Solving the cross

[pyrotek7x7]

I've seen several different methods of the cross, and was wondering what you do, why you do it, and which do you think is the best?

The three I know of are:

1: Just solve the pieces right into the centers.
2: Randomly put the edges up, and then fix them.
3: Randomly put edges onto yellow side, and then put them down.


I used to do number 1, put that took a while because I was always looking all over the place. One of my speedcubing friends (well, he can do it in 40 seconds) suggested doing number 2, because he says he can get the cross faster than his friend that does in the cube in about 25 seconds. So, I quickly adapted that method and now use it.
A few of my other friends do the third.

So, which do you do, why do you do it, and which do you think is best?

 

[anime_file]

I do it
http://www.cosine-systems.com/cubestation/cross/cross.php

this way. Not sure which number I think 2? Makes the most sense since it's direct.

 

[pyrotek7x7]

It seems to me like an advanced method of 1. You put them all straight in, but not judging by the centers, saving time. 2 forces you to take the edges out and put them in again the correct way.

 

[pjk]

The cross is actually pretty hard to master. I used to solve the cross by put putting the 4 edges with white on them around the white center, then just do D moves until I have at least two lined up, and then fix from there (this method is described in my beginners guide). However, I now solve it directly, I can do it in 2 seconds pretty much everytime, and keep it below 8 moves almost everytime. What I do is just look to see how they are placed. I know that if white is down, and blue is front, red will be on the right, orange left, and green back. If I am looking at green, orange is right, red left, etc. It takes practice, but once you get it, you can see the entire cross within a few seconds of looking at the cube.

Good luck.
Pat

 

[pyrotek7x7]

That's what I'm doing now, but I'm working on getting the cross quickly with only a few seconds to look. Whenever I time myself, I always give myself 15 seconds in which I try and get the cross. I don't try to get the colors right though...

 

[tenderchkn]

Macky has one of the better cross tutorials: http://www.cubefreak.net/cross.html

Also look here for additional tips: http://www.cubefreak.net/speedcubing_tips.html

Advanced cross solving is not any one of those methods you described. Rather, it's a combination of all three, depending on the situation. A common cross situation is something like this: One piece is in place. A three move trigger will place two more, and the fourth is sitting correctly oriented in the top layer. First, you adjust D to prepare from the trigger (1), then the trigger to place two (2,3,4), adjust U (5), and then R2 or whatever to place the fourth (6). I'm not saying that all cross are as neat as the example, but once you get into the habit of chaining pieces in place, patterns will emerge. Cross solving is not done piece by piece, but each move prepares the next.

Keep practicing and you'll get a cross in 2 seconds every time.