Nautilus LSLL

Solve a 1x2x3 at dL. This means the block that is completely within the left layer of the cube. This step has been proven to be fast and efficient. There are many strategies that can be used and the best one depends on the scramble. CPFB can also be used to make the rest of the solve 2-Gen. Doing this gives an advantage over other CP first methods. Other CP first methods require recognizing the orientation of nine edges mid-solve. In Nautilus there are only six edges to recognize at the EO stage and all six are in view with no blindspots.

Build the 2x2x2 at the back right (dbr). There are a lot of possible strategies that can be used to build the 2x2x2. The recommended strategy is to first build the right side 1x2x2 then add the DB edge. This is likely the easiest and most efficient single strategy. The efficiency of this was confirmed by Melkor after inputting several strategies into the HARCS program. It had the lowest movecount.

Using the recommended strategy of building the right side 1x2x2 then adding the DB edge has a few great points.

• You can easily build the right side 1x2x2 with a lot of freedom.

• There are two edges to choose from to add a pair two. Or two pairs available to add the final edge to.

• If you track or solve the DR edge during the FB step of Nautilus then you only have to solve a single pair.

• Solving the DB edge after the 1x2x2 is very automatic. There aren't many places that this edge can be and it only has two orientations. Moving this edge around its correct centers is very easy using M U R r moves.

• You can influence the DB edge while building the 1x2x2.

A strategy that is a very close second in movecount is to first add the DR edge then build the square on the back (dBr). Once users are used to the primary recommended strategy they can start to incorporate other strategies such as that one. Check out the Blockbuilding Examples page for different ways of solving the 2x2x2.

After Step 1 and Step 2a, it forms the primary shape of the method called the Shell. Other ways can be used to build the shell. However, the recommended strategy is to solve a 1x2x3 then a 2x2x2 because it leads naturally into the blockbuilding style and other steps contained within the method.

Orient the remaining six edges while placing the DF edge. This step averages 6.5 moves and contains 55 cases.

EODF Algorithms

Solve the last corner edge pair slot and the last layer. Currently the best LSLL method is to solve the last F2L pair then use ZBLL. However LSLL has been receiving a lot of development recently so something even better may eventually be developed.

Beginner:

1. Solve the 1x2x3 on the left just as in Step 1 above.

2. Solve the 2x2x2 in dbr. This is the same step that is in most Nautilus variants.

3. Insert the DF edge.

4. Use one of 5 algorithms to solve EO. Or solve EO intuitively.

5. Solve the last F2L pair.

6. Orient all U layer corners. This is 7 algorithms.

7. Permute all U layer corners. 2 algorithms.

8. Permute all U layer edges. 4 algorithms.

Total number of algorithms: 18

Intermediate:

1. Solve the 1x2x3 on the left just as in Step 1 above.

2. Solve the 2x2x2 in dbr. This is the same step that is in most Nautilus variants.

3. Orient all edges while inserting the DF edge. 55 algorithms.

4. Solve the last F2L pair.

5. Orient all U layer corners. 7 algorithms.

6. Permute the last layer. 21 algorithms.

Total number of algorithms: 83

Advanced:

1. Solve the 1x2x3 on the left just as in Step 1 above.

2. Solve the 2x2x2 in dbr. This is the same step that is in most Nautilus variants.

3. Orient all edges while inserting the DF edge. 55 algorithms.

4. Solve the last F2L pair.

5. Use ZBLL to complete the last layer. 493 algorithms. It can be a little lower than 493 because currently many ZBLL users don't use Sune or Anti-Sune ZBLL algorithms. In those cases they use OCLL + PLL.

Below are a few strong points about the Nautilus LSLL variant.

• Automatic FR slot every solve. Other methods have issues with slot-neutrality where when a new advancement is found for LSLL the solver has to put in additional effort to force the FR slot to be last.

• Low move count to get to the oriented LSLL state.

• Easy look-ahead. After FB there is no need to look at pieces that may be on the left side of the first two layers. Then after the 2x2x2 is built every piece is in view. There are no blindspots.

• A new kind of blockbuilding. Users that are looking for something different and fun will likely enjoy the 3D slice + outer turn blockbuilding aspect that is in the 2x2x2 step of Nautilus.

Comparison to other methods:

A comparison can be made with LEOR. In LEOR all edges are oriented after FB. In that case there are a lot of edges to recognize. The Nautilus LSLL variant solves that problem and also removes blindspots early for finding pieces during blockbuilding. This is because blockbuilding is performed first before orienting a set of edges. Building the 2x2x2 at dbr reduces the number of edges needed to be recognized to just six and they are all in view. There is a method on the speedsolving.com wiki called "Speed Heise-2" which was added many years after Nautilus was first developed. That method is similar to this LSLL variant, but ends with the Speed Heise LSLL method. Some credit is due there because that one was more well known at the time of its addition to the wiki. The Nautilus LSLL variant is a much more general use method after EODF. It is best to have LSLL be more free as in this variant to allow for things like last slot then ZBLL or other LSLL methods.