One-Answer 3x3x3 Question Thread

[shadowslice e]

Hi I'm Fear. So this weekend I made my pb of 1:03 on my rubiks brand and I've been getting better average 1:20 to 1:30. I was wondering, when should I switch over to CFOP? I feel like this should be the time I start trying but I'm not sure as I'm relatively new to speedcubing. I've been using beginners method over my cubing times. I will also be getting a new cube. does anyone have an idea on when to switch? I've gotten the algorithms on paper from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEQNC0s1NTg. Think it is cfop xD. I've gotten the basics of it though I've only memorized two. T_T

You don't have to use CFOP. You could also try Roux or ZZ just to see if you like the feel/style of the method. Switch over when you feel like it. I didn't start using roux properly and consistently until I was sub-40 with beginner's possibly even later. It's probably a good idea to start before then though just so you can get a feel for which methods you like.

 

[Robinbar]

He,
I am thinking of buying a 4x4. This local webshop sells he shengshou 4x4 v4. Is that a good 4x4. And also I see alot of methods where you solve all the centers of the 4x4 first, are there also oll and pll algorithms for the 4x4 like the 3x3.
Because it looks like you dont solve the 4x4 in layers as much as the 3x3.

 

[mafergut]

He,
I am thinking of buying a 4x4. This local webshop sells he shengshou 4x4 v4. Is that a good 4x4. And also I see alot of methods where you solve all the centers of the 4x4 first, are there also oll and pll algorithms for the 4x4 like the 3x3.
Because it looks like you dont solve the 4x4 in layers as much as the 3x3.

There are several methods for solving 4x4 but most of them basically consist in reducing it to a 3x3 and then solving as a 3x3. So, solving the 2x2 centres and pairing the 2-piece edges are the 1st things to do. I think the most used method is Yau and also Hoya. Yau consists basically in doing 2 opposite centres and 3 edges of one centre that would be the seed of your cross, then do the other 4 centres, finish your cross and then pair the rest of the edges. Then you solve as a 3x3 with the only exception that you can have 2 kinds of parity and you will need at least one alg for each of those. They are easy enough, though.

Regarding good 4x4s right now I'd say Moyu AoSu regular (not mini), Cyclone Boys G4, Yuxin (not the Lion, the other one) and also decent might be YJ Yusu or even the GuanSu. But I only have an Aosu so maybe other people can give you better advice.

 

[Robinbar]

But what do you do after you finish all the centers, is there no PLL or something, and are there ways to avoid parity, and are these ways efficient or is just better to face parity and do the algorithm?

 

[andrew leader]

im new to cubing and my pb is 38 sec but that was a fluke. my average is like 50 sec.ive been cubing for around a month and i was wondering how long on average you think it would take me to get 20/sub-20?

 

[shadowslice e]

im new to cubing and my pb is 38 sec but that was a fluke. my average is like 50 sec.ive been cubing for around a month and i was wondering how long on average you think it would take me to get 20/sub-20?

It can vary hugely. It took me about 7 months though I don't practise a lot tbh. For some people they can sub-20 globally in around 4-5 months of constant effort and practise but for some people it can take about 2 years though generally the younger people in the 12-20 range are better than the older ones though this is likely down to practise and not having to hold down a job etc (though admittedly someay be down to less brain plasticity and slower fingers).

But what do you do after you finish all the centers, is there no PLL or something, and are there ways to avoid parity, and are these ways efficient or is just better to face parity and do the algorithm?

Look up Yau, Reduction, Hoya, Meyer etc for nice redux methods and K4 for direct solving.

 

[TheFearlessPro]

You don't have to use CFOP. You could also try Roux or ZZ just to see if you like the feel/style of the method. Switch over when you feel like it. I didn't start using roux properly and consistently until I was sub-40 with beginner's possibly even later. It's probably a good idea to start before then though just so you can get a feel for which methods you like.

Ok thanks!

 

[andrew leader]

whats the best tutorial for pll on youtube?

 

[Robinbar]

Hi,
I just got a 4x4 and the centers end edges go well, but I dont know what oll and pll algortithm to do. People say just treat it like a 3x3 but it still doesnt work out. And after finally finishing oll I have this pll where 4 edges need to be swapped.
and I dont mean edge blocks but just 4 pieces and they all need to go clockwise, I have no solved face. When I search I only find parity but this doesnt look like parity at all. Again it is about 4 edge pieces, NOT edge blocks, and they need to go adjacent. No solved face.

