The 3x3x3 Example Solve Thread

[Cubenovice]

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

Cubenovice - pseudo 2x2x2 U' F2 U'
rpotts - pseudo 2x2x3 U' L2 U R' B' R D2 L D'
Cubenovice - pseudo F2L- 1 slot L D B2 D2 F

Must... resist... to give... Hint

 

[Cubenovice]

pseudo 2x2x2 U' F2 U'
pseudo 2x2x3 [r'][u2] R' L' U2 L U' F2

Hi Julien, sorry I missed your post...
Your double layer turns seem to mess up the "standard" notation as I tried to translate them.
For the sake of FMC teamsolve it would be good to stick to the WCA orientation where F is always the green face and top is U.

 

[Rpotts]

I think Julien was using japanese style cube rotations i.e. [r'] is x', [u2] is y2.

edit, reserving cubenovices teamsolve

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

Cubenovice - pseudo 2x2x2 U' F2 U'
rpotts - pseudo 2x2x3 U' L2 U R' B' R D2 L D (accidentally had a D' at the end)
Cubenovice - pseudo F2L- 1 slot L D B2 D2 F

errr i'm confused. I can't get your 3rd line to work.

WCA orientation where F is always the green face and top is U.

lol

 

[Cubenovice]

Aaarrggghhhh.... Too many distractions (bedtime for two kids) and I am messing up bigtime.
Bad thing is I cannot even reconstruct what I did.
There is this "symbol" on my notes page that I cannot decipher...
Crap

 

[Rpotts]

bummer, i kept thinking it was my accidental D/D' thing that was throwing it all off, but i couldn't find it either.

 

[Brest]

pseudo 2x2x2 U' F2 U'
pseudo 2x2x3 [r'][u2] R' L' U2 L U' F2

How about it gets continued from here?

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

Cubenovice: U' F2 U'
JuLiEn: x' y2 R' L' U2 L U' F2

Rpotts, take it away!

 

[Cubenovice]

Yes, please do as Brest suggested. I am so bummed right now I cannot even scramble properly anymore...
Last attempt took me 13 moves to complete a 4th 4-block!

For consistency in notation lets write it without cube rotations:


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

Cubenovice: U' F2 U' pseudo 2x2x2
JuLiEn: L' R' B2 R B' D2 pseudo 2x2x3

 

[Rpotts]

How about it get's continued from here?

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

Cubenovice: U' F2 U'
JuLiEn: x' y2 R' L' U2 L U' F2

Rpotts, take it away!

brest, would you believe that I spent 15 minutes on this, and then gave up? I was editing my post above for a while. Gave up when i could find nothing good, other than a few moves to give random blocks in the LL leaving 4 corners/5 edges lol.

 

[Cubenovice]

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

Cubenovice: U' F2 U' pseudo 2x2x2
JuLiEn: L' R' B2 R B' D2 pseudo 2x2x3
Cubenovice: L2 B' L2 B L2 B2 L2 B pseudo F2L-1 extravaganza
Bwerghh... 10 +2 moves to leave 5 corners, someone please post something better than:
U B' U' B2 L B' L' U' L2 U F B'
B L B' R' B L' B' R two corners
R' U B U' F2 U B' U' F2 R last three corners

Epic fail

Next: U' L' B2 F2 U' R2 F R2 L' D U' F2 L' F2 U' F2 R2 F' B D2 R' L D F' U

 

[JyH]

Fridrich
Scrambled GREEN on front, WHITE on top
CN solves, used blue

Cross: x y2 F L B L U' R2
First Pair: R' U' R L' U L
Second Pair: U' R U' R' y' U L' U' L U' L' U L
Third Pair: U2 R' U' R U' R' U R
Fourth Pair: L U' L' U L U L'
OLL: U F R U R' U' F' U' R2 D R' U2 R D' R' U2
PLL: U F R U' R' U' R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R F' U

Next: R' B2 F' R2 D' B2 R' F' D' F2 U B2 F2 U' B' U L R2 D F' L' U' D' L' F

 

[Brest]

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

Cubenovice: U' F2 U' pseudo 2x2x2
JuLiEn: L' R' B2 R B' D2 pseudo 2x2x3
Cubenovice: L2 B' L2 B L2 B2 L2 B pseudo F2L-1 extravaganza
Bwerghh... 10 +2 moves to leave 5 corners, someone please post something better than:
U B' U' B2 L B' L' U' L2 U F B'
B L B' R' B L' B' R two corners
R' U B U' F2 U B' U' F2 R last three corners

I would've liked to have been able to continue with this, but I could not grok what was going on.

brest, would you believe that I spent 15 minutes on this, and then gave up? I was editing my post above for a while. Gave up when i could find nothing good, other than a few moves to give random blocks in the LL leaving 4 corners/5 edges lol.

