ll is guorcnl,eed io work.

No motter how bodly your cube is scrombled, this solution provides every stepfrom beginnirrg to end to restore it to solid colors on oll 6 foces. Every step is provided in on eosy-to-follow sequence. The solution does not involve oiml'ess moves, noi is it necessory thol the cube be holf solved to begin moking moves.

ll qllows lor etror.

The sequences of rnoves ore designed so thot if you mode on error (such os turning o foce the wrong woy. qetting lost in o sequence of moves, or even dropplng the cube in the midst of o sequence) you willonly hove to retreot one siep insteod of storting over. lt is very frustroting to discover oi the lost step of o solution thqt the cube is os bodly scrombled os it wos when you storted. Conecting on error is mode eosy becouse so little of the previously completed ports of the cube ore disturbed. This book provides sequences of moves thot ore designed to deolwith the most common errors.

ll offers cleor qnd sleady progress.

The solution siorts wiih the top foce (whbh you choose)

ond proceeds steodily to the bottom foce. This solution hos been designed so thoi very little of the previously completed portion of the cube need be disturbed to proceed. ln other words, ofter you hove completed one foce, you will need to disturb very little of it to continue, ond then only tempororily.

ll fecrlures eqsylo'memorize sequences ol moves.

It is possible to solve cny storting orrorgement of the cube by o few similor sequences of moves, lt is eosy to get used to these moves. They consist of similor sets of 3 to 5 foce turns ihot ore done repeotedly'

thqntwo previouslyplocedcubeswill be more thon one move owoyfrom their proper position. h is, however, very importont to the solution lhot you reolize (ond occept) the foct ihot temporory disruption of hord-won progress is necebsory. lndeed, it is probobly
ln generol, no more

the most difficult ospect of solvirg the cube for the

first time,

The required moves ore set in bold fqce ond ore designoted with o double osterisk (") throughout. This mokes memorizing the solution simpler. (lmpress your
friends!)

declsions.

ll pesenb few qnd uneomplicoted

ll is independenl d color.
coded by the colors of the foces. tt will therefore work no mcrtter whot the 6 colors ore on your cube ond how they ore distribuied on the 6 foces. lt would be nice to present o solutkrn thot reod: 'Turn the oronge foce, then turn the red foce," etc. However, there ore vbrious monufocturers of these cubes. ond they dl choose either different colors for the 6 foces or different distributions of these cobrs. (For exom$e, oronge is not next to yellow on ofl cubes,) There ore 30 different woys of distributing 6 colors on the 6 foces of o cube.
This solution is not

At some of the steps in the solution. it is necessory to

moke decisions in order to proceed to the correct next step This solution hos been designed so thot these decisions ore os few ond uncompicofed os possible, When such decisions ore necessory, illustrotions ore frequenfly used to focilitofe understondirg. You willhove to moich the pottern of colors thot occur on your cube to one of severolillustroted potterns in order to decide on the next
step.

Etui"**--

Solutions

work for

thot use colors (ord they do exist) con only o specific colorirg of the cube' The nototion

scheme used in this book is independent of color ond will work for ony colorirg ond ony mcnufocturer's cube. On the other hond. this solution dces not use the fewest number of moves possible, lt wcs intentionolly designed for clority oncl involves the ieost number of uncomplinurnber of moves

ABOUT THE RUBIK'S GUBE: A bdel hislory

brl Erno Rubik, on orchitect ond teocher in Budopest, Hungory lt wos opporently designed independently by Terutoshi lshige, on engineer in Jopon. Both opplied for potents in the miO-tgZOs. Professor Rubik designed the cube os on oid to his students in recognizing spotiol relotionships in three
This fbscinoiing puzzle wos designed

coied decisions rcther thon the fewesf number of moves. There qre mony stoges of which reducing the
possible, ond these ore given cs shorl with proclice, it is possible to solve rcncuts. Nevertheless, dorn orrongemenis of cubes in under 3 minutes.
is

dimensions.

c few hints before trying to soive o cube problem, recd only pqges 2l to 23.
lf you would like

you hove olreody experimented with solving the puzzle, you moy wish you could follow the movements in three dimensions more eosily. lt is chollenging, to soy the leost, to estoblish the relotive positions of the smollcubes ofter only 2 turns of different foces.
lf

Now enjoy your imoending victr:ry over thct infernol

cubel

The cubes were first monufoctured in Hungqry ond become ovoiloble in Europe in 1978. lt is only recently thot they hove now ochieved their substontiol worldwide populority (mony millions soldl), They hove been widely ovoiloble in the United Stotes only since ]980. lt seems thot these cubes were olmost os common os ornoments during the l98O holidoy seoson.

