[Help Thread] [Roux] Finding pieces during first and second block

[nouroux]

Hey guys,

First off it's my first post here so let me know if I'm doing something wrong.

So, I recently switched to roux from CFOP and I find my biggest slow-down so far when solving is just looking for pieces when solving first/second block. I'm able to track my first square during inspection but for the second pair/block I spend a long time trying to find them before doing anything leading to long pauses. In CFOP, there are less possible positions that a piece can be and usually there is at least a corner or edge on the top layer. I know that later on with more familiarity, one should be able to track them from inspection but what should I do in the meantime? Is it faster to just make r turns during second block until I find something? Is there anything I can practice to improve in this regard?

Thanks for any help ^^

 

[TDM]

Hey there, welcome to the forums! There is already a Roux help thread, but it was quite far down so I don't blame you for missing it!

If you can already plan your FB square, then remember that while solving that square, you shouldn't need to be looking at those pieces, since you already know which moves you need to do. So once you've planned the square, look at where the other two pieces you need are, and track those pieces while you're solving FB. This should let you solve the whole first block without needing to pause.

Being able to identify corners from just two stickers is an important skill for SB (and F2L, actually). There's a tool here which you can use to practise your corner recognition.
Edges are far more difficult since you need to see both stickers. I personally find it faster to AUF first, and then if I still can't see anything, I peek at the D face. I avoid using Rw to find pieces since it can require an unnecessary regrip.

 

[Jlvs2run]

There's a tool here which you can use to practise your corner recognition.

Nice. This is excellent. The image at bottom consists of loose cubies, in random order.
Determine the 3rd side at top, and click the matching colors at bottom. I used a cube to start with.
However, the orientation of all middle cubies is wrong, as the colors are reversed,
which isn't good for learning their correct orientations. Is there any way to adjust them?

 

[TDM]

However, the orientation of all middle cubies is wrong, as the colors are reversed,
which isn't good for learning their correct orientations. Is there any way to adjust them?

What do you mean by this?

(I've never actually used this myself, I've just been aware of it)

 

[Jlvs2run]

What do you mean by this?
(I've never actually used this myself, I've just been aware of it)

Here's an example, with blue faces in the middle:
blue front/red left ~ bottom should be yellow but is white;
blue front/orange right ~ bottom should be yellow but it's white;
The orientations of outside cubies is fine, but the cubies on the inside don't match.

 

[TDM]

Here's an example, with blue faces in the middle:
blue front/red left ~ bottom should be yellow but is white;
blue front/orange right ~ bottom should be yellow but it's white;
The orientations of outside cubies is fine, but the cubies on the inside don't match.

Ahh, I see what you mean! You're viewing those cubies from the inside, which is why the scheme is inverted. I believe it's done that way so the pieces look like they form a cube.

 

[Jlvs2run]

Ahh, I see what you mean! You're viewing those cubies from the inside, which is why the scheme is inverted. I believe it's done that way so the pieces look like they form a cube.

That's probably the case. I only look at the upper image when solving, so hopefully the lower one
being different won't matter. My times for 10/10 are improving. Thanks for checking the images.