Older cubers discussions

[phreaker]

I like the theory very much, the practice is harder. I've not even gotten close to mastering EOLine, and certainly no extra algs learned toward ZBLL or anything like that. Since most of what I do is big cubes I'm not sure it's entirely worth making the switch, but once I have a foot cube with my crazy color scheme again the improved ergonomics of ZZ F2L might be worth it, and I do like the idea of learning ZZ-CT just for feet. Once I know it for my feet I may just do it with my hands too.

I use ZZ + OCLL + PLL for 3x3, I mainly solve OH, so it works well. I use CFOP on larger cubes, because of the inspection time needed for EOLine. (I stop inspecting when they call out 12s in comp.)

You may find being y neutral helpful, if you aren't already. For OH, I consider y2 neutral to be the minimum.

ZZ-CT and friends are huge alg sets...

COLL is the big win for ZZ from what I understand. Also COLL is the stepping stone to ZBLL if you want it.

EOLine progression works roughly as: Partial EO, full EO, full EO + tracking line pieces but not knowing how to place them, full line, and optimizing your F/B turns to place the edges for a smooth line.

 

[One Wheel]

I use ZZ + OCLL + PLL for 3x3, I mainly solve OH, so it works well. I use CFOP on larger cubes, because of the inspection time needed for EOLine. (I stop inspecting when they call out 12s in comp.)

You may find being y neutral helpful, if you aren't already. For OH, I consider y2 neutral to be the minimum.

ZZ-CT and friends are huge alg sets...

COLL is the big win for ZZ from what I understand. Also COLL is the stepping stone to ZBLL if you want it.

EOLine progression works roughly as: Partial EO, full EO, full EO + tracking line pieces but not knowing how to place them, full line, and optimizing your F/B turns to place the edges for a smooth line.

I'll have to look at COLL. CT is appealing in part because of the alleged simplicity of the algs. I'm still working on learning full OLL, which will probably be more helpful than ZZ for big cubes, but I seem to be a bit slow at learning algs. I've been at this nearly 3 years and I know full PLL including 2 or 3 duplicates, 2-look OLL, and about 10-15 other algs. Mostly parity and Ortega PBL, maybe 4-5 other OLL algs.

For EOLine I've never seen it broken down that far, but it makes a lot of sense. I'm about at full EO, but I sometimes wander into tracking edge pieces, and occasionally end up with misoriented edges after I thought I did EO.

 

[phreaker]

I'll have to look at COLL. CT is appealing in part because of the alleged simplicity of the algs. I'm still working on learning full OLL, which will probably be more helpful than ZZ for big cubes, but I seem to be a bit slow at learning algs. I've been at this nearly 3 years and I know full PLL including 2 or 3 duplicates, 2-look OLL, and about 10-15 other algs. Mostly parity and Ortega PBL, maybe 4-5 other OLL algs.

For EOLine I've never seen it broken down that far, but it makes a lot of sense. I'm about at full EO, but I sometimes wander into tracking edge pieces, and occasionally end up with misoriented edges after I thought I did EO.

I'll confirm full OLL over ZZ for big cubes, without even knowing full OLL. Just imagine a flipped edge on an even order cube.

 

[One Wheel]

I said a few weeks ago that ya'll would need to hop the pond sometime to compete in big cubes. Well, here's your opportunity:
https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/competitions/BigCheeseOpen2018
Pretty excited to have a competition that I actually A) can go to and B) have a fighting chance of making big cube cutoffs. And so far organizing isn't too bad either ;-)

 

[mafergut]

Hi guys! First of all, impressive progress by @Selkie, finally achieven that long-term goal of sub-15 at 3x3. If I had just improved a bit myself but I'm still stuck at 18.xx average. But, in my opinion, you could get half a second faster just by learning 2-sided PLL recognition.

Regarding next year's European Champs in Madrid in July. Any of you coming? I'm considering going, even if only to watch or maybe even to compete on 1st round of 3x3. It would be great to finally know some of you in person!

My Aosu GTS M finally arrived today. I did like 20 solves and I'm not really sure it's any better than my Juki WuQue M. Maybe the base cube is slightly better than the WuQue but the exceptional setup work done by the guys at Juki compensates. Best solve with it was like 1:05 so no sub-1min yet.

 

[mark49152]

@mafergut , I intend to go as long as I qualify for MBLD. It would be nice to meet you.

 

[Shaky Hands]

I'll have to look at COLL.

I've been learning some COLL recently, now I've finished Full OLL. So far I've learned the T and U cases and am working on L/bowtie. Recognition isn't too bad.

I said a few weeks ago that ya'll would need to hop the pond sometime to compete in big cubes. Well, here's your opportunity:
https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/competitions/BigCheeseOpen2018
Pretty excited to have a competition that I actually A) can go to and B) have a fighting chance of making big cube cutoffs. And so far organizing isn't too bad either ;-)

Good luck with the comp. I enjoyed running my first comp last month.

Regarding next year's European Champs in Madrid in July. Any of you coming? I'm considering going, even if only to watch or maybe even to compete on 1st round of 3x3. It would be great to finally know some of you in person!

I hope to be there. Although, I'm due to be working that weekend and haven't been able to arrange a swap yet. Fingers crossed...

 

[moralsh]

Regarding next year's European Champs in Madrid in July. Any of you coming? I'm considering going, even if only to watch or maybe even to compete on 1st round of 3x3. It would be great to finally know some of you in person!

