Columns First Methods

From Speedsolving.com Wiki
Columns first method
Columns first.gif
Information about the method
Proposer(s):
Proposed:
Alt Names: Columns
Variants: Corners first
No. Steps: 2 mayor, several sub steps
No. Algs: 4 min
Avg Moves: Advanced ~45-50 STM
Purpose(s):


Columns first is a group of methods for the 3x3x3 cube that in some way build four columns of three pieces each, two adjacent corners and the and the edge between them, as the first steps. Columns are most often aligned top to bottom but two more directions are possible. An effective way to archive this is to solve four F2L pairs and do CLL for the remaining corners. Because there are no edges to preserve in the two slices that does not belong to the columns shorter algs can be used for CLL (call it CMSLL), some that else only works for 2x2x2 will do for this method. After the first part the rest of the edges and the centres are solved, (for the last part this will do fine).

It is a great mystery why these methods are not popular at all, it is fast, effective and easy but the users are very few.

Columns for total noobs:

  • Solve 4 first layer corners
  • Solve 4 middle layer edges using the LBL alg an it's mirror.
  • Use Sune and Antisune to orient the last layer corners.
  • Use A-PLL to permute the corners.
  • Solve centres using M and S.
  • Use M' U M and M' U2 M to solve the first layer edges.
  • Use M' U M U2 M' U M to orient the last layer edges.
  • Use U-PLL to permute the LL edges.

This will solve the cube but in at least 100 turns on average, probably more, there are more effective ways.

See also:

Columns for big cubes

Masayuki Akimoto invented a columns first method for 4x4x4 and larger cubes some years ago that once was published at his site (that is down nowdays).

See this thread [1] at Speedsolving.com for more information on that.

External links: