Petrus step 1 advices, scrambles, training... place

[tikva]

Idea behind this thread is to share some scrambles (and optionally solutions) which are interesting to Petrus users. You can also post here if you find some reasonable direct step1+(partial)2 scrambles. Hopefully this will help someone (including me). I think that solving 2x2x2s optimally (besides for FMC) also helps for speedcubing because after seeing a lot of patterns you build your own pattern database which then helps you in selecting the corner, saving a move or two, etc.

Here is the first one, by Johannes' (very helpful) trainer (http://fn.dy.fi/old/step_1/index.pl):
L2 U R2 U' R2 U2 B' D U' F' L U' D2 B2 F2 D2 F' U B2 R2 L U' D2 L' R.

Find a 5-move 2x2x2 block!

Hint1 (highlight to see): DFL
Hint2 (highlight to see): Each move moves at least two pieces.
Hint3 (solution): Maybe later

I couldn't figure out this one so I looked it up . Although, I did recognize the optimal corner. Never seen anything this complex before.

 

[KevinK]

I don't use Petrus, but I found an eight move x-cross with another pair set up for insertion.

 

[Radical Seal]

I can only find a 6 move 2x2x2.
B2 U' F' U' L B' then I guess you could do, F L2 D
for the 2x2x3.

 

[Swordsman Kirby]

Heh, that was an easy block.

 

[EmersonHerrmann]

I can only find a 6 move one...I'll look again...

 

[Dennis]

One solution could be:
L U2 R2 D' L F2 L' (7,9)

One move better:
L U2 M2 B2 D M2 (6,10)

I really suck at block building, unless there are only four moves or a CE-pair I seldom see the block within 15 seconds. I use only block building for my X-cross which I'm focusing on right now (I often find X-crosses of 6-10 moves with this).

This is what I do:
1. Look for a CE-pair if any. Find the 2 other edges. Are they oriented so that they can be solved within one move?
2. If I don't see a CE-pair I try to match one with only one move else I go for the cross instead.

I've been watching quite a few block builing videos lately but can someone elaborate the tricks even more in words?

 

[tikva]

6 moves are really nice if you see them in 15 seconds.

But what do you do if there are no c/e pairs? What gives you a hint on which corner could be best? Have you learned some patterns or do you think about each move?

Heh, that was an easy block.

Could you explain how you got it?

Gotta see those block-building videos. I will list here some tricks I found if they aren't covered in videos.

 

[Dennis]

For now I cannot see the 2x2x2 block in 15 seconds. I have not learned any patterns yet, are there any (must be a huge list...)
One video I found is this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeC3JUbDcL0

 

[Dennis]

Keeping this thread alive...

Try
B' F D' U2 L2 B F2 U D R2 L2 D2 L' D' L' R' B2 L' D2 U2 F2 U2 D' R' B2

one solution is L' F2 U' D2 F' can you find the other 5 move solution in the same spot?

Spoiler (highlight to see): D2 B2 R U F'

 

[Ville Seppänen]

Keeping this thread alive...

Try
B' F D' U2 L2 B F2 U D R2 L2 D2 L' D' L' R' B2 L' D2 U2 F2 U2 D' R' B2

one solution is L' F2 U' D2 F' can you find the other 5 move solution in the same spot?

Spoiler (highlight to see): D2 B2 R U F'

I found it. ^_^