As it is, the LbL is too complicated to be adopted by beginners:
It feels like black magic without intuition.
It's foot-shooting completing the first two layers.
Too many algorithms to do what can be done with just one.
Tutorial about the layer-by-layer approach but with a true totally new strategy
It is just a set of 4 moves:
A 'Sledgehammer' is all we need to bypass the LbL complexity.
The 'Y' shaped region is made of the cubies affected by the 'Sledgehammer'.
This is an introduction to the Sledgehammer.
And these are some basic Notations.
Mastering the Sledgehammer is the key to unlock the cube's intuition!
The next sections detail the new approach step-by-step, focusing on simplicity.
The Workbench , is a new approach optimized for the Sledgehammer.
This solver implements the 'workbench' to solve step-by-step any scramble.
The solver is fully configurable!
In the following sections, the goal is absolute simplicity, even at the cost of suggesting elementary, repetitive and some time boring steps.
As you become familiar with the 'Sledgehammer', you will start finding better solutions on your own: that will be the sign that you've begun to understand how the cube works.
The first rule for mastering the cube is to maintain a fixed perspective.
Hold the cube with:
The cube has millions of combinations, but only a dozen recurring patterns. Fixed orientation helps recognise them. The proof is in the code: the solver utilises this exact logic to solve any state.
Solving the cross is straightforward, even with intuitive solutions.
The adopted flow is formalised via 'Sledgehammer' to familiarise with the tool.
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What the moves do:
To see layers, check Notations
ATTENTION: the 'Sledgehammer' is now (R U' R' U). Different letters, same pattern.
Now it is time to sort out the corners. Operatively is exactly the same: cubies up to Level 3, and from there to their solved position. One at a time.
The innovation here is that the layer will not be completed.
the advantage will become immediately clear in the next step: layer 2.
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What the moves do:
At that point the corner is in the right place but with the wrong orientation but don't worry just keep going the 'Sledgehammer' will do the job
It was necessary to run the 'Sledgehammer' (R B' R' B) 5 times only because we chose the wrong one. (the first to place the corner, the other 4 to correct its orientation),
The 'Sledgehammer' (B' R B R') would have achieved this in one go.
Now, is time to prove the advantage of leaving the first layer incomplete
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You've just witnessed why the first layer wasn't completed: the cubie at rdf is a sacrificial element used to protect the corners RWG already in place.
To complete this section remains the case the edge stays on the layer 2
Think about this: the 'Sledgehammer we used to bring the edge RG from layer 3 to layer 2 has removed the edge that already was on layer 2
That means: If your target edge is trapped in layer 2, simply use a Sledgehammer (and the protection) to swap it with any placeholder from layer 3 to set it free.
Believe it or not, the worst is over.
Now familiar with 'Sledgehammer', positioning OY and YG edges will feel intuitive.
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This part is no harder than the initial white cross. If this tutorial has helped you relax with the cube, you will soon find yourself improvising solutions.
We've now reached the point where, even though the solution you will see is disarmingly simple, the classic Layer by Layer method makes it overcomplicated, with algorithms so cryptic they feel like black magic. No wonder most people give up.
The configuration has YG and OY, in the right place, whilst RY, YB are swapped.
Edges on layer 3 cannot be placed anywhere: 2 slots are good two are not!
Placing the first edge in the wrong slot, will result in the edges RY and YB swapped
To resolve this situation, it's enough to relocate the two edges,
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The be complete this section needs to talk about the configuration where the last two edges are correctly placed but incorrectly oriented.
One last configuration of the remaining edges is the following:
The configuration with the last two edges swapped we just solved is called The trap.
The reason is pretty simple: it is a trap because everybody thinks the problem are the two edges swapped and until they realize the real problem are the other two apparently well positioned there is no way to escape!
These are some ways to escape the trap
Siamo arrivati al punto che tutti gli spazi di manovra sono bloccati
Once the trap is escaped, solving the cube becomes so simple that it turns boring.
All that remains is to position the last 5 corners, which is done in two steps: