Rubik's Cube

[fustercluck]

I can solve the first 2 layers of any Rubik's cube. Been following a guide for the past few months in my 'bored' time. The problem is, the guide gets pretty ridiculous at the end. It's probably the same for all Rubik's cube guides.

It's hard enough to remember all the algorithms just to solve the first two layers, I can't remember all this as well:

Step Seven: Yellows To The Top

You'll have one of three scenarios. Each requires a different start position for the move. Put the yellow face on the top and take a look.

The Fish:
If you have a cross with only one yellow corner sticker, you have "The Fish". If this is the case, take the yellow corner sticker (the head of The Fish) and face it toward your left shoulder before performing this algorithm:

R U R' U R U2 R'

Two Yellows On The Side:
If you don't have The Fish, but see two yellow corner stickers on one face (other than the yellow face), face those two yellow stickers toward you, before you perform the same algorithm.

One Yellow On The Side:
If you don't have The Fish, or two yellow corner stickers on one face (other than the yellow face), take any side with a yellow sticker and face it toward you, before you perform the same algorithm.

If after these moves you still get The Fish, the Two Yellows On The Side scenario or the One Yellow On The Side scenario, do the algorithm for the scenario you get, as listed above, until you get a all the yellows to the top.

Step Eight: Corners

Having the corners solved means having all the corners of the cube line up with the same color on each layer. At this point, you'll have either two corners or four corners solved. It might look like you have only one corner solved, but if you twist the unsolved layer, you'll see you either have two or four. If you have four, go to the next step.

If you have only two corners solved, put the yellow layer on the top, and place the solved corners on the left. Then perform this algorithm:

R U2 R' U' R U2 L' U R' U' L

Now you have all four corners solved.

Step Nine: Edges

You'll have three or four unsolved edges; usually you'll have three. If you have four, start the algorithm yellow on the top, with any other side facing you. If you have three, place the middle unsolved edge piece toward you before you begin this algorithm:

F2 U L R' F2 L' R U F2

How am I supposed to remember that shit. By the way, some of those are counter clockwise (L is clockwise and L' is counter).

Gotta be an easier way to solve the third layer...eh? I want to be able to solve the cube using just my brain, and my brain can't remember all those different algorithms. I'm surprised I can remember all the algorithms to solve the first two layers, and complete the yellow cross.

Help me

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Trust me, you get it after a while. I had the list printed out for the steps at first (all the formulas). I could only learn to solve the first 2 layers, and the rest had to be done by looking up the formulas.

Well, I just played around. I had the cube in my hand while I read for my classes, and gradually I grew faster. When I first learned the cube in HS, my time was 5-6 minutes. I re-learned recently and now I'm down to 2 min still using the layer method.

You just gotta play around. I try to scramble/solve everytime I go to class and I have 10 min before it starts. Then sometimes I just have the cube in my hand as I practice algorithms.

After a certain point, you just kinda see it. I can't even regurgitate the algorithm if you wanted me to. I just kinda see the cube and my fingers get to work because at a certain point your eyes and brain work fast enough to see exactly what you're doing, and you see that square moving to the proper location. Your fingers will get so used to it that the only thing you might need to remind yourself is the first move. The rest is just instinctive.

Edit: http://youtube.com/watch?v=HsQIoPyfQzM That video is awesome. Go for part 2 since you're already on the last layer.

Edit2: Damn you. It's finals season and you made me bust out my cube.

 

[fustercluck]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Trust me, you get it after a while. I had the list printed out for the steps at first (all the formulas). I could only learn to solve the first 2 layers, and the rest had to be done by looking up the formulas.

Well, I just played around. I had the cube in my hand while I read for my classes, and gradually I grew faster. When I first learned the cube in HS, my time was 5-6 minutes. I re-learned recently and now I'm down to 2 min still using the layer method.

You just gotta play around. I try to scramble/solve everytime I go to class and I have 10 min before it starts. Then sometimes I just have the cube in my hand as I practice algorithms.

