Status: May 11, 2006

So, where am I now?

2x: seem to average sub-15 seconds with the new 3-step method (orient white side, orient yellow side, permute everything). It has potential to be a very fast method, it only takes like 20 turns. It's taken from the Orteja-Jelnik corners first solution for the 3x. URL = http://rubikscube.info/ortega.html

3x: averaging sub-35 seconds using 4-step LL: cross, F2L, orient LL edges, permute LL corners, orient LL corners, permute LL edges. How sub-35 seems to depend on how well I can see through the F2L. A good F2L and I'm near 15 seconds for cross/F2L and thus near 30 seconds. I think I can average sub-30 seconds with this method.

3x-onehand: averaging around 75 seconds. The main problem seems to be clumsiness with turns. I use my thumb for a lot of turns and I bet that's not the best technique.

4x: around 3 minutes. I haven't done much 4x, so I'm slow. Edge Matching is a killer. I'm starting to look at doing 2 edges at once, but it seems like the longer search time is outweighing the fewer moves.

5x: who knows? I'd bet 9 minutes. Edge Matching is just a nightmare on the 5x. I feel like I'm actually fairly slick with the centers (not like *good* slick, just consistent).

Magic: before I broke all my magics, I had learned the "twist" method and was right around 4 seconds. Much room to improve on this one, once I learn how to put a Magic back together.

Megaminx: Maybe 12 minutes. I've only solved it a half dozen times and even then that's without being able to easily permute the edges (using same 4-step LL as the 3x). I need to find a better way.

Snake (line to ball): about 8 seconds. This is a fun little silly puzzle.

Pyraminx: my Pyraminx is falling apart. I'd guess I'm around 20 seconds.

no other puzzles I can think of.

Nationals are going to be at the Exploratorium in SF. I'm going to go, and try as many events as I can (2x, 3x, 4x, 5x, 3x-onehand, Magic, Megaminx). I might try to learn blindfolded - that would be an interesting mental test.

May 5-8, 2006

******* May 5, 2006 *******

It’s been a while since a cube diary entry. I’ve been getting incrementally better and it really depends on F2L. When I can “see” through the F2L quickly, I get a pretty good time.

Right now, I seem to be hanging just around a 35-second average. I flirted with a sub-35 average a few times in the Sunday Contest, including last week when I got an absolutely ludicrous 31.5 (talk about a “lucky” average, there were six “lucky” solves in the average). My last few Sunday contexts were the 31.5, two 35.X, and two 33.X.

My best average right now is 31.5, my best lucky time is 24.01, my best non-lucky is 27.39. I believe that a sub-30 average is possible. It would mean at 15 seconds cross/F2L, and I think that’s possible as well.

I’m also learning a new 2x method with much fewer moves. I don’t have the speed down, but I seem to be hanging around 15 seconds without working too hard. The main problem is that my Eastsheen 2x is soooo slippery, it’s hard if not impossible to keep it under control.

The US National Championships will be in San Francisco on Aug 4-6. I’m definitely going to go; we’ll just see what shape I can be in. I know my 4x and 5x are terrible, and I haven’t done magic since they broke a few months ago – restringing them is just a real pain.

I’ve also been playing with the Snake just for fun and seem to be averaging between 7-8 seconds, with a best of 6.15 seconds. I think I can definitely get faster here.


******* May 7, 2006 *******

Did some 2x timings today and they felt pretty sucky, though I did have a PR single run and a PR average. However, that PR average is compared to my ancient PR average when I first registered on speedcubing Unofficial World Records (23.x) and is not much better than I did at NorCal back in September 2005 (which was 16.23). This, despite the fact I have a nice big Eastsheen cube and a much better method.

The two averages were 15.9 and 14.44 (second being the PR entered on speedcubing). The best time was 9.91, which was a very fluid fast solve with almost no waiting. The Eastsheen was lubed a while back and I’m wondering if it’s just too slick – it definitely seems very hard to control and manipulate. It would be interesting to try an average with the old, smaller, rubik’s 2x cube.


******* May 8, 2006 *******

Did Sunday Contest today and just sucked. I was using the television being on with Harry Potter running (Ava at home sick today) as a way to test cubing with lots of distractions. My goodness, that was terrible. It felt like my mind was just dropping out all the time and I had to often stare at the cube to remember what I was doing. I also made multiple mistakes and felt very clumsy.

Average: 36.418
Times: 35.78, 34.07, 36.77, (26.44), 40.11, (49.60), 39.29, 29.02, 33.82, 30.63, 40.29, 44.40.

All the 40-plus times had one or more serious mistakes in them. Afterwards, I did some runs to try to get a non-lucky sub 35 and got the following times: 30.75 (lucky), 25.98 (lucky), 37.24, 30.29.

Today is the first day of competition in the class I’m teaching. It’ll be interesting to see how it goes.

History: Jan-Apr 2006

******* January 6, 2006 *******

Summary of last 6 weeks

Tried out a new LL order (OE, OC, PC, PE) and switched to cross on bottom – however, wasn’t able to make any real dent in timings, so decided to go back to old LL order (OE, PC, OC, PE) for San Francisco. Have stayed with cross on bottom, I think it is still widely variant in terms of net effect but when I get quickly to the first pair I definitely see the difference in times.

The old speedcube (with textured tiles) suddenly got all stiff – I think all the silicon wore off. I switched to the backup cube, a Rubik’s 25 year which had never been lubed. It’s tight, but still stiff and seems to jam. however, I was able to pull a decent percentage of sub-40 times. I’ve recently lubed up the old speedcube and it’s a little dicey in terms of how well it holds together but I can do times with it.

I also lubed up the little (rubik’s) 2x and the big (eastsheen) 2x – the big one is now pretty awesome for speedcubing. I think I can pull sub-15 times on it now, in early testing.

I ordered some new puzzles – two magics, a harry potter 2x, rings and a tangle. They should get here soon.
San Francisco is next week, and here are my goals:
average sub-40 in 3x,
average sub-90 in 3x-onehand
average sub-15 in 2x,
average sub-2:30 in 4x,
average sub-7:00 in 5x,
average sub-6 in the magic.


The 4x and 5x will be hard – I need to practice more, the same with the magic. we’ll just see how it goes.

******* January 9, 2006 *******

Lots of cubing while in Turlock for soccer tournament over the weekend – had lubed up the cubes so was getting used to the old cube again, and also playing with 2x and 4x/5x.

Did Sunday contest for Jan 8 – felt really sloppy and tense; there were some great times but it got really nasty towards the end with mistakes everywhere. The 29.79 was a beauty – fast F2L, then orient edges and corners were oriented, so did a PLL and was done! But overall, times really were eh – sub-40, but not much else.

Name: Jeff Soesbe
Country: USA
Average: 39.01 seconds
Individual Solving Times: 31.05, 41.27, 37.80, 39.45, 40.21, 36.83, 37.94, 36.95, 44.54, 44.08, (29.79), (48.20)
Quote: Had trouble staying focused, and fell apart at the end (except for the slightly lucky 29.79). I'm not sure how SF is going to go next week - we'll just have to see

Did some one-handed too, using five oldd scrambles. The new speedcube does not seem to work well for one-hand – too loose, I might have to switch to the old cube, but it has a totally different color shading and it’s hard to read. Not sure what to do

Times: 1:29.50, 1:18.68; 1:30.26, 1:35.55, 1:30.15
Average of middle 3 = 1:29.97 (under 1:30, just barely)


******* January 20, 2006 *******

Report back from last couple weeks.

San Francisco contest was very disappointing – incredibly nervous while up on stage, very clumsy, couldn’t get my mind in it, made mistakes twice at the very end of what were shaping up as good runs, costing me 5-10 seconds to recover. In the end, I had one 32.65 (great run), one 38.9X (OK), one 40.0X, one 41.XX and one 45. Not very good, and I was really ticked off.

One handed wasn’t too bad, except I made a mistake at the very end of the fourth run by trying a PLL. I essentially solved the cube twice, ended up with a 2:33 and was out of the competition (there was a 2:30 time limit). So that wasn’t good either. The other three times were 82, 79 and 76.

On my first 4x, I totally spaced out, took forever in edge matching (I swear I matched like 18 edges), ended up at 3:10 and was out (again, 2:30 limit).

The only thing that went well was Magic – five good runs, averaged less than 5.00 seconds (using “old-school” method).

Since then, have been up and down on the 3x, but just tonight tried again and pulled five straight under 40 with three of them under 35.

I think that I can stick with my four-step LL and get under 35 as the average. That would mean having a cross/F2L at about 15 seconds – tough, but I know it’s possible. This is my next goal. I might consider switching the LL order if it can help, but it’s not a requirement. I know I can do it. I was talking to Mike Grimsley and we’re talking about some NorCal “friendly” tournaments perhaps in March and June – that would be fun and a good chance to get some more tournament practice.

Have learned the “twist” style of Magic and am immediately faster. I did some runs tonight with the timer and averaged just over 4 seconds.

Times: 2.95, 3.11, 5.17, 4.36, 3.28, (2.88), 6.70, 2.92, 3.48, 3.65, (17.04), 4.91
Comment: First try with the “twist” method. The big times were clumsiness. The really big time was a mis-twisted puzzle that I worked on fixing because I didn’t want to break a string. Almost sub-4!

******* January 23, 2006 *******

Was too late for the deadline, but I did the Jan 22 Sunday Contest just for run and got a PR! It was pretty amazing; with three sub-30 runs (2 or 3 of them were lucky). I also had two over-50 runs where I just flat messed up, but overall it was a very nice set of runs. Maybe I can do it for real next week. Mainly I was just very relaxed, not too concerned, and shooting for about 35 seconds.

The 27.72 is my fastest “official” time ever (including lucky solves). The 29.72 might not have been lucky, but I don’t quite remember so I can’t claim it on my unofficial world records.

Name: Jeff Soesbe
Country: USA
Average: 36.45 seconds
Individual Solving Times: 40.26, 33.19, (27.72), 28.13, 51.06, 29.72, 40.89, (52.28), 34.85, 34.44, 32.80, 39.18
Quote: Did it late and on a whim and holy cow! 3 sub-30 (lucky, but still). PR average!

I also managed to completely mess up my magic – somehow something got twisted and a panel was messed up. I was able to get it back to solved and flat but in the process one panel is now out and I have a bunch of strings hanging in space. I guess it’s time to learn to restring a magic.

History: July-Dec 2005

This is my Cube Diary, from the second half of 2005.

