.png){kind=small}
Rubik's Cube
Site contents
In this website you will be able to explore the world of the Rubik's cube . This site will include information about the creator, tournaments and some world records
The red cube category is the category which includes tips,tricks and other information that will help you.
The blue cube category is the history of the cube,the story of how it was created and who the mastermind behind this puzzle is.
The yellow cube category will include information about the cube and things related to it,they will not be purely historical.
Categories
Steps to solving the Rubik's cube
​
Contrary to popular belief, solving a Rubik's cube is not that difficult. All you need is the Rubik's cube, a little time, patience, and perseverance.This step by step guide shows the easiest way to solve a Rubik's cube.It means that absolutely anyone can learn how to solve it, regardless of age and mentality.
Step 1 - White cross
At the start of the assembling, your 3x3 Rubik's puzzle is completely scrambled.After completing this step, your 3x3 cube should look like the one we have shown inthe illustration below - the white cross on the top layer of the 3x3 cube and the edge pieces match the color of the centers of the front, back, right and left sides.
Assembling the correct cross is the first step of our instructions. Without it, you wont be able to assemble the top layer of the cube. But dont worry - this is the easiest step!
The picture shows where the edge of the 3x3 cube will move.Just two movements.Turn the facade clockwise or counterclockwise twice.
The image shows the bottom-front edge moving up.The formula shown in the image below moves the white-orange edge of the 3x3cube to the top layer.In this simple way, using these two simple formulas, you must assemble the correctwhite cross on the hat of the 3x3 puzzle. Do not forget that the side colors of theedge must match the side centers of the 3x3 puzzle.
Step 2 - White corners
Hopefully, in the previous step you have assembled the white cross on the top layer of your 3x3 cube. And now your puzzle looks like the one shown in the image below.
The second step consists of three diagrams that will help you fully complete the top layer of the 3x3 cube. Basically, you just need to put the corners of the top layer in place and then your cube should look like the one shown in the picture below. You can compare the pictures of all three schemes below and see the difference between each.
The picture shows the action of the first scheme of the second step, which is simple and easy to remember. It consists of only three simple movements.
If not, and the edges of the white cross do not match the color of the
side centers of the cube, you will have to go back to the previous step and fix
everything.
At this step of solving, you are required to:1) find a corner element that matches the colors. (In our case, it is a white-orange-green element)
2) Move it to the lower left corner of the cube
3) Choose one of the three schemes that will suit you in this situation
4) Perform the sequence of actions of the selected scheme
5) Check whether the three-color corner is in its place correctly.
Scheme #3 is a little more complex than the previous two. It consists of six
movements of the 3x3 puzzle faces.
Step 3 - Assembling the middle layer of a 3x3 cube
By the third step of our step-by-step instruction, you should have come up with theresult shown in the picture below.
Here you bring the lower edge element orange-blue to the orange center of the cube.We hope you understand that in the example the left side of the Rubik's cube is blue.After you do formula #1, the edge will move to the left-middle layer.
Scheme #2 differs from the previous one in that it moves the edge of the Rubik's cube not to the left, but to the right.​In the illustration with the example, you see that the orange-green edge located in the bottom layer in the center will be moved to the right-middle layer of the cube.
The picture below shows an example of using this formula.
This picture shows a 3x3 Rubik's cube with the top and second layers solved – it’show your 3x3 cube should look after the 3 step.
(Fully solved white layer underneath)
The diagram of the second step in the form of arrows is given below. It consists of eight movements. In this case, the cube does not need to be turned in your hands.
Hold the puzzle with the orange side (yours may have a different color) towards you,and repeat the algorithm.
​​
​
​
​
​
​​
If you look closely and compare the two schemes of this step, you will understandthat they are mirror images. Perhaps this will help you remember these formulas easier.And again, you take the cube so that the central-bottom edge element and the place where you intend to move it are looking at you. Do the algorithm given below in thepicture, and there you go. The edge should fall into place.
So, you have learned two schemes for assembling the middle belt on a cube.Now you just need to apply them to all four edges of the middle layer, and you can move on to step 4!
