How to solve the

Rubik's Cube

Content

  • History
  • 5 Facts
  • Basic Knowledge
  • Cross
  • First Layer
  • Second Layer
  • Last Layer Cross
  • Last Layer Edges
  • Last Layer Corners

History

1976 - Invention by

Erno Rubik

1980 - Great Popularity

Revival through the internet

5 facts

1. Possible Positions

43'252'003'274'489'856'000

( ≈43 Quintillion)

2. Optimal Solution

20 Moves

( 35 years of calculation for one processor)

3. World Record

5.25s - Collin Burns '15

What is the world record for the fastest solve?

4. Different Puzzles

Pyraminx

2x2

4x4

5x5

6x6

7x7

Megaminx

Skewb

Square-1

Rubiks Clock

5. Different Categories

One-Handed

With Feet

Blindfolded

Multi-Blindfolded

Basic knowledge

Components

  • Centers
  • Edges
  • Corners

Methods

  • We learn the Beginner Method
  • An advancement of the Beginner Method is the Fridrich-Method
  • We learn 6 Algorithms in the Beginner Method
  • In the Fridrich-Method you learn up to 100 Algorithms

Notation

What is the notation?

  • Description of a rotation of one side
  • Is required to perform algorithms
  • Also required to scramble the cube
  • The whole solution is based on the notation

basic rules of the Notation

Normal Move

' Suffix

2 Suffix

Standard-Notation

R

L

U

D

F

B

Standard-Notation

R'

L'

U'

D'

F'

B'

Standard-Notation

x

x'

y

y'

z

z'

Exercises

  1. R U R' U'
  2. D L' U F2 B2
  3. B2 F2 U' L D'
  4. L2 F2 U' F2 D B2 F2 D2 L

Cross

What is the Cross?

  • First step
  • The first time, we make it on white
  • The Cross-Edges need to be correct on both sides

Procedure

  1. Search the matching edge
  2. Turn the edge below the target
  3. Turn up the Edge

  4. If the Edge is twisted incorrectly-> F U' R U'

Example

Scramble: L2 F2 U' F2 D B2 F2 D2 L

The white-orange Edge is already in the top layer -> U

In the bottom layer, there is the White-Green Edge.

This Edge must go below the Green Center -> D2

And has to be turned to the top layer-> F2

In the bottom layer there is the White-Red Edge.

This Edge must go below the Red Center -> D'

And has to be turned to the top layer -> F2

The last Edge (White-Blue) is placed on the red side

This Edge must turned down to the bottom layer  -> F

Afterwards the Edge has to go below the blue center-> D

Because we moved the White-Red Edge, it has to go back up again -> F'

And now, the White-Blue Edge can be turned up -> F2

Exercises

  • Cross on the Yellow-Side
  • Cross on the Red-Side
  • etc.

First Layer

What is the First LayeR?

  • Whole site correct
  • For this step, the Corners need to be inserted

Procedure

  1. Search the correct Corner
  2. Turn Edge below its target
  3. Perform Algorithm -> R' D' R D

  4. As long as the Corner is correctly inserted

Exception

Is a corner already in the top layer, you have to perform the Algorithm ( R' D' R D ) once.

Exercises

  • Solve five times one side
  • The colour is arbitrary

Second Layer

What is the Second Layer?

  • Two Layers need to be arranged correctly
  • For this step, we need to insert 4 Edges
  • Two algorithms are required
  • The Cube has to be turned upside-down

Procedure

  1. Search an edge in the Top Layer
  2. Turn the Edge to the correct position
  3. Determine Case
  4. Perform the according algorithm

Search an edge in the top-layer

We search a non-yellow side in the top-layer

Turn the Edge to the correct Position

  • The bottom side of the edges has to match the colour of a center
  • Only U-Moves are required

U'

Determine Case and perform algorithm

To the Left

To the Right

U R U' R' U' F' U F

U' L' U L U F U' F'

Learn Algorithms

  • Search patterns
  • Repeat

(U' L' U L) (U F U' F')

(U R U' R') (U' F' U F)

Exercises

  • Memorize the algorithms
  • Solve the Second Layer till you feel safe about it

Last Layer Cross

Overview

Only Algorithm for this step

(F R U) (R' U' F')

  • Cross on the last layer
  • We have to regard the edges only
  • There is just one algorithm for this step

Determine Case and perform algorithm

Dot

L-Shape

Line

Alg -> L-Shape

2 times Alg

Alg

(F R U) (R' U' F')

Last Layer edges

Overview

  • Orienting the Edges
  • We have to regard the edges only
  • There is just one algorithm for this step

Only Algorithm for this step

(R U R') U (R U2 R') U

Determine Case and perform algorithm

2 adjacent correct pieces

No adjacent correct pieces

Alg -> 2 adjacent correct pieces

Place the two correct pieces at the back left + Alg

Hint: Sometimes you have to turn the U-Layer a couple of times (maximum 3 times) to see if there are 2 adjacent correct pieces.

lAST LAYER CORNERs

Overview

  • After this last step, ther corners will be permutet and orientet correctly.
  • We have to regard the cornes only
  • 2 Algs are required to perform this step

Required Algorithms

(U R U' L') (U R' U' L)

Corner Permutation Algorithm

Corner Orientation Algorithm

R' D' R D

Corner-Permutation

One correct corner

No correct corner

You have to look around the whole cube to see if there is a correctly placed corner.

Correct corner on the front-right

U R U' L' U R' U' L

U R U' L' U R' U' L

<-- One correct corner

Corner-Orientation

  1. Get an incorrectly twisted corner to the front-right
  2. R' D' R D till the corner is twisted correctly
  3. Repeat till the cube is solved

You Solved the Cube!

Congratulations!

Impressum

Author: Tobias D. Peter

 

Licence: CC BY SA -

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