IO
**---.1

How does il workil

The ingenious mechonism thot ollows oll 6 foces of the cube to rotote is so simpe one is tempted to osk, "Why didn't lthink of it?'The difficulty is, of course, in figuring it oui for the first time.
ROTATE TOP FACE I/8 TURN TO IAKE APART

It oppeors thot otlthe smoll cubes con move obout in foct, however, only the cubes on the corners ond edges octuolly move. The center cubes ore fixed ond con only rotote in ploce, This is the key to understonding ihe mechonism,
ROUI{DED TABS OF CUBES ALONG CURVED TRACK FORMED BY BACKS OF OTHER CUBES IN EACH PLANE.
RIDE PRESSURE EXERTED BY

EACII

EDGE CUBE WTH TAB PEEKING INTO

THE CUBE

HOLDS NEIGHBORING CUBES IN PLACE. THIS

RESPONSIBILITY IS SHIFTED

CORNER CUBE
WITH TAB

TO THE NEXT ADJACENT CUBE WHEN CHANGING PLANES. IT'S INGENIOUSI

Eoch center cube is on the end of on oxle' lhe corner ond edge cubes ore not ottoched to onything ond move obout the center cubes'
You moy osk, "Why doesn't it just foll oporf?" ln foct. it

CENTER CUBES ARE FIXED AND

ONLY ROTATE IN PLACE

con be token oport quiie eosily' Simply turn ore foce on+' eighth turn ond either pullout one of the edgecubes on tn6t foce or pry it out with o screwdriver. tt lelps to pull the foce you'tuired owoy fiom the rest of the cube' The remoining cubes con now be eosily removed to reveol the centrol meclsrisrn. The cube does not foll oport by itself becouse the edge orxJ corner cubes hclcl eoch other in ploce in o remorkoble feot of cooperotionl lf you toke tle cube oport this woy, be sure to put it bock together wtth solid cbbrs on oll6 foces, Otherwise. you moy rsver be ott'e
to solve the puzzle unless you toke the cube oport ogoin'
13

12

6a---.a

Cube bqsics
The cube consists of 6 fixed cubes, one in the center of

eoch foce, 8 movoble cubes on the corners (corner cubes) ond 12 movoble cubes on eoch edge (edge cubes). The corner ond edge cubes ore moved oround by rototing the 6 foces.

lbwever, eoch movoble eube belorrep in only ore bcc' tion. For exonrpb, the yelbw/whlte @e cube (my cube fus ore with these colors) belorg on the edge between the ye$ow ond uhite fqces,

of o foce is deflned by the color of the fixed center cube on thot foce. The yell,ow/ororge/white corner cube belongs on the corner joinirg the yellow orore, ond white foces.
The color

Any corner cube ccn move to ony corner posiiion, ond ony edge cube con move to ony edge position by o sequence of foce rototions,

14

_15
qrtr,

A cube

it is on the cornerbi-edge w6eiSllTelongs' tt mov' ho*euer, be ptoced correitty ond not be oriented corn cube is soid to be oiiented conectly when it is t "tfy positioned correctly ono me coi6Fmotch those of the Eoiocent center cubes. This is the desired finol situotion. Wnen oll cubes ore positioned ond oriented conectly' the Puzzle is solved.
EDGES: CORRECTLY POSITIONED BUT INCORRECTLY ORISNTFD

is

soid to be ploced or positioled correctly when

r.
I

:
'

thg pr,oP The methocidescribed in this book seporctes onO orienting the.2O movoble cubes into r.ti oipfocing plocement ond s steps- eocnLitne 5 steps-involves the the 5 steps' cubes thot oGni"tion ot a ci#s' ni ony of
only tempororily disturbed''

noo. O."n ploced ond oriented in previous steps ore

Thereisnoconcernoboutcubesinloterstepsuntilthot is
it reocneO. tvtoreover, eoch cube
in the first 3 sets orienteO individuolly' ln reolity' then' the.probonO

CORRECTLY POSITIONED AND ORIENTED

+ +

ti"p ie*

6r"E*l
is

plocing broken upinto 12much smollerproblemsof lt is onlv fgr tnqlgs]-Z 1e^! onO'oti*nting iidividuot cubes' poceo ono of 4 cubes t6ot more thon I cube must be orientedsimultoneouslY'

ti

ll
4

rl tl It
t1

CORNERS: CORRECTLY POSITIONED BUT INCORRECTLY ORIENTED

CORRECTLY POSITIONED AND ORIENTED

ri
f{

posiFor exomple, the cubes on the iefi show correctly

iCn"O

"ri""t"O.cubes. correctly positioned ond correctly corner

oriented.

"Cg* cubes on the right show TXe

snd corner cubes that ore inconectly

-.i

these edge ond

t6
.4

17

suMilAnY oF $Oturplt
A summory of

tl'egrererclstrctegyof the 5 sleps f&ws:

l. Cf,oose your fovorite c&

of the 6. plqce qnd orient the 4 edgs cubes on the foce with yor.r fcnrortte ot the center.

2. Hoce snd orient the 4 corner cubes on the top foce. 3. Roce ond orient the 4 sideedge cubes of the middle
loyer. All 12 cubes ploced in steps l-3 ore ploced ond oriented individuolly, The top two{hirds of the cube is now complete.

I. TOP FDGES

2. TOP CORNERS

4
5.

Hoce ond orient the 4 corner cubes on the bottom foce. Hoce cnd orient the 4 edge cubes on the bottom foce.
2

ln eoch of the 5 steps, there ore generolly these

substeps:

l.
2.

noce the cube(s) in the proper position, Orient the cube(s) conecfiy. This requires o temporary removolof ony cube from its correcl position ond its subsequent return to the proper po$iion in the proper orientotion.
3" VERTICAL EDGES

(one more in bcck)

II. BOTTOM

CORNERS

5. BOTTOM

EDGES ED(

SUMMARY OF THF PARTITIONING OF THE 20 MOVABLE CUBES FOR THE 5 STEPS OF THE SOLUTION. AT EACH OF IHE 5 STEPS
THE

4INDICATED CUBES ARE POSITICNED AND ORIENTED.

t8

l9

Why does this solulion wod<? The difficulty of the puzzle is perhops mode mosi

$horl culs
After you moster the cube with this solution, you will probobly think it is toking too long-ollof 5 minutes with proctice. For those on the fost trock. short cuts o.re provided. These vory from simple seguences of moves to expert short cuts thot chonge the overoll strotegy. My preferred method of solution uses these short cuts, ond lcon often solve rondom cube problems in under I minute. Ambitious reoders moy wish to improve on this
further.
Short cuts cre ploced in boxes of the end

opporent by noting thot there ore slightly more lhon 43 quintillion (4.3 x lOl'g) orrongements possible for oll 20 movoble cubes.
is 43 quintillion? Well, the notionoldebt in pennies "only" IOO trillion. The oge of the universe in seconds is is thought to be only obout 5 quintillion,

How big

A very fost computer would toke centuries to exomine eoch orrongemenf. Yet by leorning this solution ond with proctice, you will be oble to solve the cube in o few minuteslHow is this possible?
The odvontoge of this solution method is thot by design of ony time during eoch of the 5 steps. one is concerned wiih very few of the cubes involved ot thot step, This simplificotion is possible becouse there ore fewer orrongements possible for 4 cubes (the most thot ore ever being deolt with ot one time) thon for 20 cubes, ln foct, much of the time (steps 1-3), only o single cube is being deolt with, lt is not difficult io keep trock of just one of the 20 cubes,

of

eoch section.

