RayLam
Regular
why your 5bld so fast but 3bld "slow" as you write in the singature?
Roman Strakhov: answering your questions
- Thread starter Roman
- Start date
DeeDubb
Veteran
How do you stay motivated to improve when it is so hard for you to go to competitions?
TDM
Legend
Well it's not like ben can post anything about it now
(unless he makes yet another account...)What if roman is the ultimate troll and just finds suboptimal solutions and splits them up into steps and calls it polylines? O.o
Roman
Veteran
How dare you? I've been working on this method for so long...
lol bingo TDM and goodatthis
AlexMaass
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anyway Roman told me about the method on Skype.
"basically you create the state where there are 3 stickers with similar colors on 3 sides of the cube so they forms something that I call "a polyline" or a broken line. Building those shapes is intuitive, and converting one type of it to another is intuitive as well. Making a cube solved from A-type polyline requires learning some algs, but according to the method they are 4-8 moves"
edit: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"basically you create the state where there are 3 stickers with similar colors on 3 sides of the cube so they forms something that I call "a polyline" or a broken line. Building those shapes is intuitive, and converting one type of it to another is intuitive as well. Making a cube solved from A-type polyline requires learning some algs, but according to the method they are 4-8 moves"
edit: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Last edited:
TDM
Legend
cmhardw
Premium Member
How much of memorizing very quickly do you attribute to natural ability and how much to hard work and training? Do you think just anybody can memorize at world class level with the right methods, or must a top BLD cuber have a lot of natural ability in addition to hard work and training?
Roman
Veteran
I am apologizing, but for some reasons I couldn't create such a video in days. Instead, I will answer everyone in text form 
Inb4:
I would start with some things related with competitions:
-How do you stay motivated to improve when it is so hard for you to go to competitions?
-Will you try to get the 5BLD WR in a competition?
Of course it's very hard to stay motivated when you can only attend one comp a year or so. But my first one (MPEI 2012) was the first experience, I was so excited being there. I successfully solved 5BLD and 4BLD (times was not so good, but at this moment I recently started bigBLD). After that, I decided to improve my 5BLD time, and I learned speed-optimized 3cycles for almost everything, switched memo methods etc. In one year, I improved 5BLD time from ~20 to 7 minutes. I did not rely on WR at MPEI 2013, my second comp, but I was sure that I'll have a decent solve. As the result, 4th place in the world at my second ever comp, not so bad
So finally I started practising for WR, but since I had no more money for trips to Moscow (every single one costs around $600). I decided to organize my own, in Siberia. Tomsk Blind Weekend (28th of june, 2014) was the one, and I was expecting sub-6 on it. But under that pressure, my memo was slower than regular, so I failed it. Plus, I had to memorize accurate rather than rush, because I can't allow going at comps once a mounth like some other cubers who can rush every solve and eventually have a good one. My 6:15 5BLD NR was second place in the world, but I wasn't satisfied at all... After it I totally stopped practising official events. I noticed that when I train BLD solves really hard, it do not pleasure me; it's rather an exhausting and hard work. So I do not think I will ever start practising 5BLD again.
-How did/do u practise your memo?
I simply do BLD solves, that's it. Some people think that BLDers have extaordinary memory, or do special exersizes to improve it. However, for me it's completely opposite: I never noticed I have a great memory; rather I was inattentive and forgetful. Training BLD improves not only my ability to memorize sequence of images (for memorizing cubes, digits, cards, ...) but also my memory in general.
-How much of memorizing very quickly do you attribute to natural ability and how much to hard work and training? Do you think just anybody can memorize at world class level with the right methods, or must a top BLD cuber have a lot of natural ability in addition to hard work and training?
I would say everyone can memorize that fast, it only depends on how much does one wants it. It's all about determining what methods works better for you (finding optimal memo order, working on some details) and lots of practising.
-why your 3bld so slow?
