Newbie speedsolving questions.

[Tetris Cube]

I currently use the Petrus method. I want to improve my times, but don't know which algorithms to learn. I know most of the OLLs that can be done when all edges are correctly oriented; there's not that many and I'll have them all down soon.

The basic Petrus method basically has a 4 look LL: fix edges during F2L, permute corners, orient corners, permute edges. I'm probably going to keep using the same F2L, so my options are to learn the CLL algorithms so I just have to fix the edges, or to learn PLLs. Which is a better choice?

Another question is about different algorithms which accomplish the same task.

For example:

Cycling 3 edges counterclockwise

F2 U' R' L F2 R L' U' F2 (the one on Lars' site)

R U' R U R U R U' R' U' R2 (found it on a Fridrich tutorial)

They both do the same thing, but one has more moves. The second one never requires a grip change though, so I'm guessing it's used more often, though it has more moves. Now is there any reason to learn more optimal algorithms to solutions I already know?

 

[Arikash]

I'm not sure about the LL stuff, but as a reply to the question about which alg you should use, my advice(although I'm nowhere near an expert) is to use the one that feels right for you, and choose the one that you can execute faster, unless of course you are going for fewest moves.

 

[byu]

The Fridrich one is what we call 2-gen, meaning it uses only two faces, which allows execution very rapidly. I would suggest learning that one.

 

[a small kitten]

Definitely learn the R U one. And later in the future, try to learn the more efficient algorithms even if they seem hard to memorize at first. They are significantly faster.

 

[EmersonHerrmann]

Yes, using more optimal algorithms for speedsolving will help your speed since your fingertricks can "flow" easier. The one on Lars' site it harder to perform quickly; the second one is more commonly used since it is 2-gen (uses 2 sides only), 2-gen can often be performed quicker than other algs.

Also, for the Petrus method you do not have to follow all of his steps specifically: instead, you can solve OLL without doing corner permutation, and then do PLL...it takes more algorithms but it is faster usually.

PLLs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjrD3WYtnP0
there are other algs, but this is a good start

 

[Tetris Cube]

Thanks, I'll probably learn some optimal algorithms when I can. All of my storeboughts broke, and I'm waiting for my DIY currently. Don't want to buy another storebought because they take so long to break in and even become remotely able to perform algorithms at fast speeds.

I watched the video, and it was pretty helpful, but it doesn't tell me how to recognize all of the PLL cases. It does on the first few and some in between, but some look kinda confusing. I'm guessing I'd have to turn the U face to a certain side to recognize some, but I don't really know.

 

[Samlambert]

Yes, using more optimal algorithms for speedsolving will help your speed since the fingertricks "flow" easier.

Fail. (Apparently you meant optimal as in for speed optimal, sorry bout that)

To Tetris Cube: Use the R U one, and try using 2-gen algs or algs with stuff like RUF in it, they are MUCH faster than optimals.

 

[JLarsen]

I would use OLL/PLL if I were you. Every sub 20 Petrus user I've ever heard of uses OLL/PLL, including myself.

Don't worry too much about last layer, it really is what needs the least attention. It's common advice to beginners, it's given a lot.

I learned OLL/PLL at the same time that I switched to Petrus. TERRIBLE idea, but hey, thats puzzleproz advice for ya. Anyway I had like a 50 sec. f2l, and a 10 sec last layer. It was horrible, and took forever to even out. Now after all that, I'm at maybe 11-13 F2l, 6-7 LL

 

[Tetris Cube]

Ahh, by optimal I meant faster, sorry about that. Forgot that it really means less moves. Probably a misunderstanding on my part. Emerson said optimal algorithms for speedsolving which I guess is correct.

Right now I'm really bad on my F turns; they flow really badly. I need to work on those.

 

[EmersonHerrmann]

Yes, using more optimal algorithms for speedsolving will help your speed since the fingertricks "flow" easier.

Fail.

To Tetris Cube: Use the R U one, and try using 2-gen algs or algs with stuff like RUF in it, they are MUCH faster than optimals.

Optimal algorithms for speedsolving.

Remember Mr.Tetris Cube, there are multiple algorithms for performing different PLLs...which I think was already mentioned. But when I mean is...ok, example:

For the Y perm I used to use:

F R U' R' U' R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R F'

Which is what most people use, but I could not do well with F moves (as you).

Now I use:

R2 U' R' U R U' x' U' z' U' R U' R' U' L U

Which is much fast for me Just the use the algorithm that catches your fancy.

Also, if you cannot find an algorithm that suits you, use cube explorer to find your own
Cube Explorer 4.64: http://kociemba.org/cube.htm => click download on left bar