My method, valid for any kind of puzzle as goes as follow:
- Try to find what moves do what
- Always 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 center so orientation comes important).
When I found a sequence (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 3x3 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 circle 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 3x3.
Note: that one moves only three corners without affecting the rest,
circle is: TFL->TBL->TBR->TFL
Yes, it is very long 24 moves, but each () is ABAB. It is my own challenge of always 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'.
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 the 3x3 Rubik's, if you have a 'tool' to circle 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's, a sequence of moves, not an algorithm, because it is fixed sequence, not a "do this if that".