Rubik's cube solution for beginners, a basic tutorial .......................................................... 1 Introduction..................................................................................................................... 2 The Method..................................................................................................................... 2 Notation........................................................................................................................... 3 Higher Cube Math........................................................................................................... 4 Step 1: the cross .............................................................................................................. 4 Step 2: the top layer ........................................................................................................ 4 Step 3: the middle layer .................................................................................................. 5 Step 4: the Last Layer cross ............................................................................................ 6 Step 5: Rotate (orient) corners ........................................................................................ 6 Step 6: Swap (permute) corners...................................................................................... 7 Step 7: Carrousel (cycle) edges....................................................................................... 7 Step 8: rotate body .......................................................................................................... 8 Algorithms ...................................................................................................................... 8 Cube Lingo...................................................................................................................... 8 Contact ............................................................................................................................ 9 Some interesting links..................................................................................................... 9
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Introduction
So, you own a Rubik's cube. You probably already tried twisting and turning, you had lots of fun, and then you thought: now I am really going to try and solve this thing. No problem, right? Yeah, right. See you in 50 years. Solving a rubiks cube can be a burden. When you are twisting, trying to solve one side, the other side gets messed up. So, here is the solution: I think this is the simplest method described up to now on the internet. Primarily, the cube can be solved in a layer by layer approach using only 4 algorithms. An algorithm is a sequence of moves (a turn of one of the six sides). When you have memorized the four algorithms and the situations in which to perform them, you will be able to solve a rubiks cube within one minute. This is not a joke! (you do need to practice a little and of course you will need a reasonable cube for this). Learning the algorithms is the hardest part, and I encourage you to start learning them one at a time, and to practice every algorithm separately, and thoroughly. Also, try to learn the mirrors: If you know the right hand side, try the same moves on the left hand side. If you can perform the moves starting at the front, try starting at the back. Visualize the moves in your head, you will soon learn what actually happens there. Though there are a lot of equivalent algorithms I chose to use the simplest, most symmetrical ones, that are easiest to learn. The longest algorithm is 10 moves and that one is repetitive, so it is just a matter of doing the same thing a couple of times.
The Method
The YY Method consists of seven steps 1. Make a cross on the top layer 2. Insert the corners to make the top layer complete 3. Insert the middle layer edges 4. Make a cross on the bottom layer 5. Rotate the corners to make the bottom color complete 6. Swap corners to fix the bottom corners 7. Swap (or caroussel) edges to fix the bottom edges In cubespeak this is called a layer by layer, 4 look last layer (LL) method. This means the last four steps all work on the last layer. Speedcubists have methods that solve the last layer in 3, 2 or even 1 step! Michiel van der Blonk Page 2/9 6/14/2007
Notation
The notation used in these lessons is very widespread and accepted. Speedcubers will usually use an extended notation, which also includes movements of two layers at the same time or rotations of the whole cube. The symbols in the standard notation are the first letters from the names of the sides. So we have R - Right L - Left U - Up
D - Down
B - Back
F - Front
A very important aspect of the cube is that the center pieces are fixed. They cannot move. To see why it's best to take you cube apart and put it back together again. If you turn a face 1/4th move then you can take out the edge piece. If you have a new cube you might need a screwdriver for this. Don't worry, you're not going to break it, and it's a good exercise to get to know the cube. Colors, or the side of the cube your looking at are actually not relevant for the effect of an algorithm. Now, 1 move, e.g. R is made as follows: first, look at the R(ight) side of the cube. Then, turn the face your looking at clockwise 1/4. As you can see, if you do that 4 times, the cube will be restored to its original state (scrambled, right?). Additionaly there are three other important symbols, that are used to describe rotations of the complete cube. They are named after the mathematical X, Y and Z axes, and therefor really hard to remember (if your bad at math, that is)... That's why I give you an alternative that is easier to read. X - rotate cube looking at Right face (also [r]) Y - rotate cube looking at Up face (also [u]) Z - rotate cube looking at Front face (also [f]) Michiel van der Blonk Page 3/9 6/14/2007
algorithm to use depends on the position of the sticker (sticker) that you want to go on top. First make sure the cubie is on the down-right-front, and it needs to go to up-rightfront. Now look at the sticker of the down cubie that has the color of your top layer. sticker is on the right R' D' R sticker is on the front F D F' sticker is on the bottom (right down corner) R' D' R D (3 times) The last algorithm means: repeat the algorithm in brackets three times. There are shorter algorithms for this one, but the one chosen here is very easy to remember.
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o All stickers are opposing. Keep the stickers on the left and right faces, then perform R' D' R D' R' D2 R R' D' R D' R' D2 R o The back stickers are pointing the same way, and the front stickers are pointing sideways. This is called hands-and-legs (as you can hopefully imagine). Perform R' D' R D' R' D2 R [u] R' D' R D' R' D2 R
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Algorithms
The list is not complete yet. I am working on it. (F'D')*2F'D(FD)*2 (FD)*2FD'(F'D')*2 (R'D'RD)*3 D'L'FL FDF' FDLD'L'F' FU'RU LD'R'DL'D'RR'D'RD'R'D2R LDL'DLD2L' LDL'DLD2L'y'R'D'RD'R'D2R R'D'R R'D'RD'R'D2R R'D'RD'R'D2RR'D'RD'R'D2R R'D'RD'R'D2RyLDL'DLD2L' R'D'RD'R'D2RyR'D'RD'R'D2R R'D'RD'R'D2RLDL'DLD2L' R'D2'RDR'DRLD2L'D'LD'L' U'RU UL'U'
Cube Lingo
F2L F2L Method LL X Look Move Prime Algorithm Method Piece Michiel van der Blonk First Two Layers a method which does First and Second layer in 1 step Last Layer number of algorithms needed for the last layer, e.g. 4 Look A turn or double turn of one of the six colored sides A counter clock wise move, e.g. R Prime (or R-, R', R-1) predefined sequence of moves combination of algorithms that can be used to solve a cube one of the 20 detachable little cubies Page 8/9 6/14/2007
one of the 12 edges one of the 8 corners one of the six centers flip pieces so they turn 'in-place' orient last layer permute last layer swap or caroussel 2 or more pieces Personal best (time to solve a cube)
Contact
I wish you all good luck. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me: Michiel van der Blonk, email blonkm@gmail.com
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