The Rubik’s Cube is a classic 3D puzzle that has challenged and entertained people for decades. While it may seem complicated at first, solving it is possible with the right method and practice. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process to solve a standard 3×3 Rubik’s Cube using a beginner-friendly approach.
The Invention of the Rubik’s Cube
The Rubik’s Cube was invented in 1974 by Ernő Rubik, a Hungarian architect and professor of architecture. Originally called the “Magic Cube” (Bűvös Kocka), it was designed as a teaching tool to help students understand spatial relationships. After its patent was granted in 1975, it was later licensed to the toy company Ideal Toy Corp in 1980 and renamed the “Rubik’s Cube.” The puzzle quickly gained worldwide popularity, becoming one of the best-selling toys of all time.
Step 1: Understand the Cube’s Structure
A Rubik’s Cube consists of:
- Centers: Fixed pieces that determine the cube’s color orientation.
- Edges: Pieces with two colors.
- Corners: Pieces with three colors. Understanding these will help you follow the solving method more easily.
Step 2: Solve the White Cross
Start by solving a white cross on one face of the cube:
- Identify the white edge pieces.
- Align them with their matching center colors.
- Rotate them into the correct position without disturbing the solved edges.
Step 3: Solve the White Corners
After completing the white cross, place the white corner pieces:
- Locate a white corner piece in the bottom layer.
- Position it beneath where it should go.
- Use the algorithm R’ D’ R D until the piece is correctly placed.
Step 4: Solve the Middle Layer Edges
Next, solve the edge pieces of the middle layer:
- Find an edge piece that belongs in the middle layer.
- Align it with the correct center color.
- Use the algorithm U R U’ R’ U’ F’ U F (or its mirrored version) to move it into place.
Step 5: Solve the Yellow Cross
Now, form a yellow cross on the last layer:
- Ignore the corners for now.
- Use the algorithm F R U R’ U’ F’ until a yellow cross appears.
Step 6: Position the Yellow Corners
With the yellow cross in place, arrange the yellow corner pieces correctly:
- Find a correctly positioned yellow corner.
- Use the algorithm U R U’ L’ U R’ U’ L to swap incorrect corners.
Step 7: Solve the Final Layer
To complete the cube, position the yellow edges correctly:
- Use the algorithm R U R’ U R U2 R’ until all edges are aligned.
- Rotate the cube’s layers until each color is fully solved.
Speedcubing Methods
For competitive solving, speedcubers use more advanced methods to solve the Rubik’s Cube faster. Some of the most popular methods include:
- CFOP (Fridrich Method): This method, developed by Jessica Fridrich, involves solving the cube in four steps—Cross, F2L (First Two Layers), OLL (Orienting the Last Layer), and PLL (Permuting the Last Layer). It is widely used by professional cubers.
- Roux Method: A block-building approach that minimizes rotations and is preferred by some speedcubers for its efficiency.
- ZZ Method: A method that reduces cube rotations and allows for smoother solving by aligning edges early in the process.
- Petrus Method: A method that focuses on creating a 2x2x2 block first, then expanding to solve the entire cube with fewer moves.
Learning these advanced methods can help cubers achieve solving times under 10 seconds with practice.
