Fred
Veteran
I got dissatisfied with the method of solving the centers and then pairing up edges and solving like a 3x3x3 because of the parity problems. I also thought that there had to be a ?big cube? way of solving the 4x4x4 rather than a ?reduce to 3x3x3 (but with some weird cases)? method. Then I found out about the cage method and the K4 method. I liked solving center pieces last (cage) and I liked making 1x3x4 blocks on opposite sides of the cube (K4). I use these ideas in my method. Solving two 1x3x4 blocks and then the 4 remaining corners leaves the up face and two slices (r and l) free. But instead of solving the centers next, I expand one 1x3x4 block to a 2x3x4 block, leaving U and r free. Then I solve some edges, and finally, I'm left with a slice to solve at the end, so I don?t have any parity issues at all. (My parity fix is r.) I hope you like my method.
Step 1: Solving two opposite centers
This is easy. But keep in mind your color scheme - don't solve red and yellow if they are adjacent colors on your cube. I solve the blue and green centers, and I put these centers on the right and left.
Step 2: Make a 1x3x4 block
Around one of the centers you built in step 1, build a 1x3x4 block. Be sure not to make any slice moves that break up centers made in step 1. However, r and l slice moves are just fine. Use these slice moves to pair up the edges. Other than the need to pair up the edges, this step is the same as step 1 of Roux. Put this 1x3x4 block on the left (if you are right handed) such that the up face is still free.
Step 3: Make the opposite 1x3x4 block
Using U, R, r, and l, solve the opposite 1x3x4 block. This is like the previous step except you have to be sure not to break up the progress you made in step 2.
Step 4: Solve the 4 remaining corners
You can use CMLL (Corners of the Last Layer with M slice free) like Roux. If you don?t know CMLL, use some other method to solve the corners.
Step 5: Expand one 1x3x4 block to 2x3x4
You can use r, l, and U moves. There are a few tricks to learn, but with a bit of practice, this step isn?t too bad. It's completely intuitive, so it's best if you figure it out yourself. (It?s also more fun that way.) I do this in the l slice.
Step 6: Solve 3 more pairs of edges in the U face
In particular, solve the edges in the L and R faces and the edges connected to the slice you worked on in step 5. Do this by making pairs of edges and then inserting them in the correct location. If you are good, you can also solve the two remaining center pieces in the slice you worked on in step 5, leaving only one slice left to solve. (Sometimes it?s quicker just to leave that until step 8.)
Step 7: Solve the last four edges
You can do this a maximum of two commutators. You may have to do a slice move (this is the parity fix) to get to one of the three cases: solved, three edges to cycle, and two 2-cycles. (For good tutorials on commutators, go to solvethecube.co.uk, or grroux.free.fr.)
Step 8: Solve the remaining centers
Use commutators. This is like the last step of the cage method, except that there are fewer pieces to cycle.
Concluding Thoughts
My goal was to make a method that completely avoids parity problems and minimizes the length of the commutator 3-cycling step. I think I did pretty well. I like this method a lot, and I?ve even extended it to the 5x5x5. The difference there is that I add step 4.5, which solves the first 4 layers of the middle slice and step 4.75, which is solving the edges (without messing up the centers). My best time right now on the 4x4x4 is 2:35, but I just started practicing with this method, and I'm not very familiar with the Roux method, so some of you will probably be much faster.
Step 1: Solving two opposite centers
This is easy. But keep in mind your color scheme - don't solve red and yellow if they are adjacent colors on your cube. I solve the blue and green centers, and I put these centers on the right and left.
Step 2: Make a 1x3x4 block
Around one of the centers you built in step 1, build a 1x3x4 block. Be sure not to make any slice moves that break up centers made in step 1. However, r and l slice moves are just fine. Use these slice moves to pair up the edges. Other than the need to pair up the edges, this step is the same as step 1 of Roux. Put this 1x3x4 block on the left (if you are right handed) such that the up face is still free.
Step 3: Make the opposite 1x3x4 block
Using U, R, r, and l, solve the opposite 1x3x4 block. This is like the previous step except you have to be sure not to break up the progress you made in step 2.
Step 4: Solve the 4 remaining corners
You can use CMLL (Corners of the Last Layer with M slice free) like Roux. If you don?t know CMLL, use some other method to solve the corners.
Step 5: Expand one 1x3x4 block to 2x3x4
You can use r, l, and U moves. There are a few tricks to learn, but with a bit of practice, this step isn?t too bad. It's completely intuitive, so it's best if you figure it out yourself. (It?s also more fun that way.) I do this in the l slice.
Step 6: Solve 3 more pairs of edges in the U face
In particular, solve the edges in the L and R faces and the edges connected to the slice you worked on in step 5. Do this by making pairs of edges and then inserting them in the correct location. If you are good, you can also solve the two remaining center pieces in the slice you worked on in step 5, leaving only one slice left to solve. (Sometimes it?s quicker just to leave that until step 8.)
Step 7: Solve the last four edges
You can do this a maximum of two commutators. You may have to do a slice move (this is the parity fix) to get to one of the three cases: solved, three edges to cycle, and two 2-cycles. (For good tutorials on commutators, go to solvethecube.co.uk, or grroux.free.fr.)
Step 8: Solve the remaining centers
Use commutators. This is like the last step of the cage method, except that there are fewer pieces to cycle.
Concluding Thoughts
My goal was to make a method that completely avoids parity problems and minimizes the length of the commutator 3-cycling step. I think I did pretty well. I like this method a lot, and I?ve even extended it to the 5x5x5. The difference there is that I add step 4.5, which solves the first 4 layers of the middle slice and step 4.75, which is solving the edges (without messing up the centers). My best time right now on the 4x4x4 is 2:35, but I just started practicing with this method, and I'm not very familiar with the Roux method, so some of you will probably be much faster.
