Older cubers discussions

[h2f]

Never tried how it would be with UF buffer, maybe it is more fingertrick frendly

Yes, that's the main argument.

Still learning them. What I've noticed is, that comms for edges/wings are quite fingertrick difficult,

Mhm. I think it's up of the algs you use. At the first glance E or S moves seemed to me very hard but they make things much easier.

 

[JanW]

I envy the bld success ratios you guys achieve! Still not looking too great here. I'm not sure exactly why that is. Almost always my errors are in edges. Corners are mostly fine, as long as I don't have a totally mixed up cube. In the last few days I've been doing lots of edge cycles in my bldtrainer and found that when doing individual cycles, I make a mistake maybe once in 20 cycles. Yet when I do full solves I make a lot more mistakes..

 

[muchacho]

The unofficial spreadsheet has gone a little quiet recently. No PBs guys?
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XEEV3LObw7cHNW6S_AZdHJWqKLQFoXRW0wwnDneags4/edit?usp=sharing

Your wish is my command

Spoiler: Ao12 3x3 PB

65116 29-mar-2018 16:58:28 00:15.512 D R2 F2 R2 F2 U' F2 U' L2 U2 F' U' L F R B D U F' L B2 U'
65115 29-mar-2018 16:57:13 00:17.688 L2 D L2 U L2 U B2 L2 D' L2 D2 F D' U' F' L F U' L' U' B'
65114 29-mar-2018 16:56:38 00:16.487 D2 U' F2 D2 B2 R2 B2 U2 R2 F2 U' L U' B' F R' L2 D F' U' R F'
65113 29-mar-2018 16:56:07 00:14.528 F2 L2 B2 F2 U' B2 L2 D' R2 D U L' B R2 U R' F2 D B' L F U2
65112 29-mar-2018 16:55:31 00:16.551 B2 D2 B2 U' L2 B2 L2 D2 R2 D' B2 R' B' R U' B2 U' F' R' U2 F U'
65111 29-mar-2018 16:54:59 00:13.511 B2 L2 U' B2 R2 L2 U' L2 U' B2 R' B' U2 B2 L2 D B D2 B2 R
65110 29-mar-2018 16:54:26 00:16.191 B2 L2 U B2 D' U' F2 D' B2 F2 L2 F' U2 L' D L D' B L2 D'
65109 29-mar-2018 16:53:38 00:16.884 B2 D' R2 L2 B2 D L2 U' L2 F2 L2 B D L U' B' D L' F2 R' B' L
65108 29-mar-2018 16:52:56 00:18.439 U L2 U' R2 B2 D2 L2 D F2 D' R2 F D F' L2 U R L F L2
65107 29-mar-2018 16:52:22 00:14.457 D' U' B2 L2 B2 U2 F2 U' F2 D' L2 B' R L' U R B' L2 F L' D2 L2
65106 29-mar-2018 16:51:46 00:13.671 D2 U' L2 D U2 B2 R2 U' R2 L2 U' F' D B2 L' U2 B U B' D2
65105 29-mar-2018 16:51:13 00:13.599 D' B2 F2 U B2 D L2 U R2 F2 U2 R U L U' F D2 L' F2 R D

new: 15.556
old: 15.877 from 1 month ago

 

[pglewis]

You’re obviously capable of these times more regularly. I know it might sound redundant but this advice is sound: work on that slow turning. Even if you keep effing stuff up, your lookahead is the most important thing to get faster. Also, the more mistakes you make, the more you will learn. My advice is don’t turn off the timer just try not to care about it.

That's my usual mode. I time a lot of solves but rarely bother logging and I try not to let the timer drive my behavior, like punting an OLL I'm slow to recall and 2-looking or experimenting with new ways to handle a pair. The timer is mostly running just to verify my instincts and make sure I catch any lucky bolts out of the blue.

Sometimes the obvious advice is what I need though. The thing that has probably done the most for my lookahead in the past several months: consciously thinking to myself "don't look at the pair I'm solving". Seems ridiculous to even say it, it's the very definition of lookahead, but when my times start slipping and I pay close attention... sure enough, I'm watching 'em practically all the way into the slot.

Another obvious one is I really need to be drilling blind pairs but it's like pulling teeth to get me to do it (ditto cross drills).

Your wish is my command

new: 15.556
old: 15.877 from 1 month ago

Dang, someone needs to get to another comp pronto! Well done, enough 13s in there to declare "that's no accident".

 

[SpartanSailor]

FYI. I've updated the oldies rankings:
https://github.com/Logiqx/wca-ipy/blob/master/README.md

The unofficial spreadsheet has gone a little quiet recently. No PBs guys?
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XEEV3LObw7cHNW6S_AZdHJWqKLQFoXRW0wwnDneags4/edit?usp=sharing

I've started doing a bit of 2x2 practice. My latest session was a 4.55 Ao50.

I actually have set a few PBs recently... 333, 444 and 555. I cant update the spreadsheet from my phone, but I will this weekend. In fact, I don’t think I even have 555 listed at all.

