HOW TO SOLVE THE RUBIK'S CUBEBy Nathan Empson

The Rubik's cube is the world's top selling puzzle game. Within this guide you will find information that will instruct you on how to solve it with no previous knowledge. You should expect your first solve of the Rubik's Cube to take up to or over an hour. Each successive solve will grow continually faster, until you no longer need to consult a guide. This guide is divided into two sections. The first is titled prerequisite, and explains terminology and key concepts used in the second part of the guide: the solution.

PREREQUISITE:Keystones

The center piece of each side of the Rubik’s cube is known as a keystone and may not be moved. It is for this reason that before even beginning to solve the cube that you know which face of the cube will end up as which color. In other words, if a side has a green tile as the center piece, that side will necessarily end up all green upon solving the cube. The first step in solving your Rubik’s cube is to select which side you want to solve. In moving forward with this guide, the illustrations will assume you have chosen the yellow side to solve first.

Algorithms

In Rubik’s cube terminology, an algorithm is a set of moves that, after completed a certain number of times, will yield the same orientation as you started with. Algorithms allow you to move and/or reorient pieces without disturbing those you have already solved. Throughout this manual, I will use a consistent set of notation to convey the algorithms used in solving the Rubik's cube.

F = front, the side of the cube facing you

B = back, the side of the cube facing away from you

L = left

R = right

U = up face

D = down

I = inverted, a counter clockwise rotation

An F indicates that you should turn the front face of the cube clockwise, seen as facing the front face. Similarly, an R indicates that you should turn the right face clockwise, as seen from the right face. Conversely, a FI indicates a counter-clockwise spin of the front face, as seen from the front face.

An example algorithm: Left Inverted – Front : LI - F

SOLUTION:

1. THE CROSS

GOAL: To complete a cross on the side you have chosen to solve first. The cross configuration consists of completing all of the pieces in horizontal and vertical alignment with the keystone, aka the side pieces.

PROCESS:

1.A) Locate a yellow side piece.

1.B) Move the side piece into the correct position, aligning the keystones of the yellow and adjacent sides. For example, the yellow and green side piece must connect the yellow and green keystones (see figure 2).

1.C) For any inverted pieces, hold the cube such that the inverted piece is in

Counter clockwise rotation of the left face. Note how the three orange pieces move.

Clockwise rotation of the front face. Note how the two green pieces rotate from the top of the front face to the right side of the front face.

the top center of the front face and perform algorithm 1.

1.D) Repeat steps 1.A through 1.C until the cross is complete.

Algorithm 1: FI - U - LI - UI

Fig 1. Finished Cross. Note how the center columns of the green and red side are aligned with their keystones.

2. THE CORNERS

GOAL: To complete one side of the cube!

PROCESS:

2.A) Locate a yellow corner piece.

2.B) Move the corner piece underneath the required location.

2.C) Hold the cube so that the required position of the piece is in the front right corner of the top face.

2.D) Perform and repeat algorithm 2 until the piece is solved.

2.E) Repeat steps 2.A through 2.D until you have completed the face.

NOTE: By keeping in mind the concept of keystones, you can easily determine which corner piece must go where.

Algorithm 2: RI - DI - R - D

Fig 2. The yellow, green and red block is directly beneath its required

position. Perform algorithm 2 to move it.

3. The Middle Row

GOAL: To solve the middle row of the front, back, left, and right sides of the cube.

PROCESS:

3.A) Flip the cube over, facing the solved side down.

3.B) Inspect the face, looking for a side piece that does not contain the color of the keystone of this face (white if you solved yellow first).

3.C) Align this piece such that it is in agreement with the adjacent bordering side.

3.D) Hold the cube such that the piece you're solving is on the top face, front side of the cube.

3.E) Perform algorithm 3 or 4, depending on which direction the piece must move.

3.F) Repeat steps 3.A through 3.E until the middle row of the front, back, left, and right face have been completed.

If the piece must move left, Algorithm 3:

UI - LI - U - L - U - F - UI - FI

To move right, Algorithm 4:

F - R - U - RI - UI – FI

Fig 3. Orange & blue piece ready for the left moving algorithm (3).

4. The Second Cross

GOAL: To create the same cross configuration of step 1 on the side opposite that which you chose to solve first. In our example this will be the white side.

PROCESS: Choose the correct sub-step below that corresponds to your configuration. If you already have a cross on the white face, skip to step 5.

NOTE: Your face may not exactly match the figures; that is okay. Your face will have one of the three configurations: a dot, an L, or a line. You may have excess tiles, creating different shapes, but stick to the three listed. When you have more than one option, choose the L over the dot, and the line over the L.

4. A) The Dot

GOAL: Create the L configuration.

PROCESS: 4. A.1) Hold the cube in any orientation as long as the targeted (white in our example) face is the up face.

4. A. 2) Perform algorithm 5.

NOTE: The best way to be sure you have the dot configuration is to make sure you do not have either the L or the line.

Algorithm 5: F - R - U - RI - UI - FI

Fig 4. Dot configuration of white face.

4. B) The L

GOAL: To produce the line configuration.

PROCESS:

4. B. 1) Hold the cube so that the L is on the top face, in the upper left hand corner, such as in Fig. 5.

4. B. 2) Perform algorithm 5.

NOTE: The L consists of only three pieces. If you have formed a bigger L, you have the line configuration.

Algorithm 5: F - R - U - RI - UI - FI

Fig 5. L Configuration of white face. In correct orientation to use Algorithm 5, producing The Line.

4.C) The Line

GOAL: To produce the second cross.

PROCESS:

4. C. 1) Hold the Rubik's Cube so that the line is going across the top of the cube, connecting the left and right sides, such as in figure 6.

4. C. 2) Perform algorithm 5.

Algorithm 5: F - R - U - RI - UI - FI

Fig 6. The Line configuration, ready to produce the second cross via algorithm 5.

5. THE HOMESTRETCH

GOAL: To align all side pieces of the white face with their keystones of the adjacent faces.

PROCESS:

5. A) Inspect the top face of the cube (white). Align as many side pieces of the white face with the adjacent sides as possible by spinning the top face (U or UI). If all four side pieces align, skip to step 6.

NOTE: At this juncture you will always be able align at least two side pieces of the white cross with the adjacent sides.

5. B) Hold the cube such that one of the aligned side pieces is facing away from you and another to your right. Perform algorithm 6.

5.C) Repeat steps 5.A and 5.B until all white side pieces are aligned with the neighboring keystones.

Algorithm 6:

R - U - RI - U - R - U - U - RI - U

Fig 7. The cube is prepared for algorithm 6.The top layer has been spun to align two sides: red and blue.

If this were your cube, you would hold red in the right hand, and allow blue to face away.

6. Placing the Corners

GOAL: To get all corner pieces of the white face in the correct position, although maybe not in the correct orientation.

PROCESS:

6. A) Locate a corner piece on the white side that is in the correct place, but not necessarily correct orientation.

6. B) Hold the cube such that this piece is in the front right corner of the top face.

6. C) Perform algorithm 7.

6. D) Repeat steps 6A through 6C until all corner pieces have been placed in the correct position (max twice).

NOTE: Correct position means that, for example, the corner piece that is white, green, and red connects these three faces. Orientation means that the correct colors of the corner piece will be on the correct face.

Algorithm 7:

U - R - UI - LI - U -RI - UI - L

Fig 8. The blue, white, orange corner piece is shown in the correct position, but incorrect orientation.

7. Completing the Cube

GOAL: Finish it!

PROCESS:

7. A) Locate a corner piece of the top face that is incorrectly oriented.

7. B) Hold the cube so that the piece is in the front right corner of the top face.

7. C) Repeat algorithm 1 until the piece is in the correct orientation.

7. D) Important: Rotate the top layer (U or UI) until another unsolved piece is in the bottom right corner of the top face.

7. E) Repeat steps 7.A through 7.D until all corners have been oriented correctly.

NOTE: This step may look like a disaster at first. Have faith!

Algorithm 1: RI - DI - R -D

Fig 9. Completed Rubik’s Cube

Congratulations on Solving the Rubik’s Cube!