******* July 13, 2005 *******

Been a while since entries. What’s happened since the last entry? I lubed the 4x4x4 and it was a lot smoother. I was approaching 4 minutes in time, but then broke the 4x4x4 – set it down hard in frustration and a cube popped out then the whole thing fell apart.

here’s results from the June 12 Sunday Puzzle:

Average: 50.26
Times: (66.48), 48.10, 43.75, 46.18, 49.56, 51.91, (42.24), 54.52, 59.42, 48.16, 46.56, 54.44
Comment: With the old cube. New cube is dead, as is 4x4x4 (which disintegrated during a timing run). Time for some new cubes...

I just recently ordered a full set (2, 3, 4, 5, magic and snake) from various source (rubiks.com and amazon.com) – they should arrive late this week, early next week.

In the meantime, started trying to learn finger tricks. It’s tough, I’m still very clumsy and I get lockups like crazy. I did some practice in Hawaii to get the feel for it, then have been working on it since then. I seem to be able to get below a minute, unless I make mistakes or get major lockup.

Decided to do the Sunday July 10 Sunday Puzzle, just for fun, just sitting on the couch and timing on the laptop clock.

Average: 54.3 + 0.5 = 54.8 seconds
Individual Solving Times: 60 53 47 47 60 53 (41) 54 63 (68) 46 60. #13 = 47.
Best times (non-lucky) was #4 (47) and #13 (47). #3 (47) and #7 (41) were lucky. Mistakes on #2 (53) #5 (60) #10 (68). Definitely non-consistent.

Scrambles:


******* July 15, 2005 *******

Did the Sunday July 17 Sunday Puzzle, with the fingers.



******* July 21, 2005 *******

The 2x, 3x, 4x and 5x and Magic all arrived – it’s cube city!

Feel good with the 4x, even though it’s really stiff. Hanging around 5 minutes or so – will have to lube it up eventually. Tried the 5x and felt okay, though I’m stuck on an edge swap (and trolling the internet for help). Have two 3x which look interesting – as is for hand turning, or lube em up for finger solving. I’ll lube up one and see how it goes.

There’s a competition in the Bay Area, in Hillsborough, on Saturday, September 17. Definitely will have 3x and 3x one handed. Might be 2x, 4x and 5x – it’s up to the person running it (Tyson Mao). I volunteered to help.

I’m still not sure about finger turning – if it doesn’t improve soon, I’ll go back to hand turning for the September competition.

******* July 22, 2005 *******

Did a bunch of timing on the StackMat with the various cubes. In general, did five runs and took the average of the middle three

2x2x2
Runs: 27.92; 36.45; 18.45; 54.24; 40.18
Average of middle three: 35.05
Comment: all over the place. 18.45 was really lucky. It all hinges on getting first layer fast – the 54.24 was just trouble and sticky cube.

4x4x4
Only three runs: 4:09:22; 4:38:39; 3:59:37
I seem to be right about 4 minutes (#2 was due to a mistake) with my first sub-4 minute time!

3x3x3 (hand turning)
Runs: 54.80; 54.41; 35.05; 52.34; 54.19
Average of middle three: 53.68
Comment: I’m just faster with hands – it sucks, but that’s the case right now. Maybe it’s the cube. The 35.05 was sick lucky – I was going fast, but LL was orient edges and done. Probably would have been a 40-45 seconds with full method. Did one more at the end, got 41.16.

3x3x3 (finger turning)
Runs: 63.93; 63.66; 56.88; 58.62; 53.92
Average of middle three: 59.75
Comment: not sure what to think – cube felt very clunky, maybe new lubed cube will help.

3x3x3, one handed
Runs: 2:07:28; 2:18:08; 1:28:70; 2:02.61
No average, #3 was sick lucky (skip 3 steps) so I did one more. Looks like I’m at about 2 minutes on one-handed.

Working on being ready for NorCal in September!

******* July 24, 2005 *******

Did Sunday Puzzle with timer on computer, just as a test.

Average: 51.7 + 0.5 = 52.2 seconds
Individual Solving Times: 41 (72) (39) 50 47 52 58 53 50 56 56 54
Quote: Late Sunday night, at the kitchen table with the clock on the PC. Time OK, still not as good as "wrist cubing.". #13 = 43, the best non-lucky time. Of course.

******* July 26, 2005 *******

I have been working on 4x4x4 – seem to be around 4 minutes. Did some timing on Monday July 25 evening, 4x4x4 was four minutes and 3 minutes 30 seconds (good, somewhat lucky solve). Then did some 3x with new stiffer cube and it went okay, then did 3x with older looser cube and was flying! Five straight solves under 50 seconds, with two 45 in the mix. Interesting results, not sure how they got that way – maybe the prep with stiffer cube helped, because I was very relaxed.

Someone replied to my request for a move to fix edge match on a 5x5x5 and I used it, matched the edges and solved the 5x5x5. Good to have done it, though it needs to be lubed (and I’m not sure how to lube it, it doesn’t appear to easily come apart).

BTW, the move was: L2 d2 R F' U R' F d2. A lot like the 4x4x4 move (which is d R F’ U R’ F’ d).

******* July 29, 2005 *******

The evening of cubing. I’ve been doing 4x and 5x a lot, and it feels like it helps my 3x times. Last night, informally, I averaged 5 seconds over 5 runs (47, 48, 50. 52, 53). At the pool today, I was hanging around 3:30 on the 4x, and pulled a sub-3 minutes! So, decided to generate some scrambles and do the 4x.

