I have a few questions about DNFs that I am not sure are addressed in the regulations. 1) If you have more than one DNF in an event (say average-of-5), is your average a DNF or do you have no average? If you get two DNFs before the five solves are up, are you disqualified or are you allowed to continue and get single-solve times? 2) If, after the timer stops, (a) the competitor keeps holding onto the puzzle for a fraction of a second, (b) the puzzle touches the competitor or the competitor's hands, or (c) the puzzle falls off the table, is the solve counted as a DNF? 3) If a pop or other puzzle defect occurs during a solve, and either it would take an excessive amount of time for the competitor to fix or the competitor is unable to fix the defect, is it legal for the competitor to simply stop the timer and have the solve be disqualified? 4) If a puzzle defect that does not affect the solved state of a puzzle occurs (for example, a center cap falls off on a Megaminx or cube), is it necessary for this defect to be fixed for the puzzle to be counted as finished? If a piece breaks and is thus unfixable (for example, an x-center on a 5x5x5 cube), is it necessary for this defect to be fixed for the puzzle to be counted as finished, if the competitor can move every other piece to its correct location? 5) If a puzzle defect occurs, and after reassembling it is found that more than 3 pieces must be removed to fix the defect, is the competitor allowed to remove the required number of pieces? For example, if a large pop occurs on a 5x5x5 and the parity on the midges+corners is wrong, it is not possible to fix this by removing just three pieces, so is the competitor allowed to remove more than 3 in this case? Also, if the competitor means to remove only three pieces but more are removed accidentally, is the solve disqualified? 6) If a puzzle is deemed unsatisfactory after a solve in which the judge has considered it satisfactory, without the puzzle having significantly changed between those times, is that solve disqualified? Thank you for answering these questions!

Hi qwwref, Thanks for the questions/feedback. [quote:2uluyjcb]1) If you have more than one DNF in an event (say average-of-5), is your average a DNF or do you have no average? If you get two DNFs before the five solves are up, are you disqualified or are you allowed to continue and get single-solve times? [/quote:2uluyjcb] You can continue your average. See article 8e). The only reason why you can be stopped for AN EVENT is when you do not reach the time limits. [quote:2uluyjcb]2) If, after the timer stops, (a) the competitor keeps holding onto the puzzle for a fraction of a second, (b) the puzzle touches the competitor or the competitor's hands, or (c) the puzzle falls off the table, is the solve counted as a DNF? [/quote:2uluyjcb] a) DNF, see article A6d) b) DNF, see article A6d) c) there is nothing in the regulations about where the puzzle should land, see article A6a) [quote:2uluyjcb]3) If a pop or other puzzle defect occurs during a solve, and either it would take an excessive amount of time for the competitor to fix or the competitor is unable to fix the defect, is it legal for the competitor to simply stop the timer and have the solve be disqualified? [/quote:2uluyjcb] Yes, he can stop the solve, see article 5b). [quote:2uluyjcb]4) If a puzzle defect that does not affect the solved state of a puzzle occurs (for example, a center cap falls off on a Megaminx or cube), is it necessary for this defect to be fixed for the puzzle to be counted as finished? If a piece breaks and is thus unfixable (for example, an x-center on a 5x5x5 cube), is it necessary for this defect to be fixed for the puzzle to be counted as finished, if the competitor can move every other piece to its correct location? [/quote:2uluyjcb] Competitor can continue the solve (if possible of course). If at the end the puzzle is unambiguously solved (so on 5x5 there are for example not 2 centers with different color broken), then the solve is considered correct. See article 5b5). I sometimes have this at home. I break a 5x5 center, but the inner part of the center is not popping. Then I can slowly continue my solve. [quote:2uluyjcb]5) If a puzzle defect occurs, and after reassembling it is found that more than 3 pieces must be removed to fix the defect, is the competitor allowed to remove the required number of pieces? For example, if a large pop occurs on a 5x5x5 and the parity on the midges+corners is wrong, it is not possible to fix this by removing just three pieces, so is the competitor allowed to remove more than 3 in this case? Also, if the competitor means to remove only three pieces but more are removed accidentally, is the solve disqualified? [/quote:2uluyjcb] See article 5b3). The limit is 3. It was chosen because it suits 3x3 and 4x4. For 5x5 the limit is not different. So for example if only one corner is twisted, then you could remove two adjacent edge pieces and twist it in its place. If you would have a corner swap then you would be in trouble though. I like to keep this as simple as possible, so I am not in favor of making different numbers of pieces for different puzzles. If some pieces would accidentally fall out, then that could be considered a puzzle defect in itself again. [quote:2uluyjcb]6) If a puzzle is deemed unsatisfactory after a solve in which the judge has considered it satisfactory, without the puzzle having significantly changed between those times, is that solve disqualified? [/quote:2uluyjcb] The only person who can overrule is the main judge. See article 1d1), 11a) and 11b). Anyone could alarm the main judge that something went wrong. In that case the main judge should go to the judge and hear his story. In case of doubt or a mistake, competitor should receive a replacing attempt. See article 11e). We do not accept video analysis. See article 11f). Have fun, Ron