After a certain point, you just kinda see it. I can't even regurgitate the algorithm if you wanted me to. I just kinda see the cube and my fingers get to work because at a certain point your eyes and brain work fast enough to see exactly what you're doing, and you see that square moving to the proper location. Your fingers will get so used to it that the only thing you might need to remind yourself is the first move. The rest is just instinctive.

Edit: http://youtube.com/watch?v=HsQIoPyfQzM That video is awesome. Go for part 2 since you're already on the last layer.

Edit2: Damn you. It's finals season and you made me bust out my cube.

Heheh, sorry. And thanks for the info. That youtube video looks like it might have easier to remember algorithms. Just gotta teach my brain to do the patterns and not worry so much about remembering all the algorithms i guess.

 

[blackdogdeek]

my friend showed me a single algorithm that works for all situations.

it's hard to explain but it begins with the hypothesis that all "moves" can be accomplished as such (let's assume for this example that we are considering only 1 side of the cube and the squares are numbered 1-9 starting in the upper left and moving to the right and then down to the next row starting from the left):

1. do whatever you need to do to swap square #6 with square #8
2. now shift the face you've been working on counter-clockwise 90 degrees (now the numbers are 1-9 starting in the lower left and moving upward; and 6 and 8 are switched of course)
3. now do the reverse of what you did in step 1 (this will still end up with #6 switched with #4)
4. now shift the face back clock-wise 90 degrees

the reverse of the moves from step 1 should undo all the mixing up you did to get to step 2 and you should end up with the cube being exactly as it was before step 1 except that #4, #6 and #8 have shifted.

using this algorithm you should be able to come up with ways to accomplish each of your individual moves to get colors oriented correctly and eventually solve the whole cube.

i've done it this way.

 

[sao123]

break the problem down into bottom corners and bottom edges...

2 step solution:




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.

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

Use the youtube video. I was able to learn/master the cube in 3 weeks. Now I can do them in ~1.5 minutes
-AE

 

[fustercluck]

Thanks for the info.

I must ask, why do they put these crappy stickers on the cube and not just paint the rubik's cubes? These crappy stickers come off in about 2 days. If they just painted the cubes they'd last a lot longer. I guess I could paint it...that would take a lot of effort though since I don't have any paint.

 

[JujuFish]

This thread reminds me of: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSqUcrFJ498

 

[Zim Hosein]

This thread makes me want to go order a new Rubik's Cube online!

 

[Zim Hosein]

So, I'm on-line looking at RC's and noticed that there are two companies that make them, Winning Moves and Hasbro. Which brand do you guys/gals recommend? Thanks in advance! :beer:

 

[DrPizza]

algorithm for the top face?? If you just think, you should be able to figure out how to get the top solved in 15-20 seconds. Personally, if I'm doing the layers method, I'll start with the top 4 corners, choosing the color that will require the fewest manipulations.

As far as which company; I think the more expensive ones are better made. I was given one of the cheap ones as a gift earlier this year - it's a pita to manipulate. It doesn't turn smoothly at all.

 

[Engineer]

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
This thread makes me want to go order a new Rubik's Cube online!

Zim, Rubik's Cube is not a case of imported :beer:...FYI!

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
algorithm for the top face?? If you just think, you should be able to figure out how to get the top solved in 15-20 seconds. Personally, if I'm doing the layers method, I'll start with the top 4 corners, choosing the color that will require the fewest manipulations.

As far as which company; I think the more expensive ones are better made. I was given one of the cheap ones as a gift earlier this year - it's a pita to manipulate. It doesn't turn smoothly at all.

That's the problem, the price diff. between Winning Moves and Hasbro is ~2.00 US. Do you happen to know who makes the one you are happy w/ DrPizza?

 

[Engineer]

Cheap cubes suck. I would go with the original Hasbro one.

Used to be able to work one in about a minute or so. If you want a real challenge, get a knockoff cube that has acutal photos on the faces. When working a regular cube, the center orientation doesn't matter because it's a solid color. Try that with an image on the cube and you're in for one hell of a long treat (pain in the ass that is)! :shocked:

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: Engineer

Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
This thread makes me want to go order a new Rubik's Cube online!

