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1974 Rubik. Rubik and Rubik's aretrademarks of Seven Towns ltd., usedunder license. All rights reserved.

Solution Hints booklet

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The Professors CubeSolution Hints Booklet

The Greatest Challenge 2

Meet Your Professors Cube 3

Twisting Hints 5

General Hints 8

Notation System 12

Professors Cube Sequences 19

Solving the Professors Cube 32

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Professors Cube - The GreatestChallenge

The Professors Cube is the great big brother of the bestselling, original Rubiks Cube and RUBIKS Revenge.

The Professors Cube presents a fascinating problem.You must mix up the puzzle with a few twists and turnsand then try to match up the pieces until each face is asingle colour. However, you are advised to read the rstfew sections of this booklet rst.

Try to solve the puzzle logically, but beware. TheProfessors Cube has the charm of the original Cube,the devilry of RUBIKS Revenge, and then some newsurprises of its own.

With 6,198,327,054,929 times 1080 differentcombinations, the Professors Cube is the greatest

challenge of all.

Meet Your Professors Cube

RUBIKS Professors Cube has 6 faces. Each facewill be a single solid colour when the puzzle is

solved.

The puzzle has 15 different layers and each canbe turned independently of the others.

TOP

FRONT RIGH

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LeftL

ayer

Mid-L

eftLa

yer

Right

Mid-R

ightL

ayer

Verti

calL

ayer

TopLa

yerMid-T

opLayerBottomLayer

Mid-BottomLayer

H

orizontalLayer

BackLayer

Mid-BackLayer

Mid-FrontLayer

FrontLayer

LateralLayer

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Meet Your Professors Cube

The Professors Cube is made of 98 smaller cube pieces.There are 54 Face Pieces. These have just a single

colour and there are three different types: Centre Face(6); Inner Edge Face (24), and Inner Corner Face(24).

Twisting Hints

There are two kinds of twist that can be given to anylayer: a quarter twist and a half twist.

A quarter twist rotates one layer of the puzzle 90clockwise or anticlockwise. A half twist rotates onelayer 180. (Twisting a layer through three quarters isthe same as twisting it one in the opposite direction.)

36 have two colours, of which 24 are Edge Pieces and12 are Centre Edge Pieces. 8 have three colours - theseare Corner Pieces.

When the puzzle is solved, Yellow is always oppositeWhite; Blue is opposite Green, and Red is oppositeOrange. Also, when the Yellow face is on top and Blue

is to the front, Red is on the right.

CornerPiece

Inner EdgeFace Piece

FRONT RIGH

T

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Twisting Hints

Think of the orientation. For example, moving the backright corner piece with a half twist will put it diagonally

opposite and upside down.

Twisting Hints

Whenever you make some moves, performing thembackwards and in reverse order will return the puzzle to

its original position.

Now try these exercises. In each, remember what layersyou have moved and watch carefully to see how thepieces move.Try a quarter twist of one layer, then a quarter twistof another that is at right angles to the rst. Now

do those two moves backwards to reassemble theProfessors Cube.

Next, try rotating 3 different layers, and then puttingthem back. Getting tricky, but if you managed it, try ita few times. Now try it with 4 moves. If you manageto reverse 4 moves, go for broke. Mess the puzzle upby making as many moves as you want. Now try solvingit. There are some General Hints in the next section toguide you.

If the same piece were instead moved by two quartertwists of two different layers, it would end in the sameposition but in a different orientation.

TOP

FRONTRIGHT Right Layer:Half twist

Bottom Layer:Quarter twistanticlockwise

Front Layer:Quarter twistanticlockwise

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General Hints

If you havent jumbled your Professors Cube up, now isthe time to start.

Then, try to solve the puzzle logically.

As in Rubiks Cube, the centre face pieces determine

General Hints

Now that you can see which pieces must go where, tryto build up on your chosen corner piece. You can do

this in several ways. For example:

Layer by Layer:

which face is which colour. So they will determine whichcorner pieces go where. It is best to start from a cornerpiece.