Step 4 - Assembling the cross on the last layer of the 3x3 Rubik's cube
By the fourth step of our step-by-step instruction, you should have come up with theresult shown in the picture below.Now filp over the cube
(White layer at the bottom)
I think you already understood that with each step of our instructions, the solving schemes will be more and more complex. But it is not as scary as it seems at first glance. There are only two formulas in this stage, eight moves in each.This picture shows a 3x3 Rubik's cube with the top and second layers solved – it’show your 3x3 cube should look after the 3 step.
To assemble the cross on the last layer of the 3x3 Rubik's cube (the yellow cross),you need to put all the edge elements that form the cross in their places.At this step it does not matter what color the edge will be at the top and bottom.The main thing is that each of the four parts of the cross is in its place.In the image here, you can see that the green-yellow edge is in its place, but it still needs to be turned over in the next step.
Now that you understand what needs to be done at this stage, we can move directlyto the diagram for forming the yellow cross of the top layer. This scheme swaps two edges of the cube:
The green-yellow edge on the left side will move to the front of the 3x3 cube.ï‚· And the yellow-red edge of the 3x3 puzzle will move to the left side.In the picture, we have shown with arrows which elements of the 3x3 puzzle will move and where they will move. And we have also indicated the side with the blue arrow which the Rubik's puzzle should face you.
The formula with which you will assemble the base of the yellow cross of the upper layer consists of seven movements. It does not require interceptions and repetitions.You need to do the following:ï‚· select two edge elements of the upper layer of the cube that need to beswapped.ï‚· arrange them as shown in the picture.ï‚· and follow the scheme’s algorithm.
Step 5 - Assembling the yellow cross on the last layer of the 3x3 Rubik's cube
We hope that you did not get confused in the previous step, and put all the edgepieces of the cube in their places.Your 3x3 Rubik's cube at the beginning of this stage of assembly should look something like the one shown in the illustrations below. The following pictures show two situations for which our scheme is suitable.
As you can see in both pictures, two edges are oriented incorrectly.In the first situation, the orange-yellow and red-yellow elements of the cube.In the second situation, the orange-yellow and green-yellow.There are situations when all four edges are turned incorrectly. Therefore, look atyour cube, and using this algorithm, orient the elements with the yellow color facing up.At the end of this assembly step, your 3x3 cube should be assembled to the levelshown in the picture below - the correct yellow cross on the last layer of the 3x3 Rubik's cube is assembled and the two bottom layers are assembled.
Attention! You should do exactly the following: ​
-
Make 8 movements.
-
Turn the top layer once or twice.ï‚·
-
Repeat the eight movements
Otherwise, everything you have done before will go to waste
Let's consolidate for a full understanding of the process:ï‚· we make an algorithm of eight movements,ï‚· we bring the next incorrectly oriented edge element by rotating the upper layer once
Now you understand the task.Let's move on to the scheme for turning the edges, and the important step for correct execution.
The picture shows how the edge of the cube will be turned upside down.This formula is very simple, it consists of only two movements that are repeated.But you need to repeat the formula twice!
or twice
repeat the algorithm of eight movementsThis way, you will flip all the incorrectly turned edges and get the correctyellow cross on the last layer of the 3x3 cube. After that, you can move on tothe next step of solving.
Step 6 - Changing corners
So, you have completed the previous stages, and got to the sixth step with a 3x3 cube with two lower layers assembled and a yellow cross on the last layer(top).In the illustration below, we have the state in which your cube should be -with a assembled cross on the last layer and two lower layers assembled.
At this step of assembling, you will encounter the fact that three or four corners onthe top layer will not be in their places, as at the picture to the right
After you have completed this assembly diagram, check - the corner that you placed in the far left-upper corner should remain in its place. And the other three corners should move clockwise, as shown at the picture.
At the end of this step, all corner pieces of the last layer should be in their places.Orientation does not matter. Here is the illustration of how your cube should look approximately at the end of this stage - with the two lower layers assembled,a correct yellow cross on the last layer, and correctly placed corner elements. (To rotate corner elements will be on the step 7).
On the right side of the cube from the picture, you see two cubes green-red-yellow(near) and green-yellow-orange (far). And as you understand, they need to be rearranged to the green side (front) – to put the corners in their places
Scheme 1
The principle of operation of this penultimate stage scheme is such that the three corner pieces of the top layer will move clockwise, as shown in the figure. The blue arrow points to the front face of the cube (facade)
Look carefully. If one of the corners of the last layer is already in place, take the cube so that this corner is located in the far-left corner. And do the formula drawn below.