 

[muchacho]

Also at 3x3 I've managed a Mo100 PB.

new: 17.539 (Ao100 is 17.472)
old: 17.630 from a month ago

I think it's time to learn the last CMLL cases I don't know yet (Sune), not that it will make much faster (if any) but I should do it anyway.

Edit: 17.279 Mo100 (17.179 Ao100)

 

[h2f]

The unofficial spreadsheet has gone a little quiet recently. No PBs guys?
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XEEV3LObw7cHNW6S_AZdHJWqKLQFoXRW0wwnDneags4/edit?usp=sharing

Thanks for a link. I've started to add my PBs.

 

[Logiqx]

It's great to see some more oldies on the PB spreadsheet.

The more the merrier!

 

[mark49152]

Been busy so it took me a while to get round to editing this.

 

[Logiqx]

Been busy so it took me a while to get round to editing this.

Better luck next time!

 

[JanW]

I figured I need to slow down and take a bit more time on my bld solves to increase accuracy (and through that hopefully confidence). It worked! First Ao5 of the year:

Generated By csTimer on 2018-3-30
avg of 5: 3:14.87

Time List:
1. 2:50.48+ U2 L D2 R' B' R F R U R' L U2 L' D2 L F2 D2 B2 D2 L2 Fw'
2. 3:42.38 R2 U2 R2 D' B2 F2 D' L2 U' R2 D' B' D F2 R U2 F L2 B2 D2 F' Uw'
3. 3:11.74 B2 D' F2 U R2 B2 F2 U L2 D' U2 F' U' L' U2 L' D2 L F D2 R2 Fw'
4. (DNF(2:26.09)) F' B2 L' D2 R2 B2 L D2 F2 R' U2 L D' B' F' L' F' R' F2 L2 Fw Uw'
5. (2:30.50) L2 F2 U2 B2 D2 F2 L R2 F2 U2 R F' U B2 D' L U2 R2 U2 R' F' Rw2 Uw'

The DNF was off by two twisted corners. It was a very stupid mistake, I did twist them at the end, but in the wrong direction.

Memo varied between 1:18-1:48, execution 1:08-1:53.

 

[pglewis]

I'm now in a "no new learning" moratorium with comps coming up in April and May

I'm not doing very well with my moratorium...

I've added a second angle for Big Lightning Bolts (I use mirrors, so just one alg) and a replacement for one of the "Awkward" OLLs (old one ended with F2). Plus a couple F2L case refinements:

Mis-connected pair, same top color, EO safe (I already have a sledge based one): R' D' (R U' R') D R (U R U' R')

R U R' case, flip all 4 LL edges: R' D' Rw U' Rw' D R2 U R' (U' between the wide turns can alternately be U if preferred)

 

[SpartanSailor]

Met Jae today and his son in Charleston, SC. That was pretty cool—Oldies unite!

First things first. This was my official debut at a comp for 3BLD. The cutoff was 10:00 and my first attempt was 9:34... failed. Pretty big time. Second attempt came with a 7:08 success! I was still reeling in the feeling of success when they called me for my final attempt—which was 7:05 failure leaving one edge flipped and my buffer flipped in position. But the big goal, 3BLD success, was met.

I did more events today than ever too, so I was pretty busy, it felt like it anyway.

I got official PBs in every event:
333–single and Ao5
444–Ao5
555–single (but this was my first 555 in comp and I didn’t get to do an Ao5)
3BLD—7:08 success with OP/OP
Pyramid—Another first time comp so, single and Ao5
skewb—Ao5. This was the shocker of the day. I put near ZERO practice into this since November. But somehow pulled together a slight improvement of my Ao5. Decided to check cubcomps as I was walking out and realised I actually made the finals as top 12 (in 11th)! What?!? Turned around and went back into the building for Skewb finals. Hahahaha. That seriously was a shocker. I went on to do terribly in the finals, but had a good time today.

My goals, if I had any were all met except a PB 444 single. But I have to say overall, today was a success that will be hard to replicate or exceed. Very pleased. My son was less thrilled, he didn’t do as well as he’d like to have done, but still enjoyed himself.

 

[pglewis]

Met Jae today and his son in Charleston, SC. That was pretty cool—Oldies unite!

First things first. This was my official debut at a comp for 3BLD. The cutoff was 10:00 and my first attempt was 9:34... failed. Pretty big time. Second attempt came with a 7:08 success! I was still reeling in the feeling of success when they called me for my final attempt—which was 7:05 failure leaving one edge flipped and my buffer flipped in position. But the big goal, 3BLD success, was met.

I did more events today than ever too, so I was pretty busy, it felt like it anyway.

I got official PBs in every event:
333–single and Ao5
444–Ao5
555–single (but this was my first 555 in comp and I didn’t get to do an Ao5)
3BLD—7:08 success with OP/OP
Pyramid—Another first time comp so, single and Ao5
skewb—Ao5. This was the shocker of the day. I put near ZERO practice into this since November. But somehow pulled together a slight improvement of my Ao5. Decided to check cubcomps as I was walking out and realised I actually made the finals as top 12 (in 11th)! What?!? Turned around and went back into the building for Skewb finals. Hahahaha. That seriously was a shocker. I went on to do terribly in the finals, but had a good time today.