Hints

. ,

foces do not move, They con only rotote in ploce, This meons the proper color for eoch foce is determined by the color of the center cube on thot foce, For exomple, the foce with on oronge center cube must eventuolly be enlirely oronge,
The overoll strotegy of this solution is given in the sum.l9. This puzzle is too difficult to mqry on poge 18 ond

Remember thot the center cubes on eoch of the 6

ln oddition, the problems of positioning ond orienting cubes ore done seporotely, which significontly reduces the number of possibilities. Since there ore so few orrongements of the cubes of concern of ony time, it is possibleto pxesent them cillond providethe crppropriqte oction for eoch.
These cloims con be mothemcrticolly proved, so this solution is guoronteed to be successfulfor solving tl'e cube

solve wilhout some overoll strotegy. Try io follow the 5 steps ond remember thot it oflen helps to correctly position o cube first and then orient it so thot the colors ore correct,

As you proceed tn sotving

the cube, it is obsolutelv disturb tempororily some of the cubes iholore ptoced cnd oriented in previous steps. For exomple, ofier one foce is completed, there is no woy to
necessory

io

from ony storting orrongement nc motter how bodly

scrombled.

do not remove the colored potches from the cubes ond reploce them differently or toke the cube
Pleose

oport ond put it bock together inconectlylThis con be donel lf you do this, you will not necessorily be oble to restore the cube to solid colors on oll 6 foces even if you outlive the universe.

occomplish onything more without tempororily disturbing some of the cubes on thoi now completed foce. You must be doring enough io be willing to tempororily undo hord-won progress in order to continue with the solution. I found this to be ihe most difficult port of solving the cube for the first time, For this reoson, the solution in this book wos intentionolly designed so thot very little iemporory disruption of
previous progress is necesscry.
21

20
farffnb..

o Do not concern
poced of

For exomple, while competing the top foce, don't worry ot oll obout whot hoppens to cubes on the bottom foce, No motter how bodly the cubes involved in loter steps ore scrombled. it will olwoys be possible to ploce ond orient them properly when their turn comes. There ore no "deod ends."

yoursetf with cubes thot must be loter steps while workirg on eorlier steps.

The simple 4*move seguence shown bekrw ollows you to monipulote edge cubes without disturbing ony of me corner cubes, Combinotions of sequences of this type ore most useful in step 5 but con be used in eorlier steps Q ond 3).

o Simpe 3-turn sequences

of the type shown below ore bosic to steps 2-4 of the solution. You simply rotote one of the side foces one quorter turn in either direction, then rotote the bottom foce, ond then reverse your first rototion, The sequences of moves required to occomplish steps 2-4 ore just combinotions of 3 move sequences of this type, The sequence shown below chonges one top corner ond one verticoledge cube without disturbing the other top-edge, top-corner, ond verticol-edge cubes, A greot deol

ccn be occomplished by just performing

combinotions of these sequences.

vorious

LEsl chsnce
a

4,'

if you wish, you moy try

toiegoir complete ond certoin solution for ony stortirg orongemeni of the cube. Reodirg them might &stroy the enjoyment of working out o-solution yoursetf with jusf the few hints olreody Provided.

to solve the puzzle with only the The remoining poges &scdbe o informotion.

'23

r
R+
Turn R

foce one quorter turn clockwise

Rn2
F+

Turn R foce one quorter turn counterclockwise Turn R fcce one holf turn

(either woy, it does not motter)

Turn F Turn F Turn F

foce one oucrter turn clockwise foce one quorter lurn counnerclockwise

the edge cube on the edge between the F ond R foces of o porliculor time. FRT is the corner cube on the corner common to the F, R, ond T foces of o poriiculor time. The 12 edge cubes ore therefore BF, BL, BP, BR, FL, FR, FT, LP, LT, PR, PT, ond RT. The 8 corner cubes ore BFL BFR, BLP, BPR, FLT, FRT, LPT, ond PRT, Moves ond the cubes involved ore described using this terminology'
FR is

FF2

fcce one holf turn

cne quorler turn counterclockwise

to use the moves os written, it is necessory to hold the cube so thot the cubes thot ore to be moved
ln order

L+

Turn L foce one cuorfer furn clockwise Turn L foce

LL2

correspond to those given in the description of the move. For exbmpe, if you wish to ploce on edge cube in the PT position ond the sequence of moves given is written for the FT position, you must rotote the entire cube in your

Turn L foce one holf iurn Turn B foce one quqrter furn clockwise Turn B fcce one quorter turn counterclockwise Turn B Turn T Turn T Turn T Turn P

B+

hond so thot the (former) PT position becomes the FT position. Note: by doing this, the color of ihe F foce chonges, but the color of the T foce remoins the some.