Move a corner piece to the top layer so that it matchesthe colours of the adjacent centre face pieces, as here.

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T

NB - Each type of piececan only move to a similarposition, ie a centre edgepiece can only ever moveto a centre edge position.

Step 1 Step 2

Step 5Steps 3 & 4

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General Hints

Corners, Edges, then Faces:

General Hints

Whichever approach you use, youll need differentsequences: some that only affect inner corner face

pieces; some that affect edge pieces; and so on.

Experiment with different sequences of twists to ndout what they do. Try to nd some that move piecesyou have already positioned to one side and then putthem back in place. You will often nd that otherpieces yet to be placed have either moved about orbeen reorientated. You should make a note of any

effects that look useful so that you can repeat them toachieve a desired result.

To do this youll need a system to record the moves andeffects. Also, you will need to put numbered stickersonto your puzzle to differentiate between identicalpieces. (This makes it easier to see what has movedwhere.) A system for recording your sequences is givenin the next section.

Step 1 Step 2

Step 3

Some methods will prove more difcult than others,so try different ways. (There is one that avoids theproblems the others may encounter.)

Step 4

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Notation System

The layers of Rubiks Professors Cube are as labelledhere.

The front face is the one that is facing you whenyou start the sequence. Keep that face towards youthroughout the sequence.

Notation System

Remember to look for sequences that do not disturbpieces already positioned: those pieces should end up

where they started. Only record sequences that do this.

Movement of a layer is recorded by the layers nameand an arrow. The arrow gives the direction that thefront or top edge of that layer is moved one quarterturn. Thus, for example:

Notation Indicates:

Front Front layer one quarter twist to left.Back Back layer one quarter twist to right.Top Top layer one quarter twist to left.Bottom Bottom layer one quarter twist to left.Left Left layer one quarter twist down.Right Right layer one quarter twist up.Mid-Left Mid-Left layer one quarter twist down.Mid-Back Mid-Back layer one quarter twist to left.

Lateral Lateral layer one quarter twist to right.

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BackL

ayerLeftL

ayer

Mid-Left

Laye

rRig

ht

TopLayerMid-TopLayerBottomLayer

Mid-

BackLayer

Mid-BottomLayer

Mid-R

ightL

ayer

Mid-FrontLayer

TOP

FRONT RIGH

T

Verti

calLay

er

HorizontalLayer

FrontLayer

LateralLayer

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Notation System

To note the start and nish positions, so that you cansee what has happened after a sequence of moves, copy

and use the diagrams below.

This is the one used in this booklet. It represents theview of the bottom face (and a false perspective of thesides) you would have if you tilt the puzzle away fromyou.

Start Position End Position

SEQUENCE:

Notation System

Remember, the direction relates to the visible edge ofthat layer at the top or front.

With a half-twist, direction is irrelevant, so this isshown by replacing the arrow with a 2. So, Front2means that the front layer is rotated a half-twist.

You may want to twist two layers together. This shouldbe recorded as, say:

Horizontal+Mid-Bottom

You may nd it tricky to twist a mid-layer on its own.Its easier to twist it with the adjacent face layer andthen turn the face layer back.

There is a reason for the way the puzzle is viewed. Thisenables you to see how the pieces already positionedare moved out of the way and where they go to. If youcan see this clearly, you will nd it much easier toremember the sequence.

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Notation System

Just record the effect that is relevant. For example,suppose you nd a sequence that moves one edge piece

from the bottom layer to the mid-top layer while leavingthe pieces in the top layer and the other edge pieces inthe mid-top layer unchanged. This is the only importanteffect. You do not need to note what happens to theother pieces on the bottom, mid-bottom or horizontallayers. All you need to know is the start position of thepiece that ended in the mid-top layer.

For example, your start and end position should simplybe noted as here (along with your sequence of moves).

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(Asterisked pieces remain unmoved.)

Notation System

For each sequence that you nd, there will also be aReverse, a Mirror, and a Reverse Mirror.

Suppose you have found a sequence that reads:

Mid-Left ; Bottom ; Mid-Left ; Bottom2;Mid-Left ; Bottom ; Mid-Left .

