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method described in this article is the layer method: we first solve one face of the cube (first
layer), then the middle layer, and finally the last layer.
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Solve the cross. Set into position the four edge pieces that contain white. (You should be
able to do this by yourself without needing algorithms.) All four edge pieces can be
placed in a maximum of eight moves (five or six in general).
o Place the cross at the bottom. Turn the cube over 180 so that the cross now on
the bottom.
4. 4
Solve the four corners of the first layer, one by one. You should also be able to place
the corners without needing algorithms. To get you started, here is an example of one
corner being solved:
o At the end of this step, the first layer should be complete, with a solid color (in
this case, white) at the bottom.
5. 5
Verify your first layer is correct. You should now have the first layer complete and look
like this (from the bottom side):
(1.a)
(1.b)
symmetrical to (1.a)
o If the edge piece is in the middle layer but in the wrong place or with the wrong
orientation, simply use the same algorithm to place any other edge piece in its
position. Your edge piece will then be in the last layer, and you just have to use
the algorithm again to position it properly in the middle layer.
2. 2
Verify correct positioning. Your cube should now have the first two layers complete and
look like this (from the bottom side) :
o Determine whether the two corners of the front side are in their correct position,
and swap them if needed. In our example, the right side is green, and the left side
is blue. Therefore the front corner on the right must contain green, and the front
corner on the left must contain blue. If it is not the case, you will need to swap
those two corners with the following algorithm:
Swap 1 and 2 :
(2.a)
o Do the same with the two corners at the back. Turn the cube around to place the
other side (orange) in front of you. Swap the two front corners if needed.
o As an alternative, if you notice that both the front pair and the back pair of corners
need to be swapped, you can do it with only one algorithm (note the huge
similarity with the previous algorithm):
Swap 1 with 2 and 3 with 4 :
(2.b)
2. 2
Orient the corners. Locate each top color facelet of the corners (yellow in our case). You
need to know only one algorithm to orient the corners:
(3.a)
o The algorithm will rotate three corners on themselves at once (from the side to the
top). The blue arrows show which three corners you are turning, and in which
direction (clockwise). If the yellow stickers are the way shown on the pictures and
you perform the algorithm once, you should end up with the four yellow stickers
on top :
o It is also convenient to use the symmetrical algorithm (here the red arrows are
counter-clockwise turns):
(3.b)
Symmetrical
to (3.a)
o Note: performing one of these algorithms twice is equivalent to performing the
other. In some cases, you will need to perform the algorithm more than once :
o Two correctly oriented corners :
3. 3
Permute the edges. You will need to know only one algorithm for this step. Check
whether one or several edges are already in the proper position (the orientation does not
matter at this point).
o If all the edges are in their correct positions, you are done for this step.
o If one edge only is correctly positioned, use the following algorithm :
(4.a)
o Or its symmetrical :
(4.b)
Symmetrical to
(4.a)
o
Note : performing twice one of these algorithms is equivalent to performing the
other.
o If all four edges are incorrectly positioned, perform one of the two algorithms
once from any side. You will then have only one edge correctly positioned.
4. 4
Orient the edges. You will need to know two algorithms for that last step :
Dedmore "H" Pattern
(5)
Dedmore "Fish" Pattern
(6)
o Note the DOWN, LEFT, UP, RIGHT, sequence to most of the Dedmore "H" and
"Fish" algorithms. You really have only one algorithm to remember since :
(6) =
+ (5) +
o If all four edges are flipped, perform the "H" pattern algorithm from any side, and
you will have to perform that algorithm one more time to solve the cube.
5. 5
Congratulations! Your cube should now be solved.
Method 4 of 4: Notations
1. 1
This is the key to the notations used.
o The pieces that compose the Rubik's Cube are called Cubies, and the color
stickers on the Cubies are called facelets.
o There are three types of Cubies:
The centers (or center pieces), at the center of each face of the Cube.