4x4x4
Times: 3:15.08; 3:13.68; 3:53.56; 3:35.34; 3:00.74
Almost broke 3 minutes!
Average of middle 3 = 3:21.37. Pretty darn nice, considering I was pushing 4 minutes not that long ago. It’s all in the edge matching.

3x3x3
Doing Sunday Puzzle for July 31.
Started out with new 25th anniv cube, sucked, went to old cube, started rocking. Weird.

Average: 50.876 seconds
Individual solving times: 48.89 56.99 53.70 54.52 47.47 (59.88) 48.26 46.75 52.35 48.72 51.11 (42.77)
Quote: Still not averaging sub-50 using fingers (and was sub-50 using hands). But #7-#12 I was rocking!

3x3x3-1h
Grabbed #7-#12 from Sunday Puzzle for July 31.
Times: 1:19.71 lucky; 2:50.81; 2:20.67; 2:03.61; 2:29.96; 2:19.44
Average of middle 3 of last 5 = 2:23.36. Not damn bad.

Sunday Puzzle Scrambles for July 31

Scrambles

#
Due on Sunday, July 31st, 2005 before 11:59 PM EST
1 234567 8910111213
U2 B2 D F D2 R2 B' D' F R' U D2 L2 U2 R' B' F2 R2 B R' L2 F2 R' B2 RR' D U2 R2 F' U2 D2 F' R' F' R2 U D2 B' D' L' F2 U L' U D' L R2 U' FL U' L F2 D' R2 L D U' B' D2 F B' U' D B' L' U D L2 R' U' D B U2L B' U D' R F L D R F2 D F R F D R' B' R' F' L D' F R D' UU' L D' F B2 D2 U2 B' F' R' D B2 F' U F' B' R' U R U D' B2 L' F2 DD L2 F2 B U2 L D2 B L' B2 R B2 F2 D B R' F L2 D L' R' B F' R U'D' B' R D2 R2 B2 R U' R D2 L F' D' L F' U L U L D U2 F' U2 D' BR2 U F' U2 B' R B F D F U B2 F2 L' F' D2 L2 U2 D' L D L2 U' D' R'R D2 R L2 U F2 R' D B D2 F D2 U F2 L2 F B' U2 F U' F U' D B U2D2 F U2 R' U2 F D B F2 L F D' F' B R U' D' B D U' L2 D2 R' U2 LD L2 U2 L2 U' F' D2 B' L' B U' R2 F' R' B' L2 R2 D F U' R F' D' F RF2 R' B2 F' U2 F2 D L2 R B D' U' F D2 R2 B R F2 B L2 R2 U2 R' L D'U L2 U' L D2 B2 U' L2 U L' R' D B2 L D' B F2 U2 L R2 F L' U2 F' U'


******* August 5, 2005 *******

Being cubing during the week – one day 4x, one day 5x, one day 3x, one day 3x-1h. Decided to do some 2x timings so I can start tracking on speedcubing.

Average: 23.684
Times: 19.25 28.50 (18.90) 23.85 27.87 (40.59) 23.75 24.91 24.66 22.15 19.93 21.97
#13 = 20.32
Comment: First timing ever, trying to be consistently under 25, very catchy cube. Sub-20 is a rare moment right now.

More timing, for 3x one-handed. Finally established an average of 10, and had my fastest non-lucky time every (112.16 = 1:52.16). Also a couple 1:48 lucky times.

Average: 129.538 (2:09.538)
Times: 148.11, 126.43, 113.68, 117.43, 145.75, 128.22, 112.16, 143.08, 151.86, (DNF), (108.16), 108.66
#13 = 129.81
Comment: Mistakes are just a killer and resulted in all the 2:30 times. But, getting close to a two minute average and had a sub two-minute non-lucky time.

4x timings. Did an everage of 10, and a sub-3 minute lucky time.

Average: 202.205 (3:22.205)
Times: (242.99), 190.54, (167.25), 190.67, 187.07, 207.63, 220.08, 219.12, 210.41, 195.21, 206.71, 194.61
#13 = 180.13
Comment: 12 runs was tough, and I fell apart a few times, hitting 3:30. But some good times, and plenty of space to improve.

Also did one timed run on the 5x. It took forever; fixing the centers was about 6 minutes, edge matching about 8, then finishing the cube was 2:08. Grand total was 16 minutes.

******* August 8, 2005 *******

Did the Sunday contest, and it sucked. Mistakes, mistakes, mistakes, jams, couldn’t pay attention – what a mess, I was getting super pissed and it was just supreme self-control that kept me from throwing the cubes (but I did hit the couch instead). I even tried some 3x one handed to try to mellow out – the first was almost sub 2 minutes (marred by not being able to make a last turn), but the next two runs were again full of mistakes and ended up at 2:45 (one, I basically started F2L over at 1:15).

Name: Jeff Soesbe
Email: yeff@yahoo.com
Country: USA
Average: 52.828 seconds
Individual Solving Times: 50.37 59.44 54.62 61.43 54.30 58.02 (42.70) 47.98 50.99 43.36 47.77 (67.57)
Quote: Except for a few stellar runs, most of these were full of mistakes and brain lapses. Very dismal week for me.


******* August 13, 2005 *******

Did Jon Morris Sunday Puzzle – absolutely terrible. I was consistently sub-50 before the competition, but got all bent out of shape before doing the puzzles and couldn’t concentrate. I didn’t even send in the times, I was so disgusted.

