So is there actually a trick to the Rubik's cube?

[lokiju]

I've been twirling this thing around for months off and on and have never really gotten anywhere close to completion.

Is there some secret method to these?

 

[destrekor]

yep. get all the same color on all sides. that = win!


sry. had to. I have no clue how to do those dammed things!

 

[Snapster]

Yes there is a trick to do it or rather a few specific pattern of turns you have to do to move the colours where you want them.

 

[torpid]

Wikipedia to the rescue? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubik%27s_cube#Solutions

 

[KK]

Yes, there's a trick to it. I found a website a few months ago that showed you the 7 or so steps to complete it. It was kinda cool completing it after just toying around with it for decades. I used to just rip the cube apart and put it back together.

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: KK
Yes, there's a trick to it. I found a website a few months ago that showed you the 7 or so steps to complete it. It was kinda cool completing it after just toying around with it for decades. I used to just rip the cube apart and put it back together.

You can also peel the stickers off and re-apply them.

 

[George P Burdell]

Back in school, I had a friend who peeled off the colored sides and re-applied them.

 

[gwrober]

I hate those f'in things. The solutions/methods look fairly complicated.

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: KK
Yes, there's a trick to it. I found a website a few months ago that showed you the 7 or so steps to complete it. It was kinda cool completing it after just toying around with it for decades. I used to just rip the cube apart and put it back together.

I was guilty of that when I was a kid, but now I want to really complete it!

 

[cubby1223]

I was taught how to get the top face and the top 2 rows of the surrounding faces, but I could never remember the sequences to complete the bottom.

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: Gibsons

Originally posted by: KK
Yes, there's a trick to it. I found a website a few months ago that showed you the 7 or so steps to complete it. It was kinda cool completing it after just toying around with it for decades. I used to just rip the cube apart and put it back together.

You can also peel the stickers off and re-apply them.

done this method before

 

[randumb]

There are a number of algorithms for solving the Rubik's cube. You can google to find discussions on which are the fastest (for a human to perform).

 

[Aikouka]

Yes, you think these people just magically do it?

I've never took the time to learn the "tricks", but my brother did and he's fairly proficient. He also taught me one thing... do not attempt to solve a rubik's cube while drunk. After about 5 seconds he threw up :laugh:.

 

[kt]

The sequence of moves to get the top and top 2 rows on all the sides are rather easy. The most difficult part is to get the bottom row and the bottom. My friend showed me the trick before, but I have long forgotten it.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
Back in school, I had a friend who peeled off the colored sides and re-applied them.

lol, never thought about it but it's not a bad idea

 

[sao123]

How to solve the Rubik?s Cube in 5 EZ to memorize steps fixing 4 cubes at a time.
(I memorized it from James Nourse?s Book, Simple Solution to the Rubik?s Cube)

Preliminary info?
A) T = top face, F = front face, L = left face, R = right face, B = bottom face, P = posterior face (opposite front), C = Center cube, + = clockwise turn, ? = counter clockwise turn, 2 = full half turn (2 + or ? turns)
B) During this procedure I will need to refer to specific cubes, edge cubes will be named with 2 letters and corner cubes will be named with 3 letters.
Examples: FT = front top edge cube, FLT = Front Left Top corner cube
C) Each step will usually consist of 2 sub-steps. Properly position the cube, and properly orient the colors.
D) During this entire procedure, at step 1 you will choose a T & B faces, and they will stay the same throughout the entire duration. At times you will need to rotate the rubik to choose a new F face. Always keep the T & B faces the same or you will fail miserably.

Step 1: Top Edge cubes.
Choose a color you want to solve first. This will forever be the T face. The color opposite your choice will be the B face and will be the last one you solve. During this procedure we will fix the top 4 edge cubes (FT, RT, LT, PT). Observe the FT cube first .

