Rubiks Magic

chiperten

Regular
Joined
Jun 9, 2006
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65
I just got one from ebay and I have a few questions. What is considered a competition solve? Is it randomly mixed up? or you do solve from one flat state to another? And also where I can be pointed into the direction of learning to solve it in like 2 seconds?
 
It is required to solve it from a flat state (showing 3 unlinked rings) to another flat state (showing 3 linked rings).

You can see videos on how to solve it fast on Bob Burton's website

Good luck,
Sven
 
Be careful, cuz i bought my rubiks magic on ebay too, and if it didnt come from a competitive solver, the puzzle might not be loose enough. On my first try solving the fast way I broke a string. Just a caution.
 
oh thanks, I've been messing with it. Bob Burtons tutorial shows solving from 3 linked rings to 3 unlinked. How do you solve fast if they're all unlinked?
 
Out of curiousity, how much was it? I wanted to get one, but haven't found one at a decent price, and rubiks.com is out of stock on everything right now.
 
My mistake.. I meant to type, from three linked to the opposite three linked. This is competition legal?

It cost me a total of $13.30 USD. $8.50 plus shipping and handling. It is used and the seller sent it priority mail so it came in two days.
 
In competition you will only do the first part of the video: Unlinked to linked.

Bob Burton is just showing you how to get it back to the starting position.
 
Yea, I guess I see whats going on. The one side is solved but what you're doing is solving the side that is a 3x3 (missing a corner.)
 
Alexander Ooms taught met how to do the Magic "speedcubing"-style during the EC, but I think it is a really boring thing to do. Every other competition has a random scramble except the magics.

Having a random scramble would be to big a change, but could we at least change/expand the Magic categories to:
Start as a rectangle,
Solve the other side,
(optional) tap with both hands besides the puzzle (like cupstacking),
Solve the rectangle again?

Right now it feels to me like "Who can execute the T-Perm the fastest".

Just my 0.91 Eurocents.
 
OK, after practising the Magic a little I now do get it. It is all about the feeling you get after a good/fast/fluid solve. And when your solve isn't good, you instantly want to try again to get that "wow" feeling.

Having said all of that I don't think this is an interesting puzzle to do in a competition. To make it more interesting, what about this idea:

* Everybody gets a scrambled magic (most of the time this would result in a "not-flat" start)
* You get an inspection time, but you cannot touch the puzzle during this time (because you might accidently change the scramble)
* Then you have to solve one side of you magic (you should pick the one that is closest/easiest depending on the scramble)

This way solving the magic would require you to:
* Know how the strings work
* Recognize patterns and adjust your solve accordingly.

All of this is just my opinion on this. I know this is never going to happen. But what are your ideas about this?
 
Originally posted by AvGalen@Oct 16 2006, 02:18 PM
OK, after practising the Magic a little I now do get it. It is all about the feeling you get after a good/fast/fluid solve. And when your solve isn't good, you instantly want to try again to get that "wow" feeling.

Having said all of that I don't think this is an interesting puzzle to do in a competition. To make it more interesting, what about this idea:

* Everybody gets a scrambled magic (most of the time this would result in a "not-flat" start)
* You get an inspection time, but you cannot touch the puzzle during this time (because you might accidently change the scramble)
* Then you have to solve one side of you magic (you should pick the one that is closest/easiest depending on the scramble)

This way solving the magic would require you to:
* Know how the strings work
* Recognize patterns and adjust your solve accordingly.

All of this is just my opinion on this. I know this is never going to happen. But what are your ideas about this?
I'm really against said change to the magic competition. I've heard many people argue in favor of a more puzzle-like magic contest, but why do all events have to be scramble-unscramble? Why can't magic be different? I can tell you that most people who have averaged sub-2 in a contest will agree that the current format of magic is fun. Getting great times and managing to get a good average of 5 or 12 is not easy. After two or three good solves, your nerves can get you. Trivia: Since the magic single record has gone sub-2, only Bob Burton has set the world record single in an average of 5 round and gone on to win that round. Even then, his 1.28 solve was part of a 2.11 average.

That said, I'll give my comments on your idea for a new version of magic contests.
--How would "scrambled magics" be standardized?
--Why can't you pick it up? On a really loose 2x2, there's the risk of changing the scramble, but that shouldn't happen. Seriously, if the judge is watching closely enough and the competitor is careful enough, it won't change.

So, anyway, I hope Magic stays just as it is. I don't see any reason to change it except to conform to the other events.
 
Originally posted by chiperten@Oct 16 2006, 07:22 PM
I hate when my magic is not in a flat state. I get so frustrated.
i know what you mean i got a DNF at the Nationals because the last 2 tiles wasn't flat they were at about a 45 degree angle, it was a good time for me too!
But as for the rest of the stuff when people say that it should be scrambled, i explain to them that the Magic competion is like a 100 meter dash, its the same thing every time, only it depends how fast you are.

*what should be changed though: they should figure out a way to hack the stackmat timers so that it records to the thousandth (.001) of a second
 
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