Zim, Rubik's Cube is not a case of imported :beer:...FYI!

Haha! :laugh:

Cheers Engineer! :beer:

Cheap cubes suck. I would go with the original Hasbro one.

Well I've been looking into buying a new cube and the two brands that I mentioned are the only companies that make them "new" these days. Buying a used one seems like a lot of work and no way to really judge it's "true" condition, know what I mean?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Uhh I believe the best cubes are not the store bought Rubiks official ones but the Chinese made ones on ebay. you should always lube your cube. I have an old cube at home and it's trash. My friend bought one with me recently and it feels like trash. I learned to cube on a non lubed cube, and I thought it was decent. I stuffed petroleum jelly in my cube next and it was like WOW. I later learned that it's crap, so I spent $2 at a local store to get silicone graphite or whatever. My friend who took a rubiks cube class on campus helped me disassemble, clean the cube and relube with the spray and it's amazing now. Seriously. With that said my cube isn't even that used (stickers are finally beginning to peel off), but I've seen cubes that people have used to death and they already have new tiles on them and what not, but the motion is absolutely fluid. I'm still working on mine I guess. I need to use it more for it to feel a little better.

Also, I HATE YOU GUYS. Reading thist hread made me pop out my cube from my backpack (I occasionally cube while waiting for class to start) and I just pushed my book off to the side (final tomorrow). GRRR MUST STUDY!

 

[Gothgar]

algorithms? wtf just do it the old fashioned way, cheater

 

[fustercluck]

I took my Cube on vacation recently, lots of driving/down time and now I can solve the cube on my own (yay!). I kinda combined two different guides, but surprisingly it worked out. I can solve it under 5 minutes probably (not great but I'm not trying to break records). Thanks again for the help.

Didn't even know more than one company made the rubki's cube. Wouldn't just one company have the rights to manufacture it?

Was thinking about sanding off all the stickers and using vinyl die to paint the squares. I read that's what some people do. Vinyl die can be found in automotive stores. But, not sure how many colors choices there would be. Don't have to use all the original colors I guess. Using stickers to color the squares just seems stupid to me, paint will last much much longer. I guess Vinyl die embeds itself in the plastic. Anyone ever paint their cube before?

 

[lyssword]

You are on the path of madness! Quit now before it consumes your life!

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I got a 4x4 just 2 days ago... man this thing is annoying (parity algorithms)

Originally posted by: ropeadope
I took my Cube on vacation recently, lots of driving/down time and now I can solve the cube on my own (yay!). I kinda combined two different guides, but surprisingly it worked out. I can solve it under 5 minutes probably (not great but I'm not trying to break records). Thanks again for the help.

Didn't even know more than one company made the rubki's cube. Wouldn't just one company have the rights to manufacture it?

Was thinking about sanding off all the stickers and using vinyl die to paint the squares. I read that's what some people do. Vinyl die can be found in automotive stores. But, not sure how many colors choices there would be. Don't have to use all the original colors I guess. Using stickers to color the squares just seems stupid to me, paint will last much much longer. I guess Vinyl die embeds itself in the plastic. Anyone ever paint their cube before?

Just buy tiles. They're excellent. I ordered a set of tiles.

 

[fustercluck]

Originally posted by: DLeRium
Just buy tiles. They're excellent. I ordered a set of tiles.

Where'd you get em? Are you talking about the 3x3 pieces of the cube? Do they just have stickers on them again?

I've been wanting to lube my cube (that sounds dirty...). Supposed to just pry the thing open with a screwdriver and put some vaseline in there? Would hope the vaseline doesn't seep out.

 

[alkemyst]

people that beat the cube in the 80's were good, today it proves with google anyone can be a winner.

 

[alkemyst]

what is ? that symbol?

 

[fustercluck]

Originally posted by: alkemyst
people that beat the cube in the 80's were good, today it proves with google anyone can be a winner.

I'm sure even back then there were plenty of books on it.

 

[Fenixgoon]

so here's the real kicker... how do make a method that will solve any NxN faced rubik's cube? that's the real ticket