There are six of them, each have one facelet
The corners (or corner pieces), at the corners of the Cube. There are eight
of them, and each have three facelets
The edges (or edge pieces), between each pair of adjacent corners. There
are 12 of them and each have 2 facelets
o Not all cubes have the same color schemes. The the colors used for these
illustrations is called BOY (because the Blue, Orange and Yellow faces are in
clockwise order).
2. 2
This article uses two different views for the Cube:
o The 3D View, showing three sides of the Cube: the front (red), the top (yellow),
and the right side (green). In Step 4, the algorithm (1.b) is illustrated with a
picture showing the left side of the cube (blue), the front (red) and top (yellow).
o The Top View, showing only the top of the cube (yellow). The front side is at the
bottom (red).
3. 3
For the top view, each bar indicates the location of the important facelet. In the
picture, the yellow facelets of the top back corners are on the top (yellow) side, while the
yellow facelets of the top front corners are both located on the front side of the cube.
4. 4
When a facelet is grey, it means that its color is not important at the moment.
5. 5
The arrows (blue or red) show what the algorithm will do. In the case of the algorithm
(3.a) for instance, it will rotate the three corners on themselves as shown. If the yellow
facelets are as drawn on the picture, at the end of the algorithm they will be on top.
o The axis of the rotation is the big diagonal of the cube (from one corner to the
corner all the way on the other side of the cube).
o Blue arrows are used for clockwise turns (algorithm (3.a)).
o Red arrows are used for counter-clockwise turns (algorithm (3.b), symmetrical to
(3.a)).
6. 6
For the top view, the light blue facelets indicate that an edge is incorrectly oriented.
In the picture, the edges on the left and right are both incorrectly oriented. This means
that if the top face is yellow, the yellow facelets for those two edges are not on the top,
but on the side.
7. 7
For the move notations it is important to always look at the cube from the front side.
o Rotation of the front side.
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Tips
Practice. Spend some time with your cube to learn how to move pieces around. This is
especially important when you are learning to solve the first layer.
Know the colors of your cube. You must know which color is opposite which, and the
order of the colors around each face. For instance, if white is on top and red in front, then
you must know that blue is on the right, orange in the back, green on the left and yellow
at the bottom.
Locate all four edges and try to think ahead about how to move them into position
without actually doing it. With practice and experience, this will teach you ways to solve
it in fewer moves. And in a competition, participants are given 15 seconds to inspect their
cube before the timer starts.
Understand how the algorithms work. While executing the algorithm, try to follow key
pieces around to see where they go. Try to find pattern in the algorithms. For instance :
o In the algorithms (2.a) and (2.b) used to permute corners of the top layer, you
execute four moves (at the end of which all bottom layer and middle layer cubies
are back in the bottom and middle layers), then turn the upper layer, and then
execute the reverse of the first four moves. Therefore, this algorithm does not
affect the first/bottom and middle layers.
o For the algorithms (4.a) and (4.b), note you are turning the top layer in the same
direction that you need to turn the three edges.
o For the algorithm (5), Dedmore "H" Pattern, a way to remember the algorithm is
to follow the path of the flipped edge on the top right and the pair of corners
around it for the first half of the algorithm. And then for the other half of the
algorithm, follow the other flipped edge and pair of corners. You'll notice that you
perform five moves (seven moves if counting half turns as two moves), then half
turn the top layer, then reverse those first five moves, and finally half turn the top
layer again.
You can either start with the same color to help you understand where each color goes,
or try to be efficient by choosing a color for which it is easier to solve the cross.
For those interested in speed cubing, or those who simply don't like how hard it is to
turn pieces, it is a good idea to buy a DIY kit. The pieces of speedcubes have rounder
inner corners and DIY kits allow you to adjust the tension, making it a lot easier to move
pieces. Consider also lubricating your cube with a silicon based lubricant.