Average: 52.479
Individual Solving Times: 55.03 (59.06) 58.39 52.12 (44.16) 54.21 44.69 53.99 53.08 48.32 56.18 48.88
Quote: I made mistakes on every single run that wasn’t sub-45. Enormously frustrating. Did #13 with a “slow down to speed up” mentality and got 48.77. More psychological training is needed.

******* August 16, 2005 *******

Playing with different puzzles to try to break out of 3x mindset.

Rubik’s Snake (aka Rubik’s Twist); worked on getting sub 15 then was able to pull a couple sub-10 seconds, including a personal best of 9.62.

Took Eleanor to soccer practice and did some 4x and 5x at the park – 3 runs of each, timing on the cell phone. Ended up with personal best in each puzzle. Almost breaking 3 minute average in 4x and have an 8 minute average in 5x.

4x:
Average = 3:04.35
Times = 2:41.19, 3:33.08, 2:58.79

5x:
Average = 7:58.16
Times = 8:04.93; 7:33.93; 8:22.47

The 5x is all about centers right now. Edge matching seems to be consistently around 3:30, 3x solve about 1:30 (though on puzzle number 3, 3x solve was 2 minutes, which blew the sub 8 minutes). Centers in the 3 runs were 3:01, 2:14 and 2:41. But the sub-8 minute average is nice.

I ordered stickers from cubesmith, getting 2 sets for 4x, 5x, and 3x and tiles for 3x. We’ll see what they’re like when they arrive. My 5x stickers are falling off in droves, especially the yellow ones.

The Northern California Open is in a month. I think I’d like to be as follows:
around 20 seconds average in 2x
around 45-50 seconds average in 3x
sub 3 minute average in 4x
around 7-7.5 minute average in 5x
sub 2 minute average in 3x-one handed.

We’ll see how close I can get.


******* August 28, 2005 *******

Did the August 21 Sunday contest, but mailed them in too late. Wasn’t too hot either, because the times were like a 52 second average. Too many mental errors.

Did a lot of cubing at Eleanor’s soccer tournament Saturday, so much I actually started feeling nauseated. Tonight, pulling some good times at the stove (including a lucky 32!) so went for Sunday contest and did rather well with best average in a looooong time.

Name: Jeff Soesbe
Email: yeff@yahoo.com
Country: USA
Average: 47.92 seconds
Individual Solving Times: 46.99, 37.17, 49.70, 49.39, 40.47, 54.11, 43.54, (67.89), 39.05, 55.12, 45.07, (36.59), 59.90, 51.85, 50.61.
Quote: For first 12, average of middle 10 was 46 (!); all times > 51 were mistakes and all times < 40 were lucky. Very pleased overall.

After that, finished off a set of 7 5x solves, so I can file a record. Hovered around 8 minutes, with an absolutely kick-butt final solve which featured some serious edge matching!

Times: 8:04.93, 7:33.93, (8:22.47), 7:52.65, 7:55.99, 8:15.09, (6:39.73)
Average = 7:56.52

I’m right about 2:15 for centers, 4+ minutes for edge matching, and about 1:30-1:45 for the solve, but the last solve was about 3 minutes for edge matching and a 1:10 solve! (centers was about 2:30).


******* September 17, 2005 *******

NorCal tournament

This went great! Personal bests in virtually everything, way better than I could have ever thought I’d do. Even made it to the second round of 3x3x3! Only a few bad times, once in 3x, once in 5x, once in 3x-1h, once in magic.
Did 3x, 5x, 4x, 3x-onehanded, 2x; 3x second round, magic

3x3x3:
First round = 41.07; 39.68; 39.89; 43.78; 45.25. Average = 41.58
Second round = 36.82; 43.52; 39.87; 43.36; 52.26. Average = 42.25
(PR averages!)

5x5x5:
6:11.33; 7:06.73; 8:30.83; average = 7:16 or so
(PR on first solve! PR average! Major edge mistakes on last solve)

4x4x4:
2:27.27; 2:46.87; 2:37.00; average = 2:37 or so
(PR on first solve! PR average!)

3x3x3-one handed:
1:36.90; 2:09.13; 1:24.68; average = 1:43 or so
(PR on last solve! PR average! Mistake on second solve)

2x2x2:
18.30; 20.04; 18.17; 10.19; 12.22; average = 16.23
(PR on last two solves! PR average! 10.19 was way lucky, 12.22 was pretty solid)

Magic:
5.67; 6.25; 9.54; 4.98; 6.28; average = 6.07 or so
(PR on fourth solve! PR average! Third solve was a clunker)

******* November 24, 2005 *******

Haven’t written down results in a while.

Summary: seem to be pushing sub-40 more often than not. Have put up sub-40 averages in the last three Sunday contests. They still don’t seem very solid – very clumsy and jumpy – but I’m able to do it. It really really depends on the how the F2L goes.

SF contest will be January 24 – about 6 weeks. The question now is: switch my LL to a orient edges, orient corners, permute corners, permute edges (and maybe even to full PLL)? I’m really thinking about it, and might just make the switch. I only need 2 routines for “permute corners”, as long as I accept my current corner orientation routines, and I can add more corner orientation routines. But will it make me faster?

Also have ignored things like 3x one hand, 4x and 5x. Need to start getting back to those.

Did a set of 13 3x-1h, using old Sunday contest scrambles, to try my onehand – have a new PR, and possibly new record time, to submit to speedcubing records.