Just because I do not practise 3BLD. Also, I choose really bad memo methods for it (including visual corners memorization) and I was (and still is) too lazy to switch to other
-What inspires you?
My general sources of inspiration are depressive thoughts, as a result of which I realize that I am nobody in this world and I am not *special*. Since I can not deal with it, I try to improve, be a better person etc. For example, pull a new bmx trick that I was afraid doing for a long time, or do some BigBLD stuff that was never done before, or some other thing which will make me *special*.
Speaking of speedcubing, my idols was (and still are) Maskow and Marcell Endrey. Watching their BLD videos inspired me to do a lot of BLD things.
-What inspired you to do 6x6+ BLD?
I feel like it's a big accomplishment to succeed in 6+BLD. Even more interest came when I became pretty fast in it, since being a UWR holder on such events (which seems extremely hard for most people) is an amazing feeling. Plus, I have almost no ability to attend comps, so there wasn't any difference for me what to practise - official or unofficial things.
-Why did you decide to do 9BLD before 8BLD?
8BLD was the thing that was already done by Mike Hughey and Oleg Gritsenko, and I wanted to be the best out of 6x6+ BLDers. I know how pathetic it sounds, but I was really obsessed with this. And finally I succeed
-What is your greatest cubing accomplishment?
-What is the most difficult BLD thing you have ever done?
I put a lot of effort to each of my 6x6+BLD UWRs, and now they are close to my limits. So I would say every 6x6+BLD UWR is quite a big accomplishment. Also, that_____ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRO3Gec8_gU was very nice as well.
-About how many 6BLD successes do you have?
I think I made about 100 attempts; About 10-15 of them were successful
-What do you think is the limit for 7BLD?
this
-What solving order do you use on big cubes BLD (piece type order)?
5BLD: corners, middles, centers, wings. For 6x6+ I left one type of wings to memorize it last (not to keep it in my head too long) and executing it straight after solving corners and middle edges. After that - obliques, x-centers, t-centers, wings.
-What center buffers do you use?
UF edges, Uf t-centers, Ufl wings, Urb x-centers, Urb obliques
-How many targets do you usually have to memorize in 8BLD and 9 BLD?
I'm using stories method, locating the beginning of each story (first image) on the location. So for big cubes I need as many locations, as many types of elements it contains. 16 for 9BLD and 13 for 8BLD.
-How much do you think BLD has improved your memory?
As I probably mentioned, I really feel that by practising specific memorization methods, my memory has been improved in general. Its hard to say how much, but I need less time to prepare to exams, and I recently noticed that I'm using common mnemonic tecniques in my daily life (for example, to memorize names of new friends, or to consolidate new subject knowledge).
-Do you reorient the cube to have centers already solved in 6BLD? What about 8BLD?
Yes, obviously I do orient even cubes to optimize it state (increase the number of solved centers)
-What would 6x6+ be in terms of number of 3x3s?
6BLD = 6.5 cubes; 7BLD = 9 cubes; 8BLD = 12.5 cubes; 9BLD = 16 cubes;
-Do you ever do Big Cube Multi BLD?
I recently failed 2-7 relay by a 3cycle on 5x5. Also, I did 5MBLD 2/2; 2-5 relay; 2x2+4x4+6x6 relay.
-What tips would you give someone just starting out at Multi BLD?
-What tips would you give someone just starting out at 4BLD?
I'm not good at multi and 4BLD. But as I can suggest, there are same things can be said about it: don't be lazy and don't be scary of difficulties, it's not as hard as it looks. Experiment with it, learn proper methods and put as much effort as good you want to be in it.
-Will you ever practice other non-events?
I solved cake cube blindfolded 2 years ago, lol. But in earnest, no.
______________
Thanks everyone for it. And I want to add a couple things.