Progress further. Once you know all the algorithms, you may want to find faster ways to
solve the Rubik's:
o Solve the first layer corner along with its middle layer edge in one move.[1]
o Learn algorithms to orient the last layer corners in the five cases where two
(3.a/b) algorithms are necessary.
o Learn algorithms to permute the last layer edges in the two cases where no edge is
correctly positioned.
o Learn the algorithm for the case where all last layer edges are flipped.
Progress even further. For the last layer, if you want to solve the cube fast, you will
need to do the last four steps two by two. For instance, permute and orient the corners in
one step, then permute and orient the edges in one step. Or you can choose to orient all
corners and edges in one step, then permute all corners and edges in one step.[2]
The layer method is just one of many methods out there. For instance, the Petrus method,
which solves the cube in fewer moves, consists in building a 222 block, then
expanding it to a 223, correcting edge orientation, building a 233 (two layers
solved), positioning the remaining corners, orienting those corners, and finally
positioning the remaining edges.[3]
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Solution for solving the Rubik's Cube step by step illustrated method.
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The Rubiks cube is one of those puzzles that are endlessly fascinating to people of all age
groups. But, trying to solve it for the first time can be an exercise in frustration. If only there was
an easy way to learn how.
Well, as it happens, there is. Im a first-time cuber myself, if you ignore my previous attempts to
solve the puzzle by idly twisting the cube this way and that, without applying an ounce of
thought or logic.
Driven by the desire to learn to solve the Rubiks cube, I decided to start afresh, this time with
more focus and practice. As expected, the Web provided endless interesting content on the topic.
Finally, I narrowed down a few simple methods recommended for beginners and put them to the
test. As I found out, there is indeed a method that stands out for its simplicity and ease of
memorization. Using this method, I was not only able to solve the cube, but also repeat the
process several times over with surprising ease.
Solve for the remaining center pieces (green, blue, and yellow) using the same method, to
complete the orange cross on the upper face. At the end of this phase, the solved pieces will
appear like the ones shown below.
It helps to remember that the piece you want to insert to form the cross must appear on or
be moved to the middle layer i.e. the layer below the upper face.
There can be two possibilities at this point. If the orange section is facing you, DR'DR will put
the corner piece in the right place. If the unsolved orange section is facing right, RD'R will solve
the corner.
Keep using this technique until all the corner pieces of the top layer are in place. The upper face
should appear as shown below. The center pieces of the middle layer will automatically be in
place, while the edge pieces may or may not be placed correctly.
Now, the white face of this piece has to fit in the edge position to its left, since the green face on
the bottom has to line up with the green pieces on the left face. Here, holding the cube with the T
facing you and using the moves DLDLD'FD'F solves the puzzle for the white and green piece
(see image below). If the white face had to appear at the edge position on its right, I would have
used the moves DR'DRDFDF instead.
Beginning with a new T-shaped section every time, repeat this procedure until all the edge pieces
of the middle layer are in place and the cube looks like this:
If there are more of those red corner pieces facing upward, move the cube so that one of the red
pieces on the side face is toward you and use the moves RURURUUR. Repeat this sequence
until the upper face has been solved for red.
If there are no such matching pieces, perform the moves RFRBBRFRBBRR till they appear
at least on one face. Then turn the cube till those matching corner pieces are on the back face,
and go through the same sequence again till there are matching corner pieces on every face. One
of the faces might even appear to be solved at this point. Now perform the moves
FFULRFFRLUFF repeatedly till the cube is solved.
The Takeaway
If you solve the cube once by taking an easy and logical approach such as this one, you know
you can solve it any number of times. As I have found out, you stop being afraid of twisting the
cube lest you cant get back a solved piece of the puzzle.
You get the confidence to experiment with new algorithms and apps, give speedcubing a shot,
and maybe even try to come up with an algorithm of your own. Suddenly, a whole new world
opens up to you.
But be warned. Once you solve the Rubiks cube, your brain will constantly crave such things
that spark your creativity.
Have you solved the Rubiks cube? Which method do you think is the easiest?