Name: Jeff Soesbe
Email: yeff@yahoo.com
List email: OK
First record post: NO
Puzzle: Rubik's 3x3x3
Type: Average of 10
Category: One Handed
Result: 90.344 seconds
Quote: 101.43, 86.10, (111.29), 99.22, 85.35, 79.53, 81.02, 107.30, (68.52), 76.44, 89.52, 97.53
Comment: Almost, almost sub-90 seconds. Next time for sure.

Name: Jeff Soesbe
Email: yeff@yahoo.com
List email: OK
First record post: NO
Puzzle: Rubik's 3x3x3
Type: Single Solve
Category: One handed
Result: 76.44 seconds
Quote: Trying one-handed again, after a break.
Comment: Did a set of 13, and got 4 times faster than my previous fastest.

History: Jan-June 2005

This is from my Cube Diary, in the first half of 2005.

**** Saturday, February 19, 2005

55.91; 59.61; 60.42; 56.98; 52.93; 55.63; POP; 115.84 (mistakes); 50.51; 69.35; 49.57; 63.94 (mistake); 60.71
Avg of middle 10 = 58.601
Avg of best 5 run (drop high/low) = 57.41 (#2-#6)

**** Tuesday, February 22, 2005

57.78; 58.91; 69.82 (3 mistakes); 70.19 (mistake); 72.83 (mistakes); 47.22 (lucky); 54.75; 62.69; 46.76 (lucky); 57.29; 62.23; POP; 58.95
avg of middle 10 = 59.983

**** Friday, February 25, 2005

Using old clunky cube; after a couple Mike’s Hard Cranberry Lemonades

60.53; 58.74; 54.11; 73.90 (big mistakes); 61.24; 54.19; 60.88; 54.52; 48.80; 96.57 (major errors); POP; 74.51; 61.10
Avg of middle 10 = 61.372

50.47; 68.75; 60.64; POP; 58.85; POP; 55.25
Avg of middle 3 = 58.25

50.07 (lucky); 64.63; 58.23; 62.43; DNF
Avg of middle 3 = 62.43

49.97; 53.49; POP; 61.37; 50.44; 40.06 (lucky!); 52.11; 67.13
Avg of middle 3 = 51.01

**** March 3-6, 2005

bought a new Target cube, no specifics on the stackmat but long runs of sub 1 minute with quite a few sub-50 seconds in there.

**** March 22, 2005

No official timings in a while, but new cube still pretty good. Getting in the 55 second range, with breaks sub 45 (and even sub-40?)

(60.66); 53.11; 54.10; 59.05; 56.06; 58.45; 56.51; 54.31; (45.53); 53.64; POP; 54.57; 58.39
Avg of 10 = 55.809

**** April 9, 2005

First official timing in a bit, with the “catchy” new cube. Still trying to go too fast, and getting locks and slowdowns. When all is smooth, I feel like I’m in the 45 to 50-second range.

(58.49); 49.71; 53.67; 55.34; 51.08; 44.74; (43.15); 49.28; 43.69; 48.81; 55.73; 55.71
Avg of middle 10 = 50.776 (!)

**** April 17, 2005

Doing Sunday Contest run by Jon Morris
(URL = http://www.geocities.com/nascarjon2001/sunday.htm)
Nervous as heck – mistakes 3 times, dropped it once, missed the mat once, premature finish once. Did #13 for fun, was all relaxed, and got 43.46!

Average: 51.786 seconds
Individual Solving Times: (48.18) 52.71 (61.77) 49.80 59.03 52.94 49.75 51.14 48.90 48.68 51.50 53.41

Scrambles:
#1 - L B L R' F U F2 R2 F U' F2 R U F U' R' L D U R2 L2 B' U D F
#2 - B' L D2 R2 D2 L U2 R U2 R U' D' L R' B2 F R F' B2 U F R F D L'
#3 - R2 B' F R F R' B' U L2 R U2 B2 F' U2 B2 R D2 R' F' B2 D B2 R2 U' R2
#4 - U' D' L2 R' U2 B F2 D2 R U2 R2 L2 F' R D2 B2 F D2 U R2 B' F U F' R
#5 - B D2 B2 L D' U' B2 L' U2 R2 F' R L F' B' D L' D2 B' U2 F' L' U' D' F2
#6 - L R B2 F2 D' R2 B D2 U B' L D2 U' F' D' B' R2 B' R' F2 R2 D2 B2 D' L2
#7 - L B2 L2 F2 B2 U' F' B' L2 R2 D R B' L F2 U' R2 L' U2 B R B2 R D2 L
#8 - D2 R2 F D2 L2 U2 B' D2 B D U B' R' L2 B2 R D L U' D' R U' D2 L2 B
#9 - U B2 D2 R F2 D2 L F' U2 R U2 B2 D2 L D' F2 L' F2 U D2 R2 B D' B L'
#10 - R F2 D2 R' U' F2 L' F B D' F' R F2 D' B2 U' F U D' R B' L R2 F2 B
#11 - R L2 D2 U2 F' U' L2 F U' F2 B L' R' U' F2 L2 R' U' R2 F2 R' D2 R' U' R
#12 - F' B' R2 D F2 R' U' R2 F L2 R2 B D' R D' R' U' D2 F2 D' R' L F' R2 D'
#13 - L D' L' F R' B2 D2 U L B2 F2 R D2 L U D2 L F2 B2 L2 U L2 D R2 B2

Slowly learning finger solve, seem to be around 75 seconds with the fingers. It certainly feels faster at times, but the search is longer and I still reposition a lot. I probably need assistance.

**** April 24, 2005

Sunday Contest

Hands were stiff, I felt like I was turning in mud. Too much volleyball before cubing. Did #13 – 41.82! (second best ever). Sheesh.

Average: 55.102
Individual Solving Times: 57.97; 52.88; 53.68; 49.80; 51.79; 61.75; 60.57; (74.53); 58.53; (48.76); 53.23; 50.82

Scrambles:
#1 - D B U' L2 B2 F2 U B' R2 D U' B U' R' F2 L U L D2 U' R' D' F2 D2 U2
#2 - L B F' D' R2 U R2 B2 F R' D2 F2 L2 D' F2 L' B D2 L' F2 L2 R' F' R U'
#3 - L' B2 R B L2 R2 F2 L F U L2 U' F' L' D2 L R F2 U2 F U2 B' R2 B U'
#4 - D2 F U2 B' R B2 R2 D' B' F2 U' L F2 R U2 F U L' B F' U R F L F
#5 - F2 U B' L' R' D R2 B U R2 F D' L' R2 D F2 R F2 R B U' B2 F U
#6 - B F2 R D' F U' R' B2 R2 D F2 U2 L B U2 L' R' B2 R' D2 R2 B F D R
#7 - D2 F2 L2 B2 F2 U2 B U' F' U' L2 R2 F2 R' D' B' D L2 U' F2 L F' R D2 U2
#8 - L U' F' U2 R D' U' L' F' L' B2 L' D R' F D' F2 R' U B' L' D L D L
#9 - B F2 R2 D' B2 F R B R2 B' U B2 R2 B F' U' R F2 U2 R' F2 D' U2 R' U2
#10 - U B2 L' U R2 D2 U2 F R2 F2 L' B' R D' F' L D R' D L2 D' R U' R' D
#11 - L2 F' D' B2 U' L R2 B D2 U B2 F' R' D' B L' R D' R' F2 L' F' D2 L2 D'
#12 - R F2 U' B2 D' B U' F R' D' L' R D2 R U2 F2 L D' U2 B2 D' B' R D' L2
#13 - F2 R F R D R' U2 F D' U2 F2 L' D' R B2 L F D2 R F2 L D B2 R2 U

Did the first five scrambles with fingers only, timing on the computer.
95 – mistake; 71; 77; 79; 98 - mistake;

**** May 8, 2005

Missed last week’s Jon Morris Sunday Contest (distracted), but have been practicing with concentration on looking ahead in middle section. I think it shows in these times. Great time, especially the middle runs. Three of my four fastest ever, including new personal best!

Average: 48.877 seconds
Individual Solving Times: (40.05) (63.64) 56.45 48.47 51.45 41.34
43.55 48.70 45.38 59.77 53.17 40.49
Quote: First sub-50 average! Lucky start, then great run from #4 through #9. #10 was due to the kids arguing...

******* May 15, 2005 *******

Jon Morris Sunday Puzzle, forgot to enter it earlier.

Absolutely ludicrous time on #13, pure lucky solve – LL edges oriented, swap the corners and done!

Some times for May 15 puzzle. Boy, do I like that scramble #13!

Name: Jeff Soesbe
Email: yeff@yahoo.com
Country: USA
Average: 49.503 seconds
Individual Solving Times: 53.81 (63.73) 51.12 46.18 51.55 56.09 45.70
53.65 48.35 44.19 44.39 (43.01)
Quote: New cube, so took a while to get the feel of it. But sub-50 avg again, so very pleased. Did #13 and got 36.19 new cube, 34.09 old cube! Both lucky solves, but I like that scramble #13.



******* May 22, 2005 *******

Jon Morris Sunday Puzzle. Working on smoothness and looking ahead, think it paid off at times during the contest. Had some sub-40 during the week and one (non-lucky) run in the contest – I saw the next move the whole time and had almost no delays.

Next milestone would be sub-45 average or 12 runs all under 50 seconds.

Name: Jeff Soesbe
Email: yeff@yahoo.com
Country: USA
Average: 47.105 seconds
Individual Solving Times: 49.53 51.68 40.77 40.13 49.33 (53.04) 47.67 (38.01) 47.89 45.22 49.85 48.98
Quote: Best average ever, only two times > 50 seconds, and first non-lucky sub-40! #13 = 43.21. Why can't they all be #13?

Also have been playing with the Rubik’s UFO, starting to figure out how to do it faster. Decided on a whim to set the Average of 10 Unofficial Record on speedcubing.com, since there wasn’t one! It’s mine now, even though the average is 3 minutes (so slow). We’ll see if I can get it faster with better first layer and better looking at second layer, to get right steps and avoid parity switch (which adds one whole minute).


******* May 29, 2005 *******

Working further with Rubik’s UFO, seem to be able to pull times around 90 seconds, unless I mess up. Went for an average of 12, and did fine except for a brain fart and DNF, which ruined my shot at a sub-2minute average. But it’s still the unofficial world record for average of 12 (as lame as it is).

