HSC

Hollow Stairs & Columns method Information about the method Proposer(s): Imam Tanvin Alam Proposed: 2019 Alt Names: Hollow Squares & Columns, Hollow String & Columns Variants: Direct Solve, Corners First, Orient First, Permute First, Reduce First (all variants can be Virtually Rotationless) No. Steps: 3 major No. Algs: 8 (advanced: 16, 32, or 90) Avg Moves: ~40-50 STM Purpose(s): Experimental (Speedsolving, FMC, One-Handed Solving possible)

Scrambled cube -> Hollow Stairs -> Hollow Columns -> End Game -> Solved cube HSC is an intuitive Columns first method to solve the 3x3x3 cube and its subsets

HSC, short for Hollow Stairs & Columns, has similarities with several other methods: Morozov and Columns first, SSC and ECE, Belt and Domino Reduction, Human Thistlethwaite Algorithm and Kociemba Algorithm.

But unlike all other Columns first and Corners first methods, HSC solves Corner orientation and Belt edges orientation simultaneously (SSC method does this too).

Another unique feature is HSC can be implemented in such a way that EO, CO and CP steps can be done in any sequence, as long as EP is done at the end.

Method Overview

Similar to Roux, HSC is quite intuitive (in the sense that the cuber is fully aware of every move that are being made and understands what each turn is doing, and relies less on rote memorization).

With relatively few algorithms (mostly common triggers) and tolerably low move count, beginner HSC is easy to understand and easy to implement.

It is also one of the most flexible methods (several steps can be swapped or mixed and matched to suit the objective/situation/scramble), making it particularly appealing to those who enjoy fun, novel and elegant ways to solve. This feature also makes HSC a good option for FMC style solving (serving as a Skeleton in particular).

General Structure

1. Hollow Stairs
2. Hollow Columns
3. End Game

Pros

• Ergonomic, mostly <R, U, M, D>
• Low algorithm count compared to more popular speedsolving methods
• High level of flexibility

Cons

• Can be difficult to transition from other popular methods
• Pseudoblocks can be difficult to get used to
• M moves may also be difficult for some people

See Also

• Morozov
• Columns first
• SSC
• ECE
• Belt
• Domino Reduction
• Human Thistlethwaite Algorithm
• Kociemba Algorithm

External links

• Original Proposal

Other Works by This Proposer

• 2GB
• Collection of 15 Fun Methods with Less Algotithms