 

[WACWCA]

Hi,
I just got a 4x4 and the centers end edges go well, but I dont know what oll and pll algortithm to do. People say just treat it like a 3x3 but it still doesnt work out. And after finally finishing oll I have this pll where 4 edges need to be swapped.
and I dont mean edge blocks but just 4 pieces and they all need to go clockwise, I have no solved face. When I search I only find parity but this doesnt look like parity at all. Again it is about 4 edge pieces, NOT edge blocks, and they need to go adjacent. No solved face.

If you mean that all the edges are not paired up than that's your problem, you have to do the last 4 edges before you solve it like a 3x3

 

[AlphaSheep]

There are many 4x4 methods, but they generally fall into two categories - direct or reduction. The case you describe is only possible in direct methods. You can look up K4 algorithms to find the algorithms you need. Reduction methods are more popular and involve making sure that all 24 edge pieces are paired together before starting on the cross of the 3x3 stage (or at least before F2L for advanced variations like Yau). This makes sure that you can't get to the last layer with two matching pieces separated, and allows you to solve LL using normal OLL and PLL plus two more algs for the two types of parity.

 

[Robinbar]

Hi,
How do pros practice all those cubes,
For instance do pros like feliks practice 1 hour 3x3 and then 1 hour 4x4 and then
1 hour 5x5 etc on a daily basis? If I practice 4x4 alot now do my times on 3x3 get worse?

 

[Christchin]

Is there a good resource to design custom moves?

I'm trying to come up with a move that will twist all four top layer edges. It can do whatever to the corners, but it has to leave the F2L in place.

 

[h2f]

Is there a good resource to design custom moves?

I'm trying to come up with a move that will twist all four top layer edges. It can do whatever to the corners, but it has to leave the F2L in place.

This: [video]https://youtu.be/y8te-BJ0eMo?t=51s[/video]

Or this? http://algdb.net/Set/OLL/OLL 20

 

[shadowslice e]

Is there a good resource to design custom moves?

I'm trying to come up with a move that will twist all four top layer edges. It can do whatever to the corners, but it has to leave the F2L in place.

Well, if you don't want to learn the comms and stuff, F R U R' U' S' R U R' U' f' works fairly well.

 

[DJ4Y]

Hi,
How do pros practice all those cubes,
For instance do pros like feliks practice 1 hour 3x3 and then 1 hour 4x4 and then
1 hour 5x5 etc on a daily basis? If I practice 4x4 alot now do my times on 3x3 get worse?

Just getting a balance and practicing usually only what you enjoy. If you practice 4x4 if anything your 3x3 times will get better.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

 

[NovaTheNebula]

I Stayed cubing Christmas of 2015 and now I can solve around 50.00 to a minute, am I too slow? I know two look OLL and PLL but can't get any faster. I use keyhole for F2L because I have a hard time matching pairs, I can insert them fine but can't find and pair them, Should I be any faster than 50.00 after cubing for a month?

 

[TDM]

I Stayed cubing Christmas of 2015 and now I can solve around 50.00 to a minute, am I too slow? I know two look OLL and PLL but can't get any faster. I use keyhole for F2L because I have a hard time matching pairs, I can insert them fine but can't find and pair them, Should I be any faster than 50.00 after cubing for a month?

I also started with Keyhole a few days before Christmas one year, and wasn't sub-60 by March. So you're doing fine.

 

[Robinbar]

Hi,
With the 4x4, after solving all the centers I usually solve the white edge pairs first, so that I have a cross on the bottom, I solve with white on bottom.
When I solve the last 4 edge pairs I use this algorithm: d R F' U R' F d'. It doesnt mess up the already made edges but it does move them, for instance the white edge pair are in the U layer, is there like a better algorithm
to do the last 4 edges or will I just have to deal with it?

 

[shadowslice e]

Hi,
With the 4x4, after solving all the centers I usually solve the white edge pairs first, so that I have a cross on the bottom, I solve with white on bottom.
When I solve the last 4 edge pairs I use this algorithm: d R F' U R' F d'. It doesnt mess up the already made edges but it does move them, for instance the white edge pair are in the U layer, is there like a better algorithm
to do the last 4 edges or will I just have to deal with it?

Look up Yau/Hoya etc and 6-2 and 3-2-3 edge pairing if you want to use redux