I could not find articles A6d, A6a, 11a, 11b, 11d, 11e, or 11f. Are these in a different version of the regulations than the one located at http://speedcubing.com/events/regulations.html? [quote:2ued0ryu]The limit is 3. It was chosen because it suits 3x3 and 4x4. For 5x5 the limit is not different. So for example if only one corner is twisted, then you could remove two adjacent edge pieces and twist it in its place. If you would have a corner swap then you would be in trouble though. I like to keep this as simple as possible, so I am not in favor of making different numbers of pieces for different puzzles. If some pieces would accidentally fall out, then that could be considered a puzzle defect in itself again.[/quote:2ued0ryu] If that is the case, I feel that this should be changed. I don't think that a competitor should be limited in this way, where reassembling a 5x5x5 cube incorrectly would lead to disqualification of a solve. Perhaps it would be better to change 5b3) to something like: If after repairing the puzzle, but still during the solve, the competitor notices that the puzzle is unsolvable, he may disassemble and reassemble the puzzle only once to make the puzzle solvable again, with rule 5b2) still in effect. Since the only reason that a competitor would remove more pieces than necessary is to make the solve easier, I feel that this addresses the problem more logically. Thank you again!

Hi qwwref, I think you are reviewing the current WCA regulations, where I am answering based on the draft version of the new WCA regulations. Please check out the draft version at http://www.speedcubing.com/events/regulations2007.html [quote:lhcirh4w]If after repairing the puzzle, but still during the solve, the competitor notices that the puzzle is unsolvable, he may disassemble and reassemble the puzzle only once to make the puzzle solvable again, with rule 5b2) still in effect. [/quote:lhcirh4w] Only once may be a problem. For 3x3 I could first notice a flipped edge and repair it, then find the permutation parity. Have fun, Ron

You're right. Also, you might notice an orientation problem, and then later permutation... How about this: If, at any time after a puzzle defect has been fixed but before the solve has been finished, the competitor notices a problem in the state of the puzzle that makes it unsolvable, he may disassemble and reassemble the puzzle to fix this problem, with rule 5b2) still in effect.

Hi qwwref, [quote:3kyiyhof]If, at any time after a puzzle defect has been fixed but before the solve has been finished, the competitor notices a problem in the state of the puzzle that makes it unsolvable, he may disassemble and reassemble the puzzle to fix this problem, with rule 5b2) still in effect.[/quote:3kyiyhof] Suppose we keep the current text but we change 3 to 4. Would that solve your problem? Have fun, Ron

It would still be a problem for the 5x5x5, so no, it wouldn't. As far as I know, you have to take out a minimum of 5 pieces to fix that parity on the 5x5x5, and if we ever use the 7x7x7 in competition (for example) that number would be 7. I don't see why we should limit the number of pieces removed at all.

[quote:pciu75zc]I don't see why we should limit the number of pieces removed at all.[/quote:pciu75zc] The problem is article 5b2). It is very hard to prove that someone is assembling the puzzle while making it is easier to solve. Someone could force a pop, then assemble all pieces into solved position. I know this is not the strongest part of the WCA regulations. But at least it is clear. I wouldn't mind changing 3 to 5, but we should not leave it open. Have fun, Ron