The Reverse is the sequence in reverse order with thedirection of arrows also reversed, as here:

Mid-Left ; Bottom ; MId-Left ; Bottom2;Mid-Left ; Bottom ; Mid-Left .

The start position of the Reverse is the end positionof the original sequence, and the Reverse ends withthe start position of the original. So, if you performa sequence and then wish to put the puzzle back asit was, simply do the Reverse of the one you did torestore the original position.

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Whenever you nd a useful sequence, make sure you alsorecord these other versions. If you have trouble ndingyour own sequences, some useful ones are given in thenext section.

Professors Cube Sequences

This section contains some general sequences that canhandle a variety of situations. (There are other more

specic sequences for you to nd.)

The system of notation is as described in the previoussection.

The start and end positions show the bottom face.(That is, the view you would have if you tilt thepuzzle away from you.) Start and end positions for

the Reverse and Mirror versions have been omitted forreasons of space.

Always hold the puzzle so that the piece you wish tomove is in the appropriate start position.

Asterisked pieces remain unmoved as do all the otherpieces of the puzzle.

End PositionStart Position

Notation System

A mirror sequence is a left-right reection of theoriginal. This swaps any left and right layers and

reverses all arrows pointing left or right. Arrowspointing up or down remain the same. The Mirror of theprevious sequence is:

Mid-Right ; Bottom ; Mid-Right ; Bottom2;Mid-Right ; Bottom ; Mid-Right .

Start and end positions are reections of those for theoriginal sequence. For example, the diagrams here are

the reections of those on page 16.

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Three-Corner ShuttleThis shuttles a triangle of corner pieces one place

clockwise around the bottom layer.

Left ; Bottom ; Left ; Front ; Bottom ; Front ;Left ; Bottom ; Left ; Bottom .

ReverseBottom ; Left ; Bottom ; Left ; Front ;Bottom ; Front ; Left ; Bottom ; Left .

MirrorRight ; Bottom ; Right ; Front ; Bottom ;

Front ; Right ; Bottom ; Right ; Bottom .Reverse Mirror

Bottom ; Right ; Bottom ; Right ; Front ;Bottom ; Front ; Right ; Bottom ; Right .


Three-Corner FlipperThis ips three corner pieces on the bottom layer

without changing their position.

Right ; Bottom ; Right ; Bottom ; Right ;Bottom2 ; Right ; Bottom2.

ReverseBottom2; Right ; Bottom2; Right ; Bottom ;

Right ; Bottom ; Right .

MirrorLeft ; Bottom ; Left ; Bottom ; Left ;

Bottom2; Left ; Bottom2.Reverse Mirror

Bottom2; Left ; Bottom2; Left ; Bottom ;Left ; Bottom ; Left .


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Centre Edge Shuttle 2This shuttles three centre edge pieces around a face

and ips two of them.

Back ; Lateral ; Bottom ; Back ; Bottom ;Lateral ; Bottom ; Back ; Bottom ; Back .


Centre Edge Shuttle 1This shuttles three centre edge pieces around a face and

ips two of them.

Vertical ; Bottom ; Vertical ; Bottom2;Vertical ; Bottom ; Vertical .

Mirror & ReverseThe Mirror and Reverse of this are the same.

Vertical ; Bottom ; Vertical ; Bottom2;Vertical ; Bottom ; Vertical .

Start Position End Position Start Position End Position

ReverseBack ; Bottom ; Back ; Bottom ; Lateral ;Bottom ; Back ; Bottom ; Lateral ; Back .

Mirror

Back ; Lateral ; Bottom ; Back ; Bottom ;

Lateral ; Bottom ; Back ; Bottom ; Back .Mirror Reverse

Back ; Bottom ; Back ; Bottom ; Lateral ;Bottom ; Back ; Bottom ; Lateral ; Back .

The two Centre Edge Shuttles can also be used to

move a centre edge piece from the bottom layer to thehorizontal layer. To do this, a face or two must rst betwisted (and reversed at the end of the sequence). TheCentre Edge Lifter on page 24 is an example of this.