(Without respect to orientation) if the cube is properly positioned in the FT place proceed to step C. Otherwise insert the proper cube into position.
A) Locate the cube which belongs in the FT place.
B) Perform one of the following moves to put it in the proper place.
Move RT to FT: R- F-
Move PT to FT: T+ R- T- F-
Move LT to FT: L+ F+
Move FR to FT: F-
Move PR to FT: R2 F- R2
Move LP to FT: L2 F+ L2
Move FL to FT: F+
Move BF to FT: F2
Move BR to FT: B- F2
Move BP to FT: B2 F2
Move BL to FT: B+ F2
C) If the FT cube colors are properly oriented proceed to step D. Otherwise properly orient the cube:
Orient FT: F- T+ L- T-
D) Rotate the rubik so that the RT cube is now the FT cube.
Repeat until all four top edge cubes are correctly positioned & oriented.

Step 2: Top Corner cubes.
During this procedure we will fix the top 4 corner cubes (FRT, FLT, PLT, PRT).
A) Locate a cube that belongs in a top corner position. If the cube is already properly positioned proceed to step E.
B) If the located cube is on the T face, rotate the rubik so that it is sitting in the FRT position and perform: Move FRT to FLB: R- B- R+
C) Perform B+, B- or B2 to rotate the B face so that the located cube is now adjacently under the top corner position it belongs in. Rotate the rubik again so that the desired position is FRT and the located cube is FRB.
D) Properly position the cube. Move FRB to FRT: R- B- R+
E) If the cube is properly oriented proceed to step F. Otherwise properly orient the cube. Determine if the cube needs to be turned + or -. Perform only 1 of the two following. If you choose incorrectly and the cube is still not oriented correctly, repeat the same sequence you chose again and the cube will be properly oriented.
Orient FRT?: R- B2 R+ F+ B2 F- OR Orient FRT+: F+B2 F- R- B2 R+
F) Repeat until all four corners are properly positioned and oriented.



Step 3: Vertical Edge Cubes.
During this procedure we will fix the 4 vertical edge cubes(FL, FR, PL, PR).
A) Locate a cube that belongs in a vertical edge position. If the cube is already properly positioned proceed to step D.
B) If the located cube is on the B face, proceed to step C. Else rotate the rubik so that the located cube is in the FR position. Perform Move FR to BP: R- B+ R+ B+ F+ B- F-
C) Rotate the B face B+, B- or B2 until the located cube matches an adjacent Vertical C cube. Rotate the rubik so that the 2 colors on the located cube are the F & R faces and the located cube will either be in the BF or BR positions.
If the located cube is BR perform Move BR to FR: B+ F+ B- F- B- R- B+ R+
Or the located cube is BF perform Move BF to FR: B- R- B+ R+ B+ F+ B- F-
D) Rotate the rubik so that the located cube is in the FR position. If the colors are not properly oriented perform Orient FR: R- B+ R+ B+ F+ B- F- B+ R- B+ R+ B+ F+ B- F-
E) Repeat until all 4 vertical edge cubes are properly positioned & oriented.

Step 4: Bottom Corners
During this procedure we will fix the bottom 4 corner cubes (FLB, FRB, LPB, RPB).
A) Rotate the B face B+, B- or B2 until the largest number of B face corner cubes (ignoring the edge cubes) are properly positioned without regard to color orientation. You will always have either 2 or 4 correctly positioned b face corner cubes. If all 4 are correctly positioned proceed to step 4C.
B) Exactly 2 B face corner cubes are correctly positioned. Determine whether the 2 out of place cubes need to be exchanged diagonally or adjacently.
If an adjacent exchange is needed? rotate the rubik so that the cubes are FLB & FRB. Perform Exchange FLB & FRB: R- B- R+ F+ B+ F- R- B+ R+ B2
If a diagonal exchange is needed? rotate the rubik so that the cubes are FLB & PRB. Perform Exchange FLB & PRB: R- B- R+ F+ B2 F- R- B+ R+ B+
C) The 4 bottom corner cubes are correctly positioned. If they are all correctly oriented proceed to step 5. Otherwise match it to one of the patterns below.