Scheme #2
Rearrangement of corners of the last layer
The second scheme of arrangement of corner elements of the upper layer, a mirror image of the first. It consists of only eight movements. We hope you noticed the repeating movements of the sides. The only thing left is to remember all these movements. (For those who are too lazy to learn this formula, we will reveal a secret- you can get by with only one scheme. You will just have to repeat it not once, but twice).The picture shows the movement of three corner elements of a 3x3 cube counterclockwise.
As before the first scheme, you look to see if there is a corner that is already inplace. If there is one, take the cube so that it is in the left-upper-far corner and do the algorithm. If there is no such corner, do one of the schemes of this step, and then look for a corner that is in place. Orient the cube, and do the formula again.
Step 7 (Final step) -
Assembling the yellow side of the cube
Here you come to the last stage of assembling the Rubik's cube . Only one formula separates you from the cherished goal.In the previous parts of our step-by-step instructions you had already assembled:
-
The two lower layers
-
The yellow cross on the last layer of the cube
-
Put all the corners of the upper layer in their places
Now all you have to do is turn the corner elements, and the Rubik's cube will be completely solved,hooray! Your cube before the beginning of the last stage of assembly should look something like the one shown in the illustration below.
When assembling the last side of a 3x3 puzzle, you may encounter the following situations:ï‚·
-
All four corner cubes are turned incorrectly;
-
Three corner pieces are oriented incorrectly
-
Two corners are turned incorrectly.
We showed an example with two corners turned incorrectly. The pictures show two possible situations when assembling the last layer of the cube - adjacent corners and opposite corners
To solve any of the situations, you will need only one formula. The nuance is that it needs to be repeated several times.
​
Scheme
The formula rotates clockwise, near-top-right corner pieces. The formula you will use to rotate the corners on the last layer is shown in the image below.
This is exactly the situation shown on the above picture, for a situation with adjacent corners.Executing the algorithm and rotating the top layer by one turn/Executing the algorithm twice
or
To rotate the corner of the Rubik's cube, take the cube so that the corner you need torotate is on the top right, as shown in the picture.And repeat the pattern the required number of times!
The formula consists of eight movements. But you need to do it 3 times! Since, in eight actions, this scheme rotates the corner of the cube by 1/3 of a full turn, you need to:
Run the algorithm the first time - check whether the corner has turned yellow up.
If it has, turn the top layer so that the next incorrectly turned corner is on the topright.
Run the algorithm a second time - again check whether the corner has turnedcorrectly.
If it has not turned, run the algorithm a third time.
The main thing here is not to get confused and not to turn the cube in your hands.
You need to remember that this scheme is done three times!
If you do it once or twice, all your efforts from the previous stages will go down the drain, and you will have to start assembling from the very beginning of our step-by-step instructions.
So - do the algorithm once and see if the corner of the yellow (you may have adifferent color if you start assembling from a different side) sticker is turned up or not.If it is turned, you need to turn the top layer so that the next corner that needs to beturned is on the right at the top. And turn the algorithm again.I hope you will succeed the first time and your cube is assembled!
Yay, you did it! You can be proud of yourself!
Different types of the Rubik's cube
The classic cube( the 3x3x3 cube) is one of the greatest puzzles in history. It consists of 26 smaller cubes that rotate around a central core.
The classic Rubik’s Cube has 6 faces, each covered by 9 stickers (3 rows and 3 columns), traditionally colored white, red, blue, orange, green, and yellow.
The 3x3x3 Cube is a marvel of combinatorics:
-
There are 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 possible cube positions — over 43 quintillion!
-
God’s Number: This is the minimum number of moves needed to solve the cube from any position, using the most efficient method. In 2010, it was proven that 20 moves or fewer are sufficient to solve any scramble.
​
The 4×4×4 Rubik’s Cube, also known as the Rubik’s Revenge, was introduced in 1981 as a more complex version of the classic 3x3x3. Unlike the classic, it lacks fixed center pieces, making it trickier to solve.
The Mirror Cube is a shape-mod transformation of the classic 3×3×3 Rubik’s Cube, where solving is based on shape rather than color. Instead of different-colored stickers, it has identical-colored tiles of varying block sizes, creating a distorted, asymmetrical look when scrambled.