Image Credits: LaPetra
Jonathan
January 17, 2014
As someone who solves regularly this is a fairly good way to start. Nice article. +1
Akshata
January 18, 2014
Thank you, Jonathan :)
0 votes
Reply
Alan W
January 17, 2014
I always found that taking off all the buttons or whatever they are called and putting them back
on in the right order the easiest method.
Akshata
January 18, 2014
It is, but not easy as detachable colored stickers :D
0 votes
Reply
mango
January 17, 2014
I got a cube a christmas present back in the 1970s.. It never left my side for the first week.. I
managed to solve it by new years day.. The method I found was to get first the top 4 corners, then
the bottom 4 corners, then the top and bottom layer, and finally the middle layer.. this is the only
method I have ever used.. Never looked into the top,middle, bottom solution that most people
who have read up on a solution use..
Adam B
January 18, 2014
yes I too feel this is the easiest way as Mr. Mango has suggested. I solve the cube exactly as you
too do it. Top corners, Bottom Corners, Top and Bottom layers, and last middle layers.
Akshata
January 18, 2014
I must give that a shot then. The good thing is now that I have got one method right, I dont
worry about messing up a solved portion of the cube to try something else.
0 votes
Reply
Brian M
January 18, 2014
I started speedcubing a bit more than half a decade ago. Since then, my times have improved
quite a lot. I prefer to use CFOP to solve cubes.
Akshata
January 18, 2014
Im waiting to try speedcubing. Ill add CFOP to my growing list of methods to try. Thanks for
the tip, Brian.
0 votes
Reply
Rubik
January 18, 2014
I had a cube as a kid. One day, some stranger walked over and asked to have a go at solving it.
He held it behind his back, twisted and turned it for about one minute, then presented me with a
completed cube. He walked away with no explanation just a smile. There is must be, a
simpler solution than Ive managed to find on the web.
Akshata
January 18, 2014
I know a kid who does that (solving behind his back) and solves a 55 cube pretty quickly too.
Now Im more determined than ever to learn to solve it faster. I guess once the cube twists and
turns come intuitively, finding a different method of your own becomes easier.
Akshata
January 18, 2014
If you do find a simpler solution (and the stranger someday), do let us know :)
Rubik
January 18, 2014
It happened sometime in the eighties! The cube was distinctive so no trickery or dismantling
was involved it happened too quickly.
0 votes
Reply
MacLightning
January 18, 2014
I was able to solve 2 upper layers when I first picked up a rubiks cube. My brother could solve 1
layer (he was only 6 at that time).
Akshata
January 20, 2014
Thats interesting. I dont know their secret, but somehow kids seem to get it right quicker than
adults.
0 votes
Reply
Abin
January 19, 2014
You can use F2L method to solve rubiks fast. Using this method you can solve 2 layers with a
single algorithm.
Akshata
January 20, 2014
Oh. Im wondering if the CFOP method suggested by Brian above is another name for F2L. Will
try them all :)
0 votes
Reply
Robert O
January 19, 2014
I was introduced to the Rubiks Cube 30+ years ago (when I was a teen), and to this date have
never been able to solve more than one side. :-(
I remember when my aunt first brought over the cube; I took it and locked myself in the closet
for an hour before I sheepishly emerged with just one side solved.
This article makes it seem that even I can learn to solve the cube! The notation stuff is a bit
confusing, but I do have an unsolved cube near my bed, so I guess I can give it a go!
Thanks for the great article! Lets see if, after 30 years, I can finally conquer the Cube!
Akshata
January 20, 2014
Thank you, Robert!
At least you were able to solve one side right away. I wasnt :)
The clockwise-anticlockwise moves can be a bit confusing in the beginning, but with a little
careful practice, you get used to it. Spend a Sunday focusing on the solution, and Im sure youll
get it right.
Let us know how it goes.
0 votes
Reply
hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
February 7, 2014
well, i must admit, i havent come across many blogs whose author replies as much as
AKSHATA does and with such curiosity and respect.
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