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Centre Edge LifterThis shuttles three centre edge pieces, lifting one from

the bottom layer into the horizontal layer.

Front ; Left ; Vertical ; Bottom ; Left ; Bottom ;Vertical ; Bottom ; Left ; Bottom ; Left ; Front .

ReverseFront ; Left ; Bottom ; Left ; Bottom ; Vertical ;Bottom ; Left ; Bottom ; Vertical ; Left ; Front .

MirrorFront ; Right ; Vertical ; Bottom ; Right ; Bottom ;

Vertical ;Bottom ; Right ; Bottom ;Right ; Front .Mirror ReverseFront ; Right ; Bottom ; Right ; Bottom ; Vertical ;Bottom ; Right ; Bottom ; Vertical ; Left ; Front .



High-Edge ShuttleBy shuttling a triangle of edge pieces clockwise around

the front layer, this moves an edge piece from thebottom layer into the mid-top layer.

Left ; Bottom ; Left ; Mid-Top ;Left ; Bottom ; Left ; Mid-Top .

ReverseMid-Top ; Left ; Bottom ; Left ;Mid-Top ; Left ; Bottom ; Left .

MirrorRight ; Bottom ; Right ; Mid-Top ;

Right ; Bottom ; Right ; Mid-Top .Reverse Mirror

Mid-Top ; Right ; Bottom ; Right ;Mid-Top ; Right ; Bottom ; Right .


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Low-Edge ShuttleThis shuttles a triangle of edge pieces clockwise around

the front layer, moving an edge piece from the bottomlayer to the mid-bottom layer.

Left ; Bottom ; Left ; Mid-Bottom ;Left ; Bottom ; Left ; Mid-Bottom .

ReverseMid-Bottom ; Left ; Bottom ; Left ;Mid-Bottom ; Left ; Bottom ; Left .

MirrorRight ; Bottom ; Right ; Mid-Bottom ;

Right ; Bottom ; Right ; Mid-Bottom .Reverse Mirror

Mid-Bottom ; Right ; Bottom ; Right ;Mid-Bottom ; Right ; Bottom ; Right .

Professors Cube SequencesInner Corner Face LifterThis shuttles three inner corner face pieces, lifting onefrom the bottom face to the front face.

Mid-Left ; Mid-Right ; Bottom ; Mid-Right ;Bottom ; Mid-Left ; Bottom ; Mid-Right ;

Bottom ; Mid-Right .

ReverseMid-Right ; Bottom ; Mid-Right ; Bottom ;Mid-Left ; Bottom ; Mid-Right ; Bottom ;

Mid-Left ; Mid-Right .

MirrorMid-Left ; Mid-Right ; Bottom ; Mid-Left ;Bottom ; Mid-Right ; Bottom ; Mid-Left ;

Bottom ; Mid-Left .Reverse Mirror

Mid-Left ; Bottom ; Mid-Left ; Bottom ;Mid-Right ; Bottom ; Mid-Left ; Bottom ;

Mid-Left ; Mid-Right .



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Inner Edge Face LifterThis swaps two pairs of inner edge face pieces, lifting

one from the bottom face into the front face.

Mid-Left ; Mid-Right2; Top ;Vertical 2; Mid-Front 2; Vertical 2; Mid-Front 2;

Top ; Mid-Right 2; Mid-Left .

MirrorMid-Right ; Mid-Left2; Top ;

Vertical 2; Mid-Front 2; Vertical 2; Mid-Front 2;

Top ; Mid-Right 2; Mid-Left .

Each of these two sequences reverses itself.


Mid-SwapperThis swaps two edge pieces between the front mid-top

and mid-bottom layers.

Front2; Mid-Bottom ; Front2; Mid-Bottom2;Front2; Mid-Bottom ; Front2.

MirrorFront2; Mid-Bottom ; Front2; Mid-Bottom2;

Front2; Mid-Bottom ; Front2.

In both cases the reverse is the same as the sequence.