__(o)(o)(x)__ ? F face
(o)[x][o][o](o)
(o)[o][x][o](o)
(o)[o][o][o](x)
__(x)(o)(o)__ ? P face

__(o)(o)(o)__ ? F face
(o)[x][o][o](x)
(o)[o][x][o](o)
(x)[o][o][o](o)
__(o)(o)(x)__ ? P face

__(o)(o)(o)__ ? F face
(x)[o][o][o](x)
(o)[o][x][o](o)
(o)[o][o][o](o)
__(x)(o)(x)__ ? P face

__(x)(o)(o)__ ? F face
(o)[o][o][x](o)
(o)[o][x][o](o)
(o)[o][o][x](o)
__(x)(o)(o)__ ? P face


__(x)(o)(x)__ ? F face
(o)[o][o][o](o)
(o)[o][x][o](o)
(o)[x][o][x](o)
__(o)(o)(o)__ ? P face

__(x)(o)(o)__ ? F face
(o)[o][o][x](o)
(o)[o][x][o](o)
(o)[x][o][o](x)
__(o)(o)(o)__ ? P face

__(o)(o)(o)__ ? F face
(x)[o][o][o](x)
(o)[o][x][o](o)
(x)[o][o][o](x)
__(o)(o)(o)__ ? P face

Now rotate the rubik so that the top line of the picture is the F face, and the bottom of the picture is the P face. Now perform Orient Bottom Corners: R- B- R+ B- R- B2 R+ B2. You may have to repeat this entire step 2 more times until all the bottom corner cubes are properly oriented.

Step 5: The Bottom Edge Cubes
During this procedure we will fix the bottom 4 edge cubes (FB, RB, LB, PB) thereby completing the cube.
At this point in time either 0,1, or 4 of the edge cubes are correctly positioned(not paying attention to orientation). If there are 0 correctly positioned go to step A, if there is 1 correctly positioned go to step B, and if all 4 are correctly positioned go to step C.
A) Perform L- R+ F+ L+ R- B2 L- R+ F+ L+ R-
B) Rotate the rubik so that the correctly positioned cube is in the FB position and perform
L- R+ F+ L+ R- B2 L- R+ F+ L+ R- If all 4 cubes are still not correctly positioned, repeat step B one more time and all 4 cubes will be correctly oriented.
C) If the cube is not completed, match the B face with one of the patterns below and follow the instructions that follow it.

__(o)(x)(o)__ ? F face
(o)[x][o][x](o)
(x)[o][x][o](x)
(o)[x][o][x](o)
__(o)(x)(o)__ ? P face
Perform L- R+ F2 L+ R- B2 L- R+ F+ L+ R- B2 L- R+ F2 L+ R- B- and you are done.

__(o)(x)(o)__ ? F face
(o)[x][o][x](o)
(o)[x][x][x](o)
(o)[x][o][x](o)
__(o)(x)(o)__ ? P face
Perform L- R+ F+ L+ R- B+ L- R+ F+ L+ R- B+ L- R+ F2 L+ R- B+ L- R+ F+ L+ R- B+ L- R+ F+ L+ R- B2 and you are done.

__(o)(o)(o)__ ? F face
(o)[x][x][x](o)
(x)[o][x][x](o)
(o)[x][o][x](o)
__(o)(x)(o)__ ? P face
Perform L- R+ F+ L+ R- B- L- R+ F- L+ R- B- L- R+ F2 L+ R- then repeat step B and you are done.

 

[randumb]

Originally posted by: George P Burdell
Back in school, I had a friend who peeled off the colored sides and re-applied them.

It's faster to just disassemble the blocks and reassemble them.

 

[torpid]

They came out with a puzzle called the rubik's clock or something like that. It had 9 clocks with buttons on each and some dials on the edges. The goal was to sync the clocks up. I actually figured out a pattern to solve that one in the car waiting for my brother to finish at the library when I was a kid. It seemed to impress the toy store guy. That was clearly infinitely easier than a rubik's cube based on the instructions above, because it was a fairly simple solution that I wrote down on one piece of paper with diagrams and bad hand writing.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

rent Pursuit of Happyness and watch the Rubik's cube extra on the DVD. Amazing freaks!

