The Rubik's Cube is one of the most famous and enduring children's and adult toys of all time. Since its creation nearly forty years ago in Budapest by professor Ernö Rubik, the Rubik's Cube has been regarded by many as an unsolvable puzzle game. However, with a few tips and a little practice, anyone can learn to solve a Rubik's Cube.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Recognizing the Rubik's Cube
Step 1. Get to know the parts
Before you start playing the Rubik's Cube, get to know its different parts. This will help you understand the mechanics of the cube and solve it faster.
- There are various sizes of Rubik's Cube game. For example, the first Rubik's Cube was called 3x3. That means there are three layers to the Rubik's Cube-the top, middle, and bottom layers.
- The other sizes are 2x2, 4x4, and 5x5.
Step 2. Identify the center piece
On each side of the cube there is a piece in the middle, which has only one color. The color is red, blue, white, yellow, green, or orange.
- There are six center pieces on each side. The center piece is immovable and represents the color of each particular side.
- The colors of the center pieces on opposite sides are always a specific color. White is always the opposite of yellow, orange is always the opposite of red, and green is always the opposite of blue.
Step 3. Identify the logo pieces
On a cube, the chip with the logo has one color, which is usually white, and has the Rubik's Cube logo on it. Usually, playing the cube starts with this side facing up.
There is only one piece with the logo
Step 4. Identify the edges
In a cube, each edge has two pieces of a different color. Often this is the last row of chips in each layer solved.
Altogether, there are twelve edges on the Rubik's Cube
Step 5. Get to know the corners
In a cube, the corners have three pieces of different colors.
In total, there are eight corners of the cube
Part 2 of 4: Solving the Top Layer
Step 1. Arrange your Rubik's Cube with the white part of the logo facing up
When preparing to solve your Rubik's Cube, it's important to place the part with the logo facing up. This will make it easier for you to solve each layer of the puzzle.
If your Rubik's Cube is in a "solved" state at this point, you'll need to shuffle the pieces first before you can play
Step 2. Make a cross shape on the top side
With the white logo pieces facing up, arrange the pieces into a white cross.
- This is one of the more difficult stages. So, practicing by trial and error will help you develop your cube solving skills.
- It is important to arrange each side of the cube from the white cross in the following specific order: blue, orange, green, red.
- Make sure the colors in each border line up with the white logo piece in the center, the red and blue sides, and the center. If the pieces are in this position, you're done right.
- If you make a mistake, try rearranging the pieces until you get the correct placement.
Step 3. Solve the white corners
After creating a white cross on the top of the Rubik's Cube and arranging the edges correctly, you are now ready to solve the white corners. By making sure you've cracked the crosses on the top side before stacking the corners, it'll be easier to arrange the correct pieces on the middle layer.
- The white cross should stay at the top of the cube.
- Keep in mind that each corner piece will only have one side of the chip white and the side of the piece with two other colors.
- If the corners are on the sides or undercoat, rotate them until the corners are exactly at the bottom the way you want them. From this point on, move the pieces around until you place the corners in the correct position.
- Follow the same steps to arrange the pieces until the corners are aligned and the top side of your cube is completely white.
Part 3 of 4: Solving the Middle Layer
Step 1. Place the Rubik's Cube with the white cross-shaped side facing down
To properly break the middle layer, place the solved white side face down. This will help you to arrange the edges in the correct position.
Step 2. Arrange the edge pieces
By arranging the edge pieces on the middle layer first, you will find it easier to arrange the other layers.
- It's important to remember that vertical rows must be blue, red, orange, or green.
- Arrange the pieces so that they are on a vertical line by turning the top edge until the leading color on the edge pieces on the top side (without the yellow) is the same color as the center pieces on each side. The way you move the edge pieces is determined from the top side of the edge pieces.
Step 3. Follow the steps above until the edge pieces are in the correct position
At this stage, the middle layer must be completed so that you can proceed with solving the last layer.
If you make a mistake, reorder the pieces so that they are in the correct position
Part 4 of 4: Breaking the Last Layer
Step 1. Place the yellow side of the Rubik's Cube facing up
At this point, you will notice a yellow color on one side of your cube. To properly break the last layer, place the yellow side facing up. This will allow you to arrange the edge pieces in the correct position.
At this stage, the yellow chips on the top side don't have to be the same as the yellow chips on the side
Step 2. Make a yellow cross shape
As you did with the white side, adjust the placement of the yellow pieces into a cross shape. This will make it easier for you to arrange the pieces on the last layer.
Step 3. Make the corners yellow
You are now ready to arrange the final pieces in your Rubik's Cube by turning the corners on this layer yellow.