Name: Jeff Soesbe
email: yeff@yahoo.com
list email: yes
first record post: no
Puzzle: Rubik's UFO
Type: Average of 10 solves
Category: Fastest Time
Result: 130.946
Quote: 176.87 81.35 105.35 93.00 196.60 253.16 138.88 73.59 125.38
(68.04) 165.48 (DNF)
Comments: The DNF, resulting from a complete mental lockup, blew my chance at sub 2-minute average. Getting better. Surely someone else can beat this?

Also working on the 4x4x4, have a basic method (form a website) which gives me a couple key moves I need to finish it, but still doing most by myself.

Did the Sunday Puzzle and really messed up – times all over the place. What’s up with that?

Name: Jeff Soesbe
Email: yeff@yahoo.com
Country: USA
Average: 49.695 seconds
Individual Solving Times: 57.15 49.07 49.32 44.37 (40.53) 50.96 53.22 48.19 52.97 45.88 (68.86) 45.82
Quote: Apart from sub-50 average, a terrible run. Times all over the map, mistakes aplenty, and a 68 (?!?!). Did #13, got 38.13 – I think I need a cube psychologist :-)


******* June 6, 2005 *******

Did the Jon Morris Sunday Contest on Monday morning and was enormously frustrated – probably due to no practice. Cube felt very catchy, hands were slick, ended up throwing the cube and breaking it (damn) after run #11. So, there goes the good cube. I wonder if maybe I need to stop for a while, or start trying to learn finger tricks.

Name: Jeff Soesbe
Email: yeff@yahoo.com
Country: USA
Average: 55.520 seconds
Individual Solving Times: 68.86 46.90 48.08 61.76 (DNF) 50.84 50.90 50.15 (39.76) 42.28 66.77 68.66
Quote: It was feast or famine, and overall not an enjoyable run. By the end, I had pretty much given up. Maybe next week.

Scrambles:
#
Due on June 5th, 2005 @ 11:59 PM EST
1 234567 8910111213
D2 U F' R D2 F' R B' F D2 U2 R2 F' U2 F R2 L' D F2 D' F L F U' FD B2 F L' D' B' F2 R2 F' U F2 L2 R' F' U' F2 R F' D' B' U R' D L R'B' R2 F L B2 L' F' U' R2 U R2 D B F2 D2 B D2 R B2 F' R' D U F2 D2D' U' B L' R2 D2 U2 L' D2 B2 L D F2 U' B2 D2 R F2 L U2 R2 U' F' D' R2R B2 L' R F U2 F D B U F R2 U' F2 U' B' L' U2 L2 D R2 D2 B D2 U'R2 F R' D' B2 R2 F2 L2 B' D2 U2 R' D' F R2 U' B U R' D2 L U B' D LL D2 F R2 B2 D' R2 U' L2 F2 R' U2 F U' L2 B U' R2 U2 L' U B' F D L'F' L2 F2 U2 B2 R B' R' F2 U2 L2 U' F2 U2 B2 F D2 B2 L2 R2 F U' R D L'U' B' D' R' F2 L B L2 D U' R D2 F D' F' R F' L R D2 U2 R U2 R UB' F' U2 R2 U2 L2 F L B R' D' L F' R F' D R' F R' F2 L D2 U' B D'L2 F2 D2 L' F U' R' F' D2 R' U R' D' L2 R2 D' R2 U' R B U2 B' D2 U' BL' U2 B2 R B' D U' R' F R D L' R' F' D2 U' R B2 D' F' D2 R' U2 B D'B D L' U2 R' B D2 L' R D2 L2 R' U2 F' D R U2 L' U R2 D' B2 U' B F

Also have been doing 4x4x4, getting around 6-8 minutes. I need to lube the 4x4x4 because it turns like sand.

Yeff Cubes: Old History

Here's something about my history in speedcubing (I sent it to a press person inquiring about contestants in the January 2006 contest at the Exploratorium).

Second Part: About me (circa December 2005)

I'm an old-time cuber - I started in 1980/1981, while in high schoolin San Antonio, Texas. Back then, cubing was new and my basic layer-by-layer method and times of about 70 seconds were good enough to be a top finisher in the Rubik's Cube races that were held at math contests in Texas in those days.

After high school, I pretty much let my cubing go, only occasionally picking up my old cube and seeing if I could still solve it.

About a year ago, I was in Target, saw cubes for sale and decided"why not". I bought one, relearned my old method and got back to my old times. Looking on the internet for more information, I saw the astonishing times people were putting up at competitions. I also found out about last year's competition at the Exploratorium, and decided to compete!

I drove down to SF with my 11 year old daughter, competed in the 3x3x3, had a blast and a good (for me) 65 second time, had fun at the Exploratorium, and was hooked. My daughter was mainly impressed with the people who could go *really* fast (like Macky and Leyan Lo).

In the year since, I've been practicing, learning all those newfangled methods and speedy finger tricks and have gotten myaverage times to sub-40 seconds. I've also broadened my interests to include the 4x4x4, the 5x5x5, the 2x2x2, the Magic and the one-handed3x3x3. No blindfolded yet, though I'm thinking about it.

I mainly concentrate on trying to not finish last in everything, and actually made it to the second round of the 3x3x3 at the Hillsborough contest in September (the only other contest I've been to in the last year).

About YeffCubes

First Post: This blog will cover my experiences in learning speedcubing (solving a Rubik's Cube as fast as you can). I started speedcubing in November 2004, after buying a Rubik's Cube in Target on a whim, and have been working on getting faster since that day.