*edit*

here's the Youtube video

 

[lokiju]

Originally posted by: sao123
How to solve the Rubik?s Cube in 5 EZ to memorize steps fixing 4 cubes at a time.
(I memorized it from James Nourse?s Book, Simple Solution to the Rubik?s Cube)

Preliminary info?
A) T = top face, F = front face, L = left face, R = right face, B = bottom face, P = posterior face (opposite front), C = Center cube, + = clockwise turn, ? = counter clockwise turn, 2 = full half turn (2 + or ? turns)
B) During this procedure I will need to refer to specific cubes, edge cubes will be named with 2 letters and corner cubes will be named with 3 letters.
Examples: FT = front top edge cube, FLT = Front Left Top corner cube
C) Each step will usually consist of 2 sub-steps. Properly position the cube, and properly orient the colors.
D) During this entire procedure, at step 1 you will choose a T & B faces, and they will stay the same throughout the entire duration. At times you will need to rotate the rubik to choose a new F face. Always keep the T & B faces the same or you will fail miserably.

Step 1: Top Edge cubes.
Choose a color you want to solve first. This will forever be the T face. The color opposite your choice will be the B face and will be the last one you solve. During this procedure we will fix the top 4 edge cubes (FT, RT, LT, PT). Observe the FT cube first .

(Without respect to orientation) if the cube is properly positioned in the FT place proceed to step C. Otherwise insert the proper cube into position.
A) Locate the cube which belongs in the FT place.
B) Perform one of the following moves to put it in the proper place.
Move RT to FT: R- F-
Move PT to FT: T+ R- T- F-
Move LT to FT: L+ F+
Move FR to FT: F-
Move PR to FT: R2 F- R2
Move LP to FT: L2 F+ L2
Move FL to FT: F+
Move BF to FT: F2
Move BR to FT: B- F2
Move BP to FT: B2 F2
Move BL to FT: B+ F2
C) If the FT cube colors are properly oriented proceed to step D. Otherwise properly orient the cube:
Orient FT: F- T+ L- T-
D) Rotate the rubik so that the RT cube is now the FT cube.
Repeat until all four top edge cubes are correctly positioned & oriented.

Step 2: Top Corner cubes.
During this procedure we will fix the top 4 corner cubes (FRT, FLT, PLT, PRT).
A) Locate a cube that belongs in a top corner position. If the cube is already properly positioned proceed to step E.
B) If the located cube is on the T face, rotate the rubik so that it is sitting in the FRT position and perform: Move FRT to FLB: R- B- R+
C) Perform B+, B- or B2 to rotate the B face so that the located cube is now adjacently under the top corner position it belongs in. Rotate the rubik again so that the desired position is FRT and the located cube is FRB.
D) Properly position the cube. Move FRB to FRT: R- B- R+
E) If the cube is properly oriented proceed to step F. Otherwise properly orient the cube. Determine if the cube needs to be turned + or -. Perform only 1 of the two following. If you choose incorrectly and the cube is still not oriented correctly, repeat the same sequence you chose again and the cube will be properly oriented.
Orient FRT?: R- B2 R+ F+ B2 F- OR Orient FRT+: F+B2 F- R- B2 R+
F) Repeat until all four corners are properly positioned and oriented.



Step 3: Vertical Edge Cubes.
During this procedure we will fix the 4 vertical edge cubes(FL, FR, PL, PR).
A) Locate a cube that belongs in a vertical edge position. If the cube is already properly positioned proceed to step D.
B) If the located cube is on the B face, proceed to step C. Else rotate the rubik so that the located cube is in the FR position. Perform Move FR to BP: R- B+ R+ B+ F+ B- F-
C) Rotate the B face B+, B- or B2 until the located cube matches an adjacent Vertical C cube. Rotate the rubik so that the 2 colors on the located cube are the F & R faces and the located cube will either be in the BF or BR positions.
If the located cube is BR perform Move BR to FR: B+ F+ B- F- B- R- B+ R+
Or the located cube is BF perform Move BF to FR: B- R- B+ R+ B+ F+ B- F-
D) Rotate the rubik so that the located cube is in the FR position. If the colors are not properly oriented perform Orient FR: R- B+ R+ B+ F+ B- F- B+ R- B+ R+ B+ F+ B- F-
E) Repeat until all 4 vertical edge cubes are properly positioned & oriented.

