Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Rubik's 3x3 Example Solves - Feliks Zemdegs

Rubik's 3x3 example solves of Feliks Zemdegs are great for intermediate and advanced cubers. Due to his popularity, a lot of his YouTube viewers range from beginner to expert. Because the majority of the cubers use the white cross, this particular video is intended for them.

Let us read some interesting comments:
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 theWestonian 1 year ago
Wtf kind of U perm is that at 2:54? How are you so fast with U perms like that -__-

This commenter realized that theWestonian was indeed just bluffing. This is a nice explanation after some exchange of comments resulting from theWestonian "confusing" comments.
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Zaid Salaria 8 months ago
Sorry Feliks, but I just don't understand anything that you just did.  Please help me out here.  When I solve  a rubies' cube, I make a white cross, do the white corners, then the second layers of all colors but white and yellow, then solve the yellow, then the corners, and then finish it( counter clockwise of clockwise)   Thanks!

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If you don't like being colour neutral, don't be. There are lots of fast speedcubers who only solve dual colours. Personally I can start with white/yellow, on the other colours I'm really slow. But if you wanna be colour neutral and you like it, just practice, go for the easiest crosses on different colours in each solve and eventually you'll be faster. But being colour neutral won't give you like -5 seconds to your average, look example at Mats Valk, he is very fast, and he solves green and blue colours I think.


This is a good comment from Shockfox because it is true that you can become an expert even with just being dual opposite color speed solver. In my opinion Feliks expertise on color neutrality is somewhat "genetics" or "inborn". Pattern recognition is a part of abstract reasoning in IQ. It's the same reason why some can learn the cube easily and some can not.
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What's the PLL at 07:52


Here is the video:



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Try to study how the experts like Feliks solve the cube and  I hope you learn from the Masters of Rubik's 3x3.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Badmephisto: Tutor of the Masters

Many speed solvers learned from Badmephisto's YouTube tutorials including Rubik's 3x3 champions and record holders. He may not be one of the best cubers but he is a good tutor as shown by his clear presentation of this video. If you are a newbie who wants to learn immediately than I suggest you watch Badmephisto's tutorial videos.

This video is a good start to learn intuitive F2L. You need to master intuitive F2L so that you can execute special cases in all angles of the cube. It also helps you in developing look ahead in your F2L solves because you can "see" clearly how the pieces rotates around the cube. Of course there are also important algorithms that you need to study that are considered "shortcuts" but these somewhat reduce your look ahead style.

The video tutorial has two parts. Take note that he is a mono color cuber (he always solves using the white cross). You can try dual opposite color cross solving and later if you are really serious, you can try color neutrality. It takes a lot of time to practice so I suggest you try to bring your cube whenever possible and solve it while waiting for a school bus or travelling, while talking to a friend, etc. etc.

here are the videos:








Friday, October 2, 2015

"Go Slow and Look Ahead" - Rubik's Practice

To go slow and look ahead is considered to be a dogmatic rule in speed solving rubik's 3x3. How can you get fast times if you go slow? Well, this means that as a beginner you need to turn the cube slow or in such a way that you can "see" the next F2L pair that you will insert.

Feliks' method of tracking F2L pieces is like this: he is looking for the next pair before inserting the current pair. This is better if you can perform the F2L algorithm without thinking or by means of muscle memory. As you improved on your look ahead, try to increase the speed or tps.

If you want to be good in speed solving, then follow Feliks' advice. You must learn to turn the cube slow at first. As shown on this video, 10.77 sec average is slow turning! Try to increase speed while maintaining look ahead.

It is well known that Feliks has reached more than twelve tps. The question is: Is he applying the look ahead rule in his solves? How can he look ahead in such a very fast turning? Therefore the lesson that we can learn from this video is:

"Go fast and look ahead"


Here is the video for the slow turning demo:





Thursday, October 1, 2015

Former 3x3 Speedsolve Champion Nakajima is back!

This video shows that Nakajima had realized the importance of  color neutrality by starting to apply dual opposite color cross (white and yellow). He was a mono color solver during his time and this restricted him to few cross possibilities. This home practice video indicates that he is still willing to compete in strong tournaments.

If you want to become a good speed solver, then you need to practice dual color first. There are times when the white cross solution is difficult because of flip edges. If this is the case, then you can try the opposite yellow cross which might be easier. There will be only a slight adjustment in F2L color recognition if you use dual color cross.

Nakajima during his time used to practice the Rubik's cube for three to six hours a day! Imagine how long will it take for an average solver to practice color neutrality.The advantage of a neutral color solver is that he can choose from six colors of the cube whichever is easier and better.


These are the things that we can learn from this video:

  • Dual cross color approach is better than mono (because it has more possibilities).
  • These two colors should be in opposite direction (for easier F2L recognition).
  • You can try color neutrality (if you have the time).
  • Don't lose your motivation and be persistent (just like Nakajima).


Here is the video: