Megaminx A5CP method

Introduction

The A5CP is an intermediate method for the PLL phase of the megaminx. A5CP means Avoid 5 Corner PLL's (5CPLL) which describes the goal of the method. There are more 5CPLL's than 3 and 4 corner PLL's together (8 vs 7). 4 of them only have a probabilty of 1 (instead of 5 for the most PLL's). The other 4 are difficult to recognize. In 40% of all solves you will get a 5 CPLL! By learning different EPLLs we can avoid the 5CPLL's. We only need 3 extra EPLLs per EPLL case, which is a total of 9 and only 1 more than learning all 5CPLLs. We will see that most of the 9 extra EPLLS are easy algorithms and/or mirrors. So I think it's easier to learn these algorithms than all of the 5CPLL's.

Which basic level do you need?

You already know how to solve the megaminx in 4 Look Last Layer. If you use commutators for CPLL I recommand to start learning 3CPLLs and 4CPLLs first. If you want to learn full PLL this method makes  the step from 2 look PLL to 1 look PLL easier.

The method

The basic 4LLL method uses 5 EPLLs. But in fact by moving the U face there actually are only 3 different EPLL case

The blue edges are the edges on the right place. The arrow describes how the other edges have to move. It's important tot hold your megaminx in the same direction by using U moves. For the third case it doesnt matter because each direction is the same.

The algorithms

The method use the next 12 algorithms, which are named as the PLL case they represent with someties a U-premove to get your U face in the right direction. For most of the cases there are alternative algorithms available at several websites. You can use them as well, but the U-premove might be different.

J1+:         R U R' F' R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R'

(U2) J1-: (U2) R' U L' U2' R U' R' U2 L R

L4-:         R U2' R' U2 R U2 R' U R' U' R U' R U' R' U' R'

(U') L2:   (U')  R U2 R' U R U' R' U' R U' R2' U' R U' R' U' R U R' U2 R

N2+:       R L U2 L' U R' L U' R U2 L' U2 R'

N2-:        R' L' U2' R U' L R' U L' U2' R U2' L

X1:         F U2 R U2' R' U R U R' U2' F' R' U' R U2' R' U2' R

B2+:       R2 U R2' U2 R U2' R U R' U' R U' R2' U2 R U R'

F1-:        R2 U2' R2' U' R2 U2' R2'

U (T1):   (U) R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'

(U) X5+: (U) R' U R U2 R' U2 R U R2' U' R U' R' U' R U2 R' U R2

(U2) L1: (U2) R' U2 R U R' U R U' R' U2 R U' R U R' U R U2' R'

Group 1 (J1+)

First watch for a pair, if there are more than one, just choose one you like. If the pair is on a green spot use J1+ if its on a red spot use (U2) J1-.  I Prefer to look at the first 4 (easy to see) spots to find the pair, otherwise if its one of the next 3 spots it's red. If not it's green.

When there is no pair. Look if you see one of the two "semi"-pairs below. If you do use L4-

In alle other cases use (U') L2

Another easy to recognize situation is very helpful, if there is a block anywhere, it's always possible to use J1+ (or J1- whatever you like most). So you dont need to check where the pairs are. Just use U-turns to put the U-face in the right direction and use J1+. If there is no block, you have to look for pairs.

Group 2 (N2+)

This case is symetric. It doesnt matter which U moves you do, it's always the same edgecase. Look for a pair and use U moves to bring it to the front. If it's positioned right use N2+ (7 cases)

If it's positioned left use N2- (5 cases)

If there is no pair look for a anti-block. If there is one use X1 (2 cases)

If there is no pair and no anti-block use B2+ (2 cases)

Group 3 (F1-)

This case is a little bit more complicated. First we look for a pair again, but in contrary to the other 2 cases we can't use each pair we find. If there is a pair on a green spot use F1-, if the pair is on a red spot use (U) T1. If the pair is on a other spot: ignore it, look for another pair or go to the next step if there aren't any.

If you can't find a pair on a green or a red spot. Look at the right front. If  it's an anti-block use (U) X5+.

In all other cases use (U2) L1.

EPLL already solved

Sometimes after OLL the EPLL already is solved which lead you directly in a CPLL case. Actually that's a fourth group of cases. But I think it doesnt need much attention here. If it's a 3CPLL or 4CPLL: feel lucky, you got yourself a skip. If it's a 5CPLL, you still solve your Megaminx in 2 steps, starting with a 3CPLL or 4 CPLL you like the most at the right spot and leaving a 3- or 4CPLL as well. You can figure this out by yourself.

Improving the method

This version  of the A5CP method isn't optimized. I just search for 4 PLL's per group which together cover all cases in that group, takin into account that recognition don't have to be to difficult. Probably there are  combinations of PLL algs that will also cover the whole group and have easier recogintion or just are easier algorithms.

Another potential improvement is to extend the 3 groups to 5 groups, the same way that there are 5 EPLL's instead of 3. You won't loose time anymore by searching the right direction in group 1 and 3. But you need max 2x4=8 extra algorithms or just learn the different U-premoves and use the same algorithms as above.

You are invited to improve the method (and my bad English). Let me know if you have something to contribute at kubus@paidiagames.nl. But most importly: "Have Fun"