Step 4: Bottom Corners
During this procedure we will fix the bottom 4 corner cubes (FLB, FRB, LPB, RPB).
A) Rotate the B face B+, B- or B2 until the largest number of B face corner cubes (ignoring the edge cubes) are properly positioned without regard to color orientation. You will always have either 2 or 4 correctly positioned b face corner cubes. If all 4 are correctly positioned proceed to step 4C.
B) Exactly 2 B face corner cubes are correctly positioned. Determine whether the 2 out of place cubes need to be exchanged diagonally or adjacently.
If an adjacent exchange is needed? rotate the rubik so that the cubes are FLB & FRB. Perform Exchange FLB & FRB: R- B- R+ F+ B+ F- R- B+ R+ B2
If a diagonal exchange is needed? rotate the rubik so that the cubes are FLB & PRB. Perform Exchange FLB & PRB: R- B- R+ F+ B2 F- R- B+ R+ B+
C) The 4 bottom corner cubes are correctly positioned. If they are all correctly oriented proceed to step 5. Otherwise match it to one of the patterns below.

__(o)(o)(x)__ ? F face
(o)[x][o][o](o)
(o)[o][x][o](o)
(o)[o][o][o](x)
__(x)(o)(o)__ ? P face

__(o)(o)(o)__ ? F face
(o)[x][o][o](x)
(o)[o][x][o](o)
(x)[o][o][o](o)
__(o)(o)(x)__ ? P face

__(o)(o)(o)__ ? F face
(x)[o][o][o](x)
(o)[o][x][o](o)
(o)[o][o][o](o)
__(x)(o)(x)__ ? P face

__(x)(o)(o)__ ? F face
(o)[o][o][x](o)
(o)[o][x][o](o)
(o)[o][o][x](o)
__(x)(o)(o)__ ? P face


__(x)(o)(x)__ ? F face
(o)[o][o][o](o)
(o)[o][x][o](o)
(o)[x][o][x](o)
__(o)(o)(o)__ ? P face

__(x)(o)(o)__ ? F face
(o)[o][o][x](o)
(o)[o][x][o](o)
(o)[x][o][o](x)
__(o)(o)(o)__ ? P face

__(o)(o)(o)__ ? F face
(x)[o][o][o](x)
(o)[o][x][o](o)
(x)[o][o][o](x)
__(o)(o)(o)__ ? P face

Now rotate the rubik so that the top line of the picture is the F face, and the bottom of the picture is the P face. Now perform Orient Bottom Corners: R- B- R+ B- R- B2 R+ B2. You may have to repeat this entire step 2 more times until all the bottom corner cubes are properly oriented.

Step 5: The Bottom Edge Cubes
During this procedure we will fix the bottom 4 edge cubes (FB, RB, LB, PB) thereby completing the cube.
At this point in time either 0,1, or 4 of the edge cubes are correctly positioned(not paying attention to orientation). If there are 0 correctly positioned go to step A, if there is 1 correctly positioned go to step B, and if all 4 are correctly positioned go to step C.
A) Perform L- R+ F+ L+ R- B2 L- R+ F+ L+ R-
B) Rotate the rubik so that the correctly positioned cube is in the FB position and perform
L- R+ F+ L+ R- B2 L- R+ F+ L+ R- If all 4 cubes are still not correctly positioned, repeat step B one more time and all 4 cubes will be correctly oriented.
C) If the cube is not completed, match the B face with one of the patterns below and follow the instructions that follow it.

__(o)(x)(o)__ ? F face
(o)[x][o][x](o)
(x)[o][x][o](x)
(o)[x][o][x](o)
__(o)(x)(o)__ ? P face
Perform L- R+ F2 L+ R- B2 L- R+ F+ L+ R- B2 L- R+ F2 L+ R- B- and you are done.

__(o)(x)(o)__ ? F face
(o)[x][o][x](o)
(o)[x][x][x](o)
(o)[x][o][x](o)
__(o)(x)(o)__ ? P face
Perform L- R+ F+ L+ R- B+ L- R+ F+ L+ R- B+ L- R+ F2 L+ R- B+ L- R+ F+ L+ R- B+ L- R+ F+ L+ R- B2 and you are done.

__(o)(o)(o)__ ? F face
(o)[x][x][x](o)
(x)[o][x][x](o)
(o)[x][o][x](o)
__(o)(x)(o)__ ? P face
Perform L- R+ F+ L+ R- B- L- R+ F- L+ R- B- L- R+ F2 L+ R- then repeat step B and you are done.

I think I went cross eye'd just trying to understand all that!