K4

K4 method

Information about the method
Proposer(s):	Thom Barlow
Proposed:	2005
Alt Names:
Variants:	None
No. Steps:	7
No. Algs:	CLL, ELL(3x3), 2Cycles, 2x2Cycles, 4Cycles
Avg Moves:	~120(estimate)
Purpose(s):	Speedsolving

K4 is a direct solving method designed for the 4x4x4 cube and was created and developed by Thom Barlow.

Overview

It consist of 7 steps

1. Make 2 opposite centers(use the same 2 colors each time, to get better F3L recognition

2. Make a 3x4x1 Block on your left (rouxish) Either pair edges and insert with corners Block build (efficient and faster)

3. Finish the last four centers

4. Finish the first layer do a z' rotation

5. F3L, no rotations are done. Usually done with a single color(say orange) each time as the F face

6. Do the corners with CLL

7. In 3 Looks solve the K4 ELL

Pros Efficient Regripless, there's only one valid re-grip, the z' rotation. The solves can be done with less rotations than reduction

Less moves than reduction.

F3L Lookahead is very good and you can get smooth enough to have literally no pauses

Is more efficent than reduction on 5x5

ELL is hard to get at first, and it takes time to ge used to doing it in 3 looks.

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