Edge pairing
Edge Pairing is the substep of reduction methods for big cubes in which edges are paired, completing the reduction to 3x3 (plus possible parities).
Bigger Cubes
The Big Cubes edge pairing method, popularized by BIGcubes.com, was the first serious edge pairing method used in speedsolving. For 5x5, Big Cubes is more popular than the less-used and newer AvG edge pairing, though several world records have been set using the latter, and there are several prominent AvG users today, most notably Erik Akkersdijk. For 6x6 and up, Big Cubes method remains the only competitive edge pairing method.
AvG edge pairing
AvG Edge Pairing (named after Arnaud van Galen), also called 2 edges at a time pairing, is an edge pairing method for the 5x5. Notable users of it are Arnaud van Galen, Erik Akkersdijk and Durben Virtucio.
Big Cubes edge pairing
Big Cubes edge pairing is an edge pairing method for the 5x5 and bigger cubes, popularized by BIGcubes.com. Together with AvG edge pairing, it is the main edge pairing method for 5x5. For bigger cubes, Big Cubes edge pairing is by far the most popular method among top cubers. Notable users of it are Dan Cohen, Kevin Hays, Feliks Zemdegs, Mats Valk, Max Park and Seung Hyuk Nahm.
