I have solved a lot of puzzles by my self.
Rubik 3x3 was thelast one (just yesterday).
Most of them i get to solve them by my own are Corner or Edge rotating, Rubik 3x3 is face rotating. It was the last because i was too lazy and i like much more the ones that are more complex.
Someones ileatn by my own:
- Pyraminx, 2x, 3x, 4x & 5x
- Pyramorphix, 2x, 3x, 4x & 5x
- *minx, 2x (kilo), 3x (mega), 4x (giga) & 5x (tera)
- Helicopter
- Dino, Rex, Master skewb
- Skewb
- Flowercopter
- Vulcano
etc
My method is valid for any kind of puzzle as goes as follow:
- Try to find what moves do what
- Allways use moves like [(ABAB)*N][(ABAB)*N] so only rotate two faces, two corner or two edges, depending on how puzzle rotations are)
I talk about rotate face X, then face Y but not any other face on that four moves. Rotation direction can be different, for example ABA'B' or AB'A'B etc.
Then comes the long part... and a lot patience needed.
I use a lot of papers and i write each 'sticker' move per each of my moves.
For example, if you rotate 90º a normal 3x Rubik Cube (you a rotating a face) then you are moving 9+3*4 stickers, that is 21 stickers, but you are only moving 9 pieces (8 if you ignore the center of the face, warning some ones has multicolor on certer so orientation comes important).
When i found a secuence (ABAB)*N that does something interesting, i copy it to solutions book as a 'tool'.
This method makes (with lot of time) you have a book filled with 'tools', some better than others.
Most times you get how to move pieces, so solve the puzzle by kind of pieces, not by layers, etc.
On 3x Rubik for example, you solve first all edges (ignoring all corners), then move to correct position each corner till all are in place, then set the correct orientation.
Just as an example of using only ABAB to cicle three corners, using common notation will be: (R'FRF')*3 (RTR'T')*3. This one was the one i found yesterday and was the last 'tool' in ABAB challenge i was still needing to end auto-learn Rubik 3x.
Note: that one moves only three corners without affecting the rest,
cicle is: TFL->TBL->TBR->TFL
Yes, it is very long 24 moves, but each () is ABAB. It is my own challenge of allways solve any puzzle by doing only ABAB kind of moves and find them by myself.
And yes, i know there are much faster solutions, but i use the challenge of solving doing only (ABAB) moves.
For some puzzles i also add (ABC) moves, not just two faces or two corner or two edges, i go for three in cascade.
And for *morphix (jumbling) and Flowercopter (it is a mix of corner and edge) i also use mid moves to solve 'jumbling'.
Special challenge i impose my self on Flowercopter was after doing some jumbling moves that makes it still be a cube form solve it without doing any jumbling moves, and i finally found some weeks ago how to do it, both jumbling tipes can be solved without jumbling thanks it can make 180º and also 120º, so that 60º maded by jumbling can be undone with 180º + 120º alternative... but allways after you make it shape a perfect cube, else you still need jumbling moves.
Special warning with flowercopter, has a lot of locks when jumbling in not cube shape... and pieces can pop out very easy.
Minimal steps:
- Take note of what does what
- Try and error
- Copy out the 'tools' you find
As more 'tools' you find, you will get how to solve it, which kind of piece first, which next, etc.
For example for 3x Rubik, if you have a 'tool' to cicle 3 edges, but that moves corners... do not use the 'tool' that moves only corners prior to the 'tool' for edges, etc. The list of 'tools' will tell you what order of piece type.
I talk of 'tool'... that is a secuence of moves, bad called algorithm.
Algorithm is not just a secuence... is something like... if that then do what else do other thing, etc... not just a 'fixed' secuence of moves.
Yes, i have and advantage for solving by my own, i am a software developer since i was six years old.