I totally believe that! I do it all the time when attempting (read: failing at) FMC.

Next: R' B2 F' R2 D' B2 R' F' D' F2 U B2 F2 U' B' U L R2 D F' L' U' D' L' F

Xcross: z2 y' R U R F B2 E L F'
F2L 2: U' R B' U2 B R'
F2L 3&4: L' U' L R U' R'
OLL: y R' U' R U y' x' R U L' U' M'
PLL: U' x R2 D2 R U R' D2 R U' R x'


2x2x2: z2 F U' R' U' D' F L F
2x2x3: y U R U' R2 U' R F2
EO: y R U R' L' U2 L y'
F2L 3: U' R' U' R2
F2L 4: U2 R U R'
CLL: (x) R2 U' R2 U' L U R2 U' L' U2 R2 (x')


Next: B' D2 F' R2 F' R2 U2 F U2 F2 R' D2 B' D' F' R2 U L' R2 D2 B

 

[irontwig]

15 minute solution:

D U2 F D
R B' L2
R2 U' R' F R2 U2 B
L B L B'
U2 L'
U2 L U2
B L2 B' R B L2 B'
D' B2 D R' U2 L' U L2

Handy ZBLL N-perm: [R' U R2 D L':B2]

Next: U' R U' F L2 F U' R' L D' L' R2 B' L2 B L2 F2 B' U2 D2 L' F R B' U

 

[ryo]

Next: U' R U' F L2 F U' R' L D' L' R2 B' L2 B L2 F2 B' U2 D2 L' F R B' U

(Chamo)
U B' D' F' R2 L F' R
L2 U L d' L U L'
y R' U' R U' R' U2 R'
F2 y' M' U2 L' . l B2 U R2
D U
Insert R2 S2 R2 S2 at .

Next : L B2 U' B R D B2 D' U2 F2 U' B D R2 B2 U B L' F' L' U D' B R2 L2

 

[Cubenovice]

I would've liked to have been able to continue with this, but I could not grok what was going on.

Did you apply the pre-moves F B'?

If you perform these two moves before the scramble the pseudo blocks become a regular F2L -slot.
this is a very common FMC technique.

I initially put a hint in white letters so you could see it if you copied the text ;-)

 

[Brest]

Did you apply the pre-moves F B'?

If you perform these two moves before the scramble the pseudo blocks become a regular F2L -slot.
this is a very common FMC technique.

I initially put a hint in white letters so you could see it if you copied the text ;-)

I could see the 2x2x3 pseudo block, but I just couldn't get my head around "seeing" it as a normal solved block. It hurt my head trying, so I stopped! Then my weekend got busy, so I didn't try again until you had finished the solve.

I have not read much about FMC techniques, so no I did not apply any pre-moves. I can see how that would help! Got any other tips and tricks? Tell me more! Or, I could just search for it...

 

[Cubenovice]

Please find enclosed links to two great recourses on FMC rechniques:

http://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?1566-Fewest-Moves-Tips-and-Techniques

http://www.speedsolving.com/forum/showthread.php?13599-The-FMC-thread

It is also worthwile to check out the weekly forum competetion results for FMC.
There you wil find multiple solutions for the same scramble.
Most people, especially the ones with the sub 40 scores will post an explanation with their solution.

Basic premoves:
if you find an easy route to a pseudo block (or if they pop up by accident) you can apply a pre scramble move to turn it in to a regular block.
WCA orientation: Suppose I have a pseudo 2x2x2 with green/red edge in place and white-orange-green 4-block on top of it..
The premove to make this a normal white green red block would be U
You can think of this as "the move that places a side of the block in the right position (in relation to the rest of the block)"
You should not forget to add the premoves at the end of your solution otherwise you will be off by one move...

After applying the premove you wil have a regular block with which you keep building, this can be regular or more pseudo stuff.
When there are new pseudoblocks you can keep adding premoves in front of the scramble.

There is only one case in which I do not go back to apply the actual premove and that is when it is a double face turn.
I find that in this case you can actually can keep the overview of EO and LL manipulation.

I will post an example with more detailled notes when I have some more time.
Probably coming weekend when the thread activity is low (European morning) to prevent too much ninjaing.

 

[irontwig]

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

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

 

[Cubenovice]

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

Nice red-white 3x1 block! and corresponding green-red edge already in place!
B' R' F' R' B2 move out of the way, complete the middle 3x1 and group = 1x2x3 block 5
F' R2 B' R place UF and UD and voila: 2x2x3 9
D B F' D2 F for F2L- slot minus 1 move, check if the remaining move B' can be used to orient or permute edges. 14
Yes it can!
D2 B' L' D' L D' orient and permute edges leaves 5 corners after only 20 moves
comm finish without looking too much:
D R D' L2 D R' D' L2 places one of a pair of swapped corners and breaks out the twisted-in-place corner
B R B' L' B R' B' L places one of a pair of swapped corners, leaving 3 corners
F D L U L' D2 L U' L' D2 D' F'

Bad 5 corner case, will check for something better later this evening to show how this would look, in full FMC mode.

