As you may have noticed, every CP alg is made up of 90 degree turns, or multiples of 3. As such, each alg does combinations of N and J permutations.The great thing about these algorithms is that they can be “tweaked” in order to change edge permutation. Take, for example, J/J. This algorithm as you know it is /-3,0/3,3/0,-3/. It permutes the puzzle like this:
But what if you run into its mirror, like this?
If you applied the algorithm as you know it, you would end up with U/U. Instead, what you can do is misalign both layers by preceding the algorithm with (1,-1). So the full algorithm is 1,-1/-3,0/3,3/0,-3/. With next to no effort, you turned a U/U into an EP skip.
How about this:
If you did the normal algorithm, you’d have an H perm left. But by misaligning U (with (1,0)), you can skip EP altogether.
There are 2 possible alignments of each layer, for a total of 4 different permutations with the same algorithm. This means that without learning any additional algorithms, you just QUADRUPLED your number of EP skips.
But that isn’t all. What if you get this case?
Look at the blocks. If you misalign both layers before performing the CP algorithm, you can preserve two edges in each layer, and end up with adj/adj EP instead of a nasty W/W.
This trick can be applied to nearly every permutation. Every connected block you preserve is a solved edge in EP. There is no square-1 technique that can cut so much time with so little effort. Between the 4 times likelihood of EP skips and the ability to force easy EPs, you will see seconds drop off your average in no time.