How to Learn Algorithms

In preparation for my Rubik’s cube tutorial, coming soon I thought I would talk about how to learn algorithms. In my opinion this may be the least fun part of cubing, although it is a majority of it.

Algorithm Sets

One way to memorize large algorithm sets, such as PLL is memorize the most common cases first. If you memorize the most common first then you have less of a chance of forgetting what you learned first. You also get more gratitude for memorizing as you have more of a chance to use what you learned. When I learn full OLL I will probably use this method as there are so many OLL’s.

Another way is to memorize easiest to hardest. This is a nice way to ease into learning a large algorithm set. This method is how I learned PLL.. I started with Ja and Jb perms (what I consider the easiest and generally my favorite PLL’s) and then I ended with G perms. I also generally learned all the same letter perms at once, for example all the N perms, all the G perms, all the J perms, etc. I am not sure if this was the best way as I often get them confused with each other (especially the g perms).

Learning

When I first get an algorithm I check for triggers. Triggers are common moves and you should know how to execute them fairly quickly. For example, R’ F R F and R U R’ U’. Then, I execute the algorithms (looking at the paper) 5-10 times paying attention to triggers. After that, I attempt to execute the alg without looking at the paper.

One way I remember an alg (or parts of it) is remembering how the alg sounds, for example if the algorithm had R UR’ F I would remember “Rurf” (like a dog). Another way is to pay attention to how the cube looks. You then want to execute the alg so much that it is ingrained into your muscle memory and not rely on any of your ways to remember it. You don’t want to remember the cubing notation of the alg you want to remember the feel of it.

It is also important to learn how to recognize the case for the alg. If you remember the algorithm but not when to execute it, it’s useless. You also want to learn how to tell similar cases apart, for example, all of the G Perms. You might want to learn identifiers such as blocks or headlights unique to the case.