First. My 6x6+ BLD tutorial will be aired in about a mounth on CubingWorld channel. It will also require watching Corey Sakowski's tutorial (or any other), otherwise it will be boring for you to watch it
And last. To date, I ended up with cubing. It means that I will not attend competitions, upload videos on YT, post on speedsolving etc. For numerous reasons. Some of them I probably mentioned, but mainly my life will change a bit starting from tomorrow. So I wish good luck to everyone, it was nice 2.5 years. Goodbye
Inb4:
Obviosly, "polylines" stuff was just a joke. I just wondered how many people would believe that I invented a new superoptimal and superqool method for solving 2x2. All solutions was sub-optimal (otherwise it would be too obvious) and was obtained using my software for finding optimal solutions for such puzzles as 2x2, pyra, skewb, 3x3x1, dino cube, cake cube and SwichTile. This is actually something that I had to publish 2.5 years ago, when I started speedcubing and programming at the same time.
I would start with some things related with competitions:
-How do you stay motivated to improve when it is so hard for you to go to competitions?
-Will you try to get the 5BLD WR in a competition?
Of course it's very hard to stay motivated when you can only attend one comp a year or so. But my first one (MPEI 2012) was the first experience, I was so excited being there. I successfully solved 5BLD and 4BLD (times was not so good, but at this moment I recently started bigBLD). After that, I decided to improve my 5BLD time, and I learned speed-optimized 3cycles for almost everything, switched memo methods etc. In one year, I improved 5BLD time from ~20 to 7 minutes. I did not rely on WR at MPEI 2013, my second comp, but I was sure that I'll have a decent solve. As the result, 4th place in the world at my second ever comp, not so bad
So finally I started practising for WR, but since I had no more money for trips to Moscow (every single one costs around $600). I decided to organize my own, in Siberia. Tomsk Blind Weekend (28th of june, 2014) was the one, and I was expecting sub-6 on it. But under that pressure, my memo was slower than regular, so I failed it. Plus, I had to memorize accurate rather than rush, because I can't allow going at comps once a mounth like some other cubers who can rush every solve and eventually have a good one. My 6:15 5BLD NR was second place in the world, but I wasn't satisfied at all... After it I totally stopped practising official events. I noticed that when I train BLD solves really hard, it do not pleasure me; it's rather an exhausting and hard work. So I do not think I will ever start practising 5BLD again.-How did/do u practise your memo?
I simply do BLD solves, that's it. Some people think that BLDers have extaordinary memory, or do special exersizes to improve it. However, for me it's completely opposite: I never noticed I have a great memory; rather I was inattentive and forgetful. Training BLD improves not only my ability to memorize sequence of images (for memorizing cubes, digits, cards, ...) but also my memory in general.
-How much of memorizing very quickly do you attribute to natural ability and how much to hard work and training? Do you think just anybody can memorize at world class level with the right methods, or must a top BLD cuber have a lot of natural ability in addition to hard work and training?
I would say everyone can memorize that fast, it only depends on how much does one wants it. It's all about determining what methods works better for you (finding optimal memo order, working on some details) and lots of practising.
-why your 3bld so slow?
Just because I do not practise 3BLD. Also, I choose really bad memo methods for it (including visual corners memorization) and I was (and still is) too lazy to switch to other
-What inspires you?
My general sources of inspiration are depressive thoughts, as a result of which I realize that I am nobody in this world and I am not *special*. Since I can not deal with it, I try to improve, be a better person etc. For example, pull a new bmx trick that I was afraid doing for a long time, or do some BigBLD stuff that was never done before, or some other thing which will make me *special*.
Speaking of speedcubing, my idols was (and still are) Maskow and Marcell Endrey. Watching their BLD videos inspired me to do a lot of BLD things.
-What inspired you to do 6x6+ BLD?
I feel like it's a big accomplishment to succeed in 6+BLD. Even more interest came when I became pretty fast in it, since being a UWR holder on such events (which seems extremely hard for most people) is an amazing feeling. Plus, I have almost no ability to attend comps, so there wasn't any difference for me what to practise - official or unofficial things.
