Category Archives: Algorithms

3x3, How to get faster

Fundamental 2 of getting fast: look-ahead

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Look-ahead is something that may be the only difference between one who averages 12 seconds and one who averages 6 seconds.

It is extremely important and is one of the basics of getting fast, together with muscle memory.

So what exactly is look-ahead? Well, look-ahead, as the name suggests, is when you look at what you are solving next while still currently solving something. (i don’t know if that makes sense to you but you get it)

As such, look-ahead is usually the most important in F2L(for CFOP). So you are solving one pair while knowing what you are solving next, thus reducing the amount of pause between each pair.

So, enough talk on what it is. Time to tell you how to do it. Disclaimer: Look-ahead is a habit to be developed overtime and it will not drop your times just because you know it.

If you are decent at F2L, and can solve pairs without thinking or looking (just from muscle memory), then you should turn slower and find a corner while solving.

Keep track of this corner and know where it is after solving the current pair. This can also be done with an edge. This is the basics that you should be able to do before moving on.

Next, try to do the same thing, but actively look for the edge/corner while doing so. When you finish the current pair, you should know where both pieces are.

And lastly, for the most advanced, solve both pairs in one go, no pauses. If you keep practicing, you can instinctively know how solving a pair will affect the pieces, and you will be able to look-ahead while still turning relatively fast.

Side note: look-ahead also means being able to deduce where pieces might be. Inserting into back slot when possible will help too.

Ok, that’s it for today. Sorry for this slightly lengthy post, hope you didn’t skim through anything too important! If you’re wondering, yes this is a series of posts where I talk about the fundamentals of getting from intermediate to semi-advanced.

As usual, hope you enjoyed this and if you have any questions, feel free to comment down below. Thanks! 😊

3x3

The learning journey of speedcubing

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As a beginner speedcuber(in 3×3), you might be thinking, what should I do next to get faster, or improve my efficiency? Well, that is the information I shall enlighten you with today.

When you ask yourself: ” How do I get faster?”, you almost certainly will start learning CFOP. But where do you begin? With so many algorithms, and a bunch of advanced ones too, where do you start?

First, start learning 2-look OLL, then 2-look PLL, followed by Intuitive F2L. These are the Fundamentals.

Next, you should work on muscle memory and finger tricks. Afterwards, work on better F2L and start looking for solutions that are better and faster.

The bridge to getting from beginner to intermediate are OLL and PLL. I recommend learning either PLL then OLL, or do both at the same time. You can also work on advanced F2L at the same time.

Once you finish learning OLL, you can work on COLL, and you’re on your own as to what to do and so forth from here on. Congrats! You are now an independent cuber! Woohoo!!! 🥳

Anyways, thanks for reading. As always, do leave a comment if you have any questions! 😊

3x3, How to get faster

Fundamental 1 of getting fast: muscle memory

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Muscle memory is one of the fundamental things you should develop in order to get faster. It is extremely important, as it gives you excess to many other skills such as F2L look-ahead, predicting first pair, and many other important things.

No matter how many algorithms you know, or whatever fancy tricks you know, they will not be useful if you cannot recall them quickly and accurately during a solve.

Now you may be asking this question: “What is muscle memory and how do I develop it?”

Good question. I shall answer that now. Muscle memory is when you have done something repeatedly so much that it becomes second nature for you to do it without thinking.

For example, when you see a U perm, as a beginner you might think: ” Ok, this is a U perm, and I have to regrip and turn and blah blah blah…”

You get the idea. But when you have developed muscle memory, the process becomes something like: “This is a U perm” and you have already done the algorithm when you finish that thought.

So, as you might have already guessed from the definition of muscle memory, to develop it means that you should do the algorithm you want to develop. Repeatedly. Over and over again. That is the point of drilling algorithms. Drilling also helps improve turning speed.

So, I have said enough and will keep this short. When you practice, you should also drill algorithms, instead of just doing solves over and over again. That is how to develop muscle memory.

Thanks for taking the time to read this slightly longer post of mine, and I hope you have benefited from doing so. Do leave a comment if you have questions! 😊

Muscle Memory in action