My goals, if I had any were all met except a PB 444 single. But I have to say overall, today was a success that will be hard to replicate or exceed. Very pleased. My son was less thrilled, he didn’t do as well as he’d like to have done, but still enjoyed himself.

Congrats on an excellent day! Way to hang with it and not get discouraged over the first 3bld attempt and you're now officially sub me .

 

[openseas]

Met Jae today and his son in Charleston, SC. That was pretty cool—Oldies unite!

First things first. This was my official debut at a comp for 3BLD. The cutoff was 10:00 and my first attempt was 9:34... failed. Pretty big time. Second attempt came with a 7:08 success! I was still reeling in the feeling of success when they called me for my final attempt—which was 7:05 failure leaving one edge flipped and my buffer flipped in position. But the big goal, 3BLD success, was met.

I did more events today than ever too, so I was pretty busy, it felt like it anyway.

I got official PBs in every event:
333–single and Ao5
444–Ao5
555–single (but this was my first 555 in comp and I didn’t get to do an Ao5)
3BLD—7:08 success with OP/OP
Pyramid—Another first time comp so, single and Ao5
skewb—Ao5. This was the shocker of the day. I put near ZERO practice into this since November. But somehow pulled together a slight improvement of my Ao5. Decided to check cubcomps as I was walking out and realised I actually made the finals as top 12 (in 11th)! What?!? Turned around and went back into the building for Skewb finals. Hahahaha. That seriously was a shocker. I went on to do terribly in the finals, but had a good time today.

My goals, if I had any were all met except a PB 444 single. But I have to say overall, today was a success that will be hard to replicate or exceed. Very pleased. My son was less thrilled, he didn’t do as well as he’d like to have done, but still enjoyed himself.

It was great to see you and your son, too!

- 3BLD, Didn't expect much but another triple DNF was a bummer. Need more practice on Orozco - looks like execution error, there.
- 3x3, another meh, but slight improvement in terms of single PB + first ever 2nd round due to the generous cut (75%) policy

Jeff got another 19s today - now he has 3 official sub 20. Kaijun has 5, Max and Jeff has 3, Jake and Gianfranco has 2.

 

[SpartanSailor]

Congrats on an excellent day! Way to hang with it and not get discouraged over the first 3bld attempt and you're now officially sub me .

The part I didn’t expect was how quickly I had my second (and again third) attempt following the end of the previous. After 7-9 mins focused on a memo, it wasn’t as easy to just forget it to begin the next attempt. Hahahaha. Things you learn by experience... I guess it’s time to learn some M2 stuff now.

 

[mark49152]

@SpartanSailor : Nice results and congrats on the first official 3BLD!

@openseas : Commiserations on the 3BLD. If Orozco is giving you trouble, maybe it's time to think about going for 3style corners? Setting up two pieces to a comm that interchanges with URF or URB (assuming UBL buffer) is really not that hard, and a lot of fun. Orozco seems popular these days but personally I think it's not really worthwhile as an intermediate method since with similar learning effort you could be solving two pieces per comm instead. Just my 2 pence sterling.

 

[JanW]

Congrats @SpartanSailor! Official 3BLD is a big achievement!

I agree with Mark on corner comms. Definitely worth learning, and not too complicated. Some kind of limited set, with certain kinds of insertions/interchanges is good to start with. I can't provide any more advise than that for UBL buffer.

The last few days I've been working on 3BLD and some 5x5. Last 20 3BLD attempts had a success rate of 50%. Nice improvement, considering that 2 weeks ago I had a streak of 20 consecutive DNFs... On 5x5 my fastest two solves were 3.00.xx and 3.01.xx. No sub 3 yet, but it's coming!

 

[pglewis]

After 7-9 mins focused on a memo, it wasn’t as easy to just forget it to begin the next attempt.

I've started using rooms in prep for taking up mbld and find they also help a lot for multiple 3bld attempts. I'm still simplistic, each room has two locations: one for corner memo and one for edges. In my living room, my corners are on the couch and I visualize my first corner image as being on my couch. Edges are on the coffee table. Also helps a lot with the dreaded "memo was all there but I couldn't remember the very first image" issue.

 

[JanW]

At some point I need to upgrade my corner comms. Right now I'm very comfortable with the ones I use, they are fairly fast and I hardly ever make any mistakes in corner cycle execution. But my comms are limited to inserting from UFR and using D, L or B face as interchange. The next step would be to at least include U layer interchanges. They speed up a lot of cases, but they also require that I rewire my brain to think about the comms in a different way.

I had a look at Daniel Lin's UFR list. He seems to be very much into RUD algs. There are several cases that to me seem unnecessarily complicated. Must be some gripping thing. For example, in setup moves he tends to use wide l moves instead of L. Can't be any reason for that other than him holding the cube so that L moves are impractical. Probably for the same reason some cases that could be done easily with L interchanges he did with longer and more complicated RUD algs.