15 Tips to Improve Your Cross

1. Plan Your Cross During Inspection

• Use the full 15 seconds of inspection time to plan your cross solution. The goal is to solve the entire cross without pauses. Aim to solve the cross in 8 moves or fewer for optimal efficiency.

• Look for solutions that involve fewer moves by identifying shortcuts, such as pairing edges with centers during insertion.

• Prioritize efficiency over speed at first. Fewer moves lead to faster solves naturally.

• Make sure you aren't looking at any pieces when solving. (pretty much blindfolded)

​2. 8 Moves or less

• The Cross can always be solved in 8 moves or fewer, no matter the scramble.

• Advanced solvers plan the entire cross during inspection.

• Efficient solutions use 6–8 moves and set up for F2L.

• Fewer moves and fewer rotations lead to faster solves.

3. Advanced inserts​

• Faster Solving – Reduces unnecessary moves, saving time.

• Better Efficiency – Uses fewer moves than basic inserts.

• Smooth Transitions – Helps with fluid F2L without regrips.

• Less Cube Rotation – Keeps the cross on the bottom for better lookahead.

• Essential for Speedsolving – Used by top solvers to maximize efficiency.

4. Solve on the Bottom

• Always solve the cross on the bottom face. This eliminates the need for a cube rotation after solving the cross, saving precious time.

• Practice solving on the bottom consistently, even if it feels slower at first. This builds the muscle memory needed for advanced solving.

5. Minimize Rotations and Extra Moves

• Use wide moves (Rw, Uw) or slice moves to align pieces rather than unnecessary cube rotations (x, z, or y).

• Avoid “fixing” misplaced pieces mid-solve. Planning during inspection will help you avoid making corrections that increase your move count.

6. Track Your Edge Pieces

• Learn to spot all four cross edges during inspection. Pay attention to:

  • Edge position relative to the center.

  • Orientation (flipped or unflipped edges).

• Track where each edge will move during your solution to avoid scrambling solved pieces. This helps to keep the solution within 8 moves.

7. Solve Efficiently in 8 Moves or Fewer

• Always aim to solve the cross in 8 moves or less, even for challenging cases. Some specific strategies include:

  • Solving multiple edges simultaneously by aligning them with their centers.

  • Using intuitive solutions for misaligned edges rather than overcomplicating.

  • Pairing edge and center pieces in one move when possible.

• Tools like cross trainers on CSTimer can generate scrambles specifically designed to optimize move count.

8. Master Edge Orientation

• During inspection, identify any flipped edges and plan how to correct them efficiently.

  • A flipped edge can often be solved with 2-3 moves if paired with another edge piece or center.

• Avoid solutions that displace other edges unnecessarily.

9. Incorporate Finger Tricks

• Use finger tricks to execute moves fluidly without regrips. This is critical when dealing with wide moves or slice moves for the cross.

• Practice common cross patterns with finger tricks to build speed and accuracy.

10. Time Your Cross Separately

• Focus on solving the cross in under 2 seconds as your target.

• Time your cross separately from the rest of the solve to identify where you might be losing time or adding unnecessary moves.

11. Transition Smoothly into F2L

• During inspection, plan your first F2L pair alongside your cross. Look for opportunities to set up an F2L pair while solving the cross in 8 moves or fewer.

• Avoid disrupting your cross edges when setting up F2L during cross-solving.

12. Learn from Top Solvers

• Study cross solutions from expert solvers like Feliks Zemdegs, Max Park, or JPerm. Many of their crosses are solved in 5-7 moves consistently.

• Watch example solves and take note of how efficiently they track and solve cross edges.

13. Use Algorithms for Tricky Cross Cases

• For complex cases where flipped or misaligned edges occur, learn algorithms that can solve these cases efficiently within the 8-move goal.

• Drilling these cases will help make your solutions automatic during real solves.

14. Practice Color Neutrality

• If you are not color neutral, start practicing solving crosses on different colors. Being color neutral allows you to choose the most efficient face and often results in solving the cross in fewer moves.

• Start with dual neutrality (e.g., white and yellow) before moving on to full neutrality.

15. Drill Difficult Cross Cases

• Practice solving difficult cross scenarios with flipped edges, misplaced pieces, or hard-to-reach edges.

• Generate scrambles that mimic these cases and solve them repeatedly until you can do so within 8 moves.

16. Optimize Your Inspection

• During inspection, visualize every move you’ll make for the cross. The more detailed your visualization, the better prepared you’ll be.

• With practice, you should be able to mentally rehearse the 8 or fewer moves required to solve the cross before starting the timer.

17. Analyze and Improve

• Record your solves to identify where you’re adding extra moves. Watch example solves to know what you are doing wrong.

• Track your move count for the cross and strive to keep it consistently under 8.