what it lacks in size of algorithms it more than makes up for with sheer number of algorithms that you have to remember!


So I've done a little research, watched a few clips online and downloaded a few algorithm sheets in order to start tackling the Fridrich, but at present it's proving difficult to start proper training.
The LBL I've linked above is laid out in a format that's very easy for the laymen to read and more importantly, understand - but moving on to the Fridrich it feels like the training wheels have been kicked off and you have to either pedal or fall off your bike. I am having great difficulty finding a good, solid guide that will graduate the LBL cuber into the Fridrich method from start to finish - all I can find so far are algorithm charts and a few lines of advice on what to look for. Very little content on the logic behind it or the best methods to employ to reset the mind from LBL to the next step.
At the moment it feels like I have to start all over again as virtually none of what I've already learned algorithm wise seems to apply to the advanced method(s).
So my question is for those who are more expereinced in regards to learning the Fridrich...
How the hell did you tackle it? :confused:
How did you get your foot into the water on this one without immediately drowning in the myriad of algorithms to remember?
Is there anywhere online you can find a solid tutorial that connects the base LBL method with the Fridrich in easy to understand notation?
At the moment I'm very eager to move from the base LBL into more advanced solving grounds, but I really need help because I can't find a tutorial online anywhere that makes logical sense without tripping over itself on over complicating presentation or making heavy assumptions on assumed knowledge. :rolleyes:
Any advice appreciated!
Cheers
I'm old enough to have been around when the original 3x3x3 hit the market and although I had a play with several in the day, I never learned to solve it and gave up (switching back to arcade games as most kids do!).
Only until as recently as this Xmas past, I didn't own a cube until the kids (who know I'm into 80s retro in a big way as it was my era I grew up in) bought dad a shiny new Rubik's original.
I loved the trip down memory lane and apart from giving the cube a quick play over the next week or two, didn't really get down to learning it until about 3 months back. At that time the kids asked quite innocently why I hadn't solved it yet and as a challenge I decided to give it a crack and actually learn to solve the cube for myself.
I did a little reading online and stumbled across a number of beginner methods, settling on this LBL method :
http://www.chessandpoker.com/rubiks-cube-solution.html
I chose it for it's beginner friendly explaination and use of graphics to show what face to turn. Notation for cubing might be very easy for the experienced cuber, but for someone new to the hobby it can be a little confusing to pick up. I admit I still am not overly familiar with the Notation method, finding it simpler to just follow little diagrams as the above article indicated.
About 6 weeks after starting to learn how to solve the cube I was able to remember the last 'hard' algorithm by heart (the Dedmore Fish) and for the first time in my life I was able to actually solve a rubik's cube on my own.
Fast forward a couple months and whilst I'm able to solve every time with this method, it's Sloooooooow! I can get sub 2 minutes without a problem, but it's still way too slow for what I'm after so recently I've decided to step it up and go from LBL to a much faster method.
For a start, I've picked up a White Grade A pre-lubed speed cube (which I've fallen in LOVE with - what a difference!) and whilst it's shaving a fair amount off my LBL times, I'm still looking for a 'proper' solve method.
My ultimate goal is to go sub 30 seconds and I don't care how long it takes to get there!
Now to someone with less than 6 months experience under the belt, the Fridrich is quite frightening. Whilst the algorithms are not on par with the massive Dedmore Fish (22 moves!) which I've now remembered, what it lacks in size of algorithms it more than makes up for with sheer number of algorithms that you have to remember!
So I've done a little research, watched a few clips online and downloaded a few algorithm sheets in order to start tackling the Fridrich, but at present it's proving difficult to start proper training.
The LBL I've linked above is laid out in a format that's very easy for the laymen to read and more importantly, understand - but moving on to the Fridrich it feels like the training wheels have been kicked off and you have to either pedal or fall off your bike. I am having great difficulty finding a good, solid guide that will graduate the LBL cuber into the Fridrich method from start to finish - all I can find so far are algorithm charts and a few lines of advice on what to look for. Very little content on the logic behind it or the best methods to employ to reset the mind from LBL to the next step.
At the moment it feels like I have to start all over again as virtually none of what I've already learned algorithm wise seems to apply to the advanced method(s).
So my question is for those who are more expereinced in regards to learning the Fridrich...
How the hell did you tackle it? :confused:
How did you get your foot into the water on this one without immediately drowning in the myriad of algorithms to remember?
Is there anywhere online you can find a solid tutorial that connects the base LBL method with the Fridrich in easy to understand notation?
At the moment I'm very eager to move from the base LBL into more advanced solving grounds, but I really need help because I can't find a tutorial online anywhere that makes logical sense without tripping over itself on over complicating presentation or making heavy assumptions on assumed knowledge. :rolleyes:
Any advice appreciated!
Cheers
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