-Why did you decide to do 9BLD before 8BLD?
8BLD was the thing that was already done by Mike Hughey and Oleg Gritsenko, and I wanted to be the best out of 6x6+ BLDers. I know how pathetic it sounds, but I was really obsessed with this. And finally I succeed
-What is your greatest cubing accomplishment?
-What is the most difficult BLD thing you have ever done?
I put a lot of effort to each of my 6x6+BLD UWRs, and now they are close to my limits. So I would say every 6x6+BLD UWR is quite a big accomplishment. Also, that_____ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRO3Gec8_gU was very nice as well.
-About how many 6BLD successes do you have?
I think I made about 100 attempts; About 10-15 of them were successful
-What do you think is the limit for 7BLD?
this
-What solving order do you use on big cubes BLD (piece type order)?
5BLD: corners, middles, centers, wings. For 6x6+ I left one type of wings to memorize it last (not to keep it in my head too long) and executing it straight after solving corners and middle edges. After that - obliques, x-centers, t-centers, wings.
-What center buffers do you use?
UF edges, Uf t-centers, Ufl wings, Urb x-centers, Urb obliques
-How many targets do you usually have to memorize in 8BLD and 9 BLD?
I'm using stories method, locating the beginning of each story (first image) on the location. So for big cubes I need as many locations, as many types of elements it contains. 16 for 9BLD and 13 for 8BLD.
-How much do you think BLD has improved your memory?
As I probably mentioned, I really feel that by practising specific memorization methods, my memory has been improved in general. Its hard to say how much, but I need less time to prepare to exams, and I recently noticed that I'm using common mnemonic tecniques in my daily life (for example, to memorize names of new friends, or to consolidate new subject knowledge).
-Do you reorient the cube to have centers already solved in 6BLD? What about 8BLD?
Yes, obviously I do orient even cubes to optimize it state (increase the number of solved centers)
-What would 6x6+ be in terms of number of 3x3s?
6BLD = 6.5 cubes; 7BLD = 9 cubes; 8BLD = 12.5 cubes; 9BLD = 16 cubes;
-Do you ever do Big Cube Multi BLD?
I recently failed 2-7 relay by a 3cycle on 5x5. Also, I did 5MBLD 2/2; 2-5 relay; 2x2+4x4+6x6 relay.
-What tips would you give someone just starting out at Multi BLD?
-What tips would you give someone just starting out at 4BLD?
I'm not good at multi and 4BLD. But as I can suggest, there are same things can be said about it: don't be lazy and don't be scary of difficulties, it's not as hard as it looks. Experiment with it, learn proper methods and put as much effort as good you want to be in it.
-Will you ever practice other non-events?
I solved cake cube blindfolded 2 years ago, lol. But in earnest, no.
______________
Thanks everyone for it. And I want to add a couple things.
First. My 6x6+ BLD tutorial will be aired in about a mounth on CubingWorld channel. It will also require watching Corey Sakowski's tutorial (or any other), otherwise it will be boring for you to watch it
And last. To date, I ended up with cubing. It means that I will not attend competitions, upload videos on YT, post on speedsolving etc. For numerous reasons. Some of them I probably mentioned, but mainly my life will change a bit starting from tomorrow. So I wish good luck to everyone, it was nice 2.5 years. Goodbye
Goosly
Veteran
(...) mainly my life will change a bit starting from tomorrow. So I wish good luck to everyone, it was nice 2.5 years. Goodbye
Thank you for inspiring us with your amazing video's and achievements. Good luck with whatever is changing.
bobthegiraffemonkey
Veteran
Another BLDer deciding to leave? Oh well, guess it's not a surprise any more. I hope these answers and your achievements help inspire the next generation of BLD solvers (this is likely to be true). You've been one of the top BLDers and I hope you enjoyed your stay. Good luck with whatever you move on to next.
