Winter Variation
WV (Winter Variation) is a method for solving the last F2L pair and orienting the
corners when the edges are already oriented. This will result in an automatic OLL
skip since the edges are oriented already. Keep in mind that in order to take full
advantage of this, you should be able to mirror these algs into the FL pair or BR pair.
Since all edges are already oriented, every case could be solved with only <R,U> but
for many cases it is shorter and more practical to include F, L, or D turns. Most of
these algorithms are pretty intuitive and I've given an explanation of each case.
Notice that in many cases it's easiest to just insert the pair and finish with a Sune or
Antisune, but only if the pair is inserted correctly. There is a similar set of algs
known as the Summer Variation, but the recognition is a bit more difficult and I
haven't learned those.
These are the 27 Winter Variation cases for inserting the last connected pair while
orienting the last layer corners and the algorithms I use for [Link] algorithms
appear EXACTLY as I perform them when I am solving the last layer, in speedcubing
notation with rotations included in the algorithm. It should be noted that these are
the algorithms that I find easiest to perform. However, you may find other
algorithms better-suited for your own hands, so it is recommended to try many
different algorithms for the same situation to find which one works best for your
own style of cubing.
In each diagram, yellow is the color of the upper face. A yellow "bar" indicates that
the last layer color is facing that direction in that location. Grey denotes that a
particular piece is not oriented correctly. The pair to be entered is the red/green
pair.
Three Corners Oriented Correctly
# Diagram Algorithm Comments
Take out the FL pair, insert the FR pair,
01 [U'] (L' U2) (R U' R' U2) L
and then reinsert the FL pair.
Two Corners Oriented Correctly
# Diagram Algorithm Comments
This is the simplest case. Just insert the
02 [U] (R U' R')
pair as normal.
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Winter Variation
This is a pretty easy case similar to a
03 (R' F) (R U) (R U') (R' F') ZBF2L alg for inserting a connected
pair.
After the first 3 moves, you can see the
04 [U] (R2 D) (R' U' R D' R2) pair being inserted. This case is similar
to the U COLL case.
Just insert the pair, AUF, and do a Sune
05 [U] (R U' R') U (R' U' R U' R' U2 R)
from the back right.
This is just two fast triggers and a pull
06 (R U' R' U2) (R U' R' U2) (R U R')
to insert.
This is just the end of a double
07 [U] (R U R' U') (R U' R')
Antisune.
One Corner Oriented Correctly
# Diagram Algorithm Comments
08 [U2] (R U' R') (U R U2 R') This is just the end of a double Sune.
This is a pretty decent case that
09 [U2] F' (R U2) (R' U2) (R' F R) reminds me a little bit of the Ra
permutation.
This is a sledgehammer into double
10 (R' F) (R2 U R' U') (R U R' U') F'
sexy.
Take out the BR pair, insert the FR pair,
11 [U2] (R' U' R2 U') (R2 U2 R)
and then reinsert the BR pair.
This is a modified sledgehammer and
12 (R' F2 R F2) (U L' U L)
then a reinsertion of the FL pair.
This is an insertion of the pair using U2
13 [U2] (R U2) (R2 U' R U') (R' U2 R)
right into a Sune from the back right.
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Winter Variation
This is the same as Case #04 except
14 [U2] (R2 D) (R' U2 R D' R2) with a U2 instead of a U' to insert the
pair.
Just do L, insert the pair, and undo the
15 (L' U) (R U' R') L
L.
Just do L, sexy move, undo L, and insert
16 [U2] L' (R U R' U') L (R U2 R')
the pair using U2.
This is the second nicest case. Insert
17 [U2] R U2 R'
the pair with a U2 instead of just U'.
18 (R' F' R U2) (R U2 R' F) This is just the inverse of Case #09.
This is a pretty cool alg and it flows kind
19 (R' F2) (R2 U' R' U') (R U R' F2)
of nicely.
No Corners Oriented Correctly
# Diagram Algorithm Comments
Just insert the pair, AUF, and do a
20 [U] (R U' R') U' (R U R' U) (R U2 R')
Sune.
This is an insertion of the pair into an
21 [U] (R U') (R2 U2) (R U R' U R)
Antisune from the back right.
This is the same alg as a U COLL except
22 [U] (R2 D) (R' U R D') (R' U2 R')
a U2 was replaced with a U.
This is a pretty neat alg that flows kind
23 (R2 U) (R' U R' U') (R U R U2 R2)
of nicely.
24 [U2] (R U' R' U) (R U' R' U) (R U2 R') This is just the end of a triple sune.
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Winter Variation
This is just an insertion with a U2 into
25 [U2] (R U2) (R2 U2 R U) (R' U R)
an Antisune from the back right.
This is just an insertion into a Sune
26 [U] (R U') (R2 U' R U') (R' U2 R)
from the back right.
This is just the end of a double
27 [U] (R U R' U') (R U R' U') (R U' R') Antisune. Do a double sexy and insert
the pair.
Copyright 2005-2015 Bob Burton
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Winter Variation