I'm going to at least staff there so I will be there all 4 days and you should definitely go, it's a great experience. And you should try to get to a comp earlier. El Escorial in May is not that Far to Valladolid, less than 2 hours.

@mark49152 you already qualify for multi. I should start practicing Multi if I want to have a small chance at qualifying

@Shaky Hands I hope 7 months is enough to sort that weekend out

I had a comp last weekend in which I didn't improve anything, but at least broke my not sub2ing in blind streak. Missed the mean again on 2 of the 3 rounds for not orienting on 1 solve and wrong recall on a pair on the final. That's the 16th 2 out of 3 for me in 3BLD. Meh

 

[mark49152]

@mark49152 you already qualify for multi. I should start practicing Multi if I want to have a small chance at qualifying

It's top 40 registrants as of June 19 so I'm not guaranteed a place. Depends who registers and who improves their rankings in the meantime.

Will the organisers be calling for staff volunteers?

 

[moralsh]

Will the organisers be calling for staff volunteers?

Yep, sure thing, I'll tell you as soon as I know anything about it.

 

[newtonbase]

It's top 40 registrants as of June 19 so I'm not guaranteed a place. Depends who registers and who improves their rankings in the meantime.

Will the organisers be calling for staff volunteers?

Have you asked James?

 

[Bemis]

Feels like I haven't posted in the thread in forever. I'm still around and cubing like crazy! Loving my Valk 3 Power and the GTS2. Got a Air SM on it's way. Hope everyone is having a happy holiday!

 

[muchacho]

OH PB single:17.806 (was 17.984)

Spoiler

9335 16-dic-2017 12:56:58 00:17.806 L2 D' F2 L2 U F2 U' B2 D2 F2 U' F' D' B' D B2 L' F2 R
z'
Uw M' U2 M' Lw' U Lw U Lw2 z2
U Lw' U' Lw U2 L U' L' U2 M2 Lw U Lw'
U F R' F' R U R U' R'
M' U2 M U M U M' U M' U M' U2 M U' M2 U M' U2 M'

50 STM
2.81 TPS

 

[pglewis]

As luck would have it a comp popped up in Jan with 3bld in MI; as luck wouldn't have it, that's the only day I have a conflict on my calendar. Won't be long though, it's still a vacuum around me but I expect some more regional winter comps.

 

[pglewis]

I'm ever so slowly turning the corner again on 3x3, I got my next milestone of a sub 25 Ao12. 22s and 23s make me yawn now when I'm in a groove, despite still being my better solves. The time distribution for my short PB Ao12 session shows a good shift towards where I'd hoped all this work would would take me.

 

[mafergut]

Well... I have a problem now in deciding about my 4x4 main cube. After doing over 100 solves with the Aosu GTS M I'm really liking it a lot, even though getting used to the hard magnets in the middle slices is taking some time.

I finished a comparison video against my current main, the WuQue magnetized by Juki Mods and, during the recording of the video I got a 53.xx second solve on each of the cubes, sadly not on camera but I got a 59.xx solve on cam on the WuQue, a 58.xx on the Aosu and, when I was about to switch off the camera... I got a new PB on the Aosu. The 59.xx and the new PB (you will have to watch the video to see the solve and the time ) start at 14:00 mark in the video below.

 

[Bemis]

I've been sticking to 3x3 for my first year, but just ordered a WuQue M last night. Can't wait to give it a few spins.

 

[Shaky Hands]

Good luck @Bemis. I enjoy solving bigger cubes so much more than 3x3. Hope you get a similar enjoyment.

 

[openseas]

Brief update from Skillcon 2017

Miserable 3x3 even with my first comp PLL skip. May need to start practice again.

3BLD -2:26 (meh)
5BLD : DNF(2) DNS, first DNF, one cap fell off during execution - thought about regulation /what to do - that pause made me lost what I was doing. 2nd attempt: execution errors (a lot). Time was 41 & 31 mins
MBLD: 4/7, the 3rd consecutive time I've got 4/7. This time, though, I reviewed my memo & scrambles after the comp: all tracings were correct, 2 cubes - forgot to execute one letter pair (each cube), 1 cube - execution error - BU target, I'm using UMUMUMUM' - thing, but made one more U turn which screwed up the rest. After reviewing this, felt better since at least I know my trace (my usual suspect) was correct.

BTW, the 3x3 final was great. The final match between Max and Seung (people usually call him Nahm), it was just like the world 2017. They made back to back 4s, first ever during the comp. That was awesome to watch - Max got 4.78 which made everybody excited then followed by Seung's 4.99 - the entire venue was almost exploded.

Side notes:
- Slow park (Danny Sungin Park) almost beat fast Park (Max) but missed by last solve penalty (+2).
- Seung and Max, they get along really well. Happy to see Max find him really comfortable and Seung responds to him really well. (for those of you who know about Max a little bit, it is a big thing).
- Seung and all top 555 cubers loved my DIY magnetized Yusin. (Not sure I uploaded the picture here, probably not). I attached magnets inside center pieces for inner layer (3x1.5 N35). For outer layer, just conventional method with 4x1.5 and 5x1 mix. (Unofficially), Seung said, "it's way better than the Cubicle version", haha...

 

[Bart Van Eynde]

Damn, got my first 4x4 yesterday and did a couple of solves on it. Slowly getting some more inside in what to do, but i expected to get like 4/5 mins solves ... again damn ... it's harder then i thought. Doing like 7 - 10 min solves :/
Guess practice is what needs to be done