The 2×2×2 Rubik’s Cube, also known as the Mini Cube or Pocket Cube, is a simplified version of the classic 3×3×3. It consists of eight corner pieces and has about 3.67 million possible combinations
Rubik's Snake Invented by Ernő Rubik in 1981
Rubik's Snake is a puzzle-constructor for creating various geometric figures. It is a chain of 24 triangular-shaped parts, rotating and fixed in four positions relative to each other.In the early 1980s, Rubik's Snake, along with the Rubik's Cube, was very popularIn addition to the standard Snake with 24 segments, there are also its varieties with 36, 48 and more segments.
The Pyraminx is a pyramid-shaped twisty puzzle invented by Uwe Mèffert in 1970. It consists of four triangular faces divided into smaller pieces that rotate around a central core. Unlike the Rubik’s Cube, the Pyraminx has fewer possible combinations-only about 933,120 making it easier to solve.
Also known as the mastermorphix, The Master Pyramorphix is a shape-modification of the 3×3×3 Rubik’s Cube, designed to look like a tetrahedron(4 sided shape where all 4 faces are triangles). Unlike the simpler Pyramorphix (which is a 2×2×2 mod), this puzzle has edge and center pieces that shift shape when scrambled, leading to extreme transformations that can be visually confusing
Quick Facts
-
There are robots designed to solve Rubik's cubes. It is impossible to follow the process without slow motion, as it takes less than a second to fully assemble.ï‚· The most powerful computers calculate the combinations of the assembly and so far no computer has been able to solve the cube from any state in less than 19 moves.
-
There are 43 quintillion combinations in a Rubik's cube. For comparison, there are about 30 million seconds in a calendar year. Thus, it would take more than a billion years tolook through all possible states of the Rubik's Cube, even at an incrediblespeed of 1,000 combinations per second.
-
The Rubik's Cube was invented by Erno Rubik, a Hungarian professor ofarchitecture and design. Just one year after the toy appeared on store shelves in 1980, it became the most popular puzzle in the world!
-
ï‚· 22.95 seconds! That's how long it took a high school student from Los Angeles to solve the cube and win the world championship, which was held in Budapest in 1982.
-
Rubik himself could not solve the cube immediately after its invention. A whole month - that's how long it took Erno Rubik to solve his invention for thefirst time.
-
Before he succeeded, he was not even sure that any method of assembling could exist. At that time there were no special techniques.
-
Every sixth person in the world has already found an algorithm for solvingthe puzzle.
-
Any color combination in a traditional Rubik's cube can be achieved in lessthan 20 moves.
-
The Rubik's cube has 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 possible permutations.For the human mind, this is practically infinity.
-
The mathematical structure of the Rubik's cube is suitable for cryptography:it allows you to write hidden messages. It can take years to find the key by trying out the positions.
-
Solving is not a matter of luck. Considering that the player makes a permutation every second, it would take 4,200 trillion years to try out all the possible configurations.
-
The speed of assembly depends on the quality of the Rubik's cube and whether it is lubricated, because time goes by in fractions of a second.
-
There are also records for the largest Rubik's cube. The largest in the world – 33×33×33 – was created by Gregor Pfennig in 2017. He printed its elements on a 3D printer and assembled them by hand. The puzzle has 6,153 elements and 33 layers. According to Gregor, the creation process took about200 hours. And yes, the puzzle is fully functional.
-
The most expensive Rubik's cube was created by the American company
Diamond Cutters International for the 15th anniversary of the puzzle. It was
made of 750-carat gold, and each facet was decorated with 25 precious
stones in an invisible frame. The colors of each side of the toy are reproduced
using diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, rubies and amethysts. This Rubik's
Cube took over 8,500 man-hours to make and cost an estimated $2.5 million
Biggest cube
Most expensive cube
Cube Expertise Zone
Our Services
Immerse yourself in a realm of cubing expertise and knowledge. Our team of experts is here to guide you through advanced solving methods, tips, and tricks that will elevate your cubing skills to the next level.
Techniques
Mastering the Basics
Tutorials
Step-by-Step Guidance
Advanced Methods
Crack the Cube Codes
Community Forums
Connect with Cubers