EDIT: Full FMC mode:
The other side of the 1x3 block is actually much better:
D2 F L' 1X2x3 block 3
U F2 U2 B # U' 2X2x3 block 8 and two lucky CE pairs
B' L' F B L2 F F2L-slot 14 breaks one pair but should nevertheless be checked out
typically I would do EO here but checking what the last pairs brings never hurts...
D L D2 L2 F L F' complete F2L 2 EO 21
F L D L' D' F' WOW, cancel three moves and only three corners left 24
R' F2 B' L' B R2 B' L B R2 F2 R 36 moves
But this is FMC so we sticker the remaining corners and walk trough the solution to check for possible insertions.
insert at # R' U' L U R U' L' U to cancel 2 moves makes 30 HTM

Final solution:
D2 F L' U F2 U2 B R' U' L U R U' L' B' L' F' B L2 F' D L D2 L2 F L2 D L' D' F'

Next: F2 B2 L2 U' B R2 F' R2 L' B2 L' R' B2 L R D L2 F' R D F2 D2 F2 D F

 

[Brest]

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

Nice red-white 3x1 block! and corresponding green-red edge already in place!
B' R' F' R' B2 move out of the way, complete the middle 3x1 and group = 1x2x3 block 5
F' R2 B' R place UF and UD and voila: 2x2x3 9
D B F' D2 F for F2L- slot minus 1 move, check if the remaining move B' can be used to orient or permute edges. 14
Yes it can!
D2 B' L' D' L D' orient and permute edges leaves 5 corners after only 20 moves
comm finish without looking too much:
D R D' L2 D R' D' L2 places one of a pair of swapped corners and breaks out the twisted-in-place corner
B R B' L' B R' B' L places one of a pair of swapped corners, leaving 3 corners
F D L U L' D2 L U' L' D2 D' F'

Bad 5 corner case, will check for something better later this evening to show how this would look, in full FMC mode.

EDIT: Full FMC mode:
The other side of the 1x3 block is actually much better:
D2 F L' 1X2x3 block 3
U F2 U2 B # U' 2X2x3 block 8 and two lucky CE pairs
B' L' F' B L2 F' F2L-slot 14 breaks one pair but should nevertheless be checked out
typically I would do EO here but checking what the last pairs brings never hurts...
D L D2 L2 F L F' complete F2L 2 EO 21
F L D L' D' F' WOW, cancel three moves and only three corners left 24
R' F2 B' L' B R2 B' L B R2 F2 R 36 moves
But this is FMC so we sticker the remaining corners and walk trough the solution to check for possible insertions.
insert at # R' U' L U R U' L' U to cancel 2 moves makes 30 HTM

Final solution:
D2 F L' U F2 U2 B R' U' L U R U' L' B' L' F' B L2 F' D L D2 L2 F L2 D L' D' F'

Nice! That is a massive amount of information you've given in just a few posts. I will do some reading and see how much I understand. Thank you for the links, the detailed walk-through, and the time you spent writing all that. :tu

Next: F2 B2 L2 U' B R2 F' R2 L' B2 L' R' B2 L R D L2 F' R D F2 D2 F2 D F

z2 F' U F' U' F' U' R F' (B2
y' L) U' L' d' L' R' U' L2 U' L' (R
y F) R' F' R2 U R'
y l' U' L U R U' r' F
M2 U' M' U2 M U' M2 U'


Next: R2 D2 B' L2 B U2 R2 B2 R2 F U L D' R' U' B' F U R2 B D

 

[Cubenovice]

Your welcome.
I will try to do some more solves with detailled annotation as this is the example solve thread afterall.
My next one is going to be a Human Thistlethwaite.
Not that I am good at (or any method really ;-)) it but I really think it deserves more attention.

Seeing how short your typical solves are and since you already know how to use Petrus and COLL I think you will make a good FMC player.
Knowledge of many algs is not perse required but offcourse increases your chances of a short LL.
Look at AVG's thread, he's had some great FMC results with very limited alg knowledge.

Regarding the EO step:
I find that I typically perform EO through the last open F2L slot as in Heise.
Too often I forget to first check what "just finishing" the F2L brings in terms of OLL and PLL.
A skip can be lurking around the corner so ideally you want to check the insertion of the last pair in several ways and check the resulting OLL / PLL
With some luck an F2L with just 2 edges oriented can be better than full EO.
The solve above is testament to that, the regular "F R U R' U' F' "proved to be VERY convenient.