StartPosition

EndPosition


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Mid-ShuttleThis shuttles a triangle of edge pieces clockwise around

the mid-bottom layer.

Back ; Bottom2 ; Left ; Bottom ; Left ;Mid-Bottom ; Left ; Bottom ; Left ;

Mid-Bottom ; Bottom2 ; Back .

StartPosition

EndPosition

ReverseBack ; Bottom2 ; Mid-Bottom ; Left ;

Bottom ; Left ; Mid-Bottom ; Left ; Bottom ;Left ; Bottom2 ; Back .


MirrorBack ; Bottom2 ; Right ; Bottom ; Right ;

Mid-Bottom ; Right ; Bottom ; Right ;Mid-Bottom ; Bottom2 ; Back .

Reverse MirrorBack ; Bottom2 ; Mid-Bottom ; Right ;

Bottom ; Right ; Mid-Bottom ; Right ;Bottom ; Right ; Bottom2 ; Back .

With this sequence, as with any that shuttles threepieces, performing it twice is the same as doing theReverse once.

You should try and solve the puzzle for yourself usingthe sequences provided. They are all you need - plus alittle imagination.

If you are still having trouble, a full solution guide isgiven in the next section.

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Solving the Professors Cube

Once you start twisting, its easy to get the ProfessorsCube completely muddled. Dont worry - it can always be

put right from any state. The following steps will helpyou solve the puzzle.

32 33

1. Select any face as your topface. Then move one cornerpiece into position so that itmatches the centre pieces ofthe adjacent faces as in the

diagram.

2. Find a second piece thats aside-by-side match and twistit into place.

NB - Of two identically coloured edge pieces, only onecan be placed in a particular position with the colourscorrectly orientated.

TOP

FRONT RIGH

T


3. Position all edge andcorner pieces of the top

face. If you have trouble,use the sequences.(Shuttles can all be usedif you turn the puzzle sothat your top face becomesthe relevant face in thesequence diagrams.)

4. Position the face piecesof the top layer. FaceLifter sequences may beused.

NB - When using Lifters, you may rst need to twistfaces to align the pieces to be moved. Note these soyou can reverse them after.

TOP

FRONT RIGH

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TOP

FRONT RIGH

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5. Next, and most importantly, position the remainingcorners and centre edge pieces.

6. Start by using the Three-Corner Shuttle to correctly

position the corner pieces. If two seem to becorrectly placed, turn the layer so one of the othertwo is correctly placed. The Three-Corner Shuttlewill then position the other three. If the two thatneed to be swapped are diagonally opposite, you willneed to use the Three-Corner Shuttle twice.

7. Once the cornerpieces are in the rightpositions, use theThree-Corner Flipper toorientate them correctly.


8. Next use the CentreEdge Lifter to correctly

position and orientate thecentre edge pieces in thehorizontal layer. Then useCentre Edge Shuttles toposition and orientate thecentre edge pieces of thebottom face.

9. Use the Low-Edge and/orHigh-Edge Shuttles todrop the edge pieces intotheir correct positions onthe bottom face. If a pieceyou want is already in thebottom face, use one of

the shuttles to remove it.

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FRONT RIGH

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TOP

FRONT RIGH

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TOP

FRONT RIGH

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Solving The Professors Cube

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Solving The Professors Cube

12. Finally, complete theremaining centre facesby using the Inner EdgeLifter and Inner CornerLifter.

10.Use the Mid-Swapper tocorrectly position the edgepieces of the mid-toplayer. If a piece you wantis already in that layer, usethe Swapper to remove it.)

11. Turn the mid-bottom layer

so that only one edge pieceis correctly positioned.Then use the Mid-Shuttleto correctly position andorientate the other three.If two diagonally oppositeedge pieces need to beswapped, you will need to

use the Shuttle twice.

Once youve mastered thepuzzle, try solving it layerby layer from the top down.Theres a fty-fty chanceyoull either solve it or reachthe position shown here. Fromthis, see if you can nd theshortest sequence to solve thepuzzle.

There are also a variety ofpatterns that can be made.The challenge is far from over.

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TOP

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