Hey Roger, I solve with the extended cross very frequently actually, especially after picking up Richard Patter's dual solving idea, where I solve either white or yellow cross each time.
I did a 100 average one time counting the number of moves for different steps of my solve and found that 28/100 or 28% of those solves were extended style cross solves. One of those solves was a double extended cross, or 1% of the total. I did all solves solving only with a white cross, so without dual solving. With dual solving ideally I should solve an extended cross 1-(1-0.28) ^2=48.16% of the time. Also with a 1% double extended corss percentage on one color I should ideally do a double extended cross 1-(1-0.01)^2=1.99% of the time. I would say that those numbers feel about right for me, I end up doing some sort of Xcross type solve roughly half the time now and I occasionaly get a double Xcross as well. I average about 9-10 seconds for the F2L, but the really good guys average 8 seconds. Without using Xcross and dual solving (always choosing the better setup color between white and yellow as my cross) there is no way I could average sub-10 seconds. Just solving the same color every time and not doing Xcross I consistently average 12-13 seconds for F2L. But again there are people who don't do Xcross often or use dual solving who average very fast, maybe even some of the 8 second people solve that way. So in short I don't know what to say other than to find a strategy that works best for you. There's no way I can average under even 11 seconds without using Xcross or dual solving (and I've tried for years!) but with both Xcross and dual solving I can often get to 9 seconds average for F2L. It's all about finding what works for you, if Xcross works for you stick with it, if it just slows you down then scrap it and try something else. Personally I swear by the combination of using Xcross and dual solving together, and I won't ever switch back to a more "regular" approach. Hope that helps, Chris --- In [email protected], "Stacie Wood" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Greetings. > > I've been looking over Chris Hardwick's extended cross ideas and > intrigued by the prospect of being able to save 4-5 moves by this > method. > > Chris or others, have you been using this and had good success with it? > > It seems that your speed will to some degree be dictated in the end by > the number of moves used in the solve, so if one uses maneuvers to > decrease moves, speed will increase. > > Thanks. > > Roger Wood > Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/speedsolvingrubikscube/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