B82
T+

foce one holf turn foce one quorter turn clockwise foce one quorter lurn counterclockwise foce one holf turn foce one quorter iurn clockwlse
KEEPING THE FI?ONT FACE ORIENTED TOWARD YOU-ALL CLOCKWSE I?OTATIONS ARE SHOWN, TO MAKE COUNTERCLOCKWSE TURNS, SIMPLY I?OTATE THE FACES IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS.

TT2

P+ PP2

Turn P foce one quorter turn counterclockwise Turn P foce one holf turn

ALL ROTATIONS SHOULD BE MADE AS THOUGH YOU WERE VIEWNG EACH FACE FI?OM THE FIIONT, A CLOCKWSE TURN WOULD ALWAYS BE A TWIST TO THE RIGHT AS IF VIEWED FI?OM THE FTiONT. SEE THE |LLUSTRATIONS BELOW.

27

' i

with the nototion ond terminology forthe cubes ond moves,look otthe sequenceof moves on ihe oppsite poge,You moy wish io duplicote this sequence with your cube, I suggest choosing o dork color (e,g., blue or green)to conespond to the dork color on the drowing of the highlighted individuolcorner cube'
To fomiliqrize yourself

R+

The first move is o clockwise quorter turn of

the

foce

+
t I
2 (PRt)

2 on the opposite poge). lt is symbolized by R+ ond tokes the highlighted corner cube from the FRT (front, right. top) position to the PRT (posterior, right, top)position.

(cube I to cube

2tocube 3) is o holf turn of the foce ond tokes the Nghlighted cube from PRT to FLT'
The secondmevg (cube The third move
is

<rt'
L+

o clockwise quorter turn of the left foce.

tneEofrercGe moves from FLT to BFL, The lo3fh pgvq is o clockwise quorter turn
The corner cube moves from BFL to
BFR.

of the

foce.

The fifth rnove is o counterclockwise quorler turn of the F toceJne corner cube moves from BFR bock to FRT where it stcrted, bui note thot the orientotion is different"

+
4 (Brt)
3 (FH)

them to get used to the clockwise ond counterclockwise rototions for the vorious foces, porticulorly the B, R, ond L foces, which ore used repeotedly. No rototion of the P foce is shown since it is never used' (i find it too difficult to turn this foce while holding the cube neorly fixed during o sequence of moves ond hove therefore not included it in ony moves.) Try to duplicote this sequence on your cube, Although this porticulor sequence is never used in the solution, it indicotes how it is possible to'totote" o corner cube to q different orientotion by o sequence of moves. A trick to developing o solution is to discover sequences thot do this without scrombling previously ploced ond oriented cubes'
I suggest trying

{r'*
+
F-

+
5 (BFR) 6 (FRr)
SAMPLE SEOUENCE OF MOVES

28

29

is doqeglor pggllgned correctly when it is on the edge or corner with colors the some os those of the cube. A cube is oriented conectly when the colors motch those of odjocent center cubes. For exompe, the corner cube colored oronge, white, ond yellow (n my cose) is ploced correctly when it is on the corner odjocent to the oronge, yellow ond white center cubes. This cube is oriented correctly when the oronge foce is odjocent fo the oronge center cube.

A cube

STEP

2:

TOP CORNERS (FLT, FRT, LPT, PRT)

To memorize q solulion
Some sequences of moves ore set in boldlroce ond ore designoted with double osterisks (")To memorize o solu-

tion, you only hove io memorize these sequences ond follow the instructions in sections thot ore olso morked with o double osterisk.

TOP FACE

to position ond orient the 4 cubes thot belong on the corners of the T foce ond moinioin the previously ploced top-edge cubes. Top-edge cubes will be moved tempororily during moves but will be
The purpose here is

properly returned,
For eoch of the 4 cubes thot belong in one of the top.

t
,i

corner positions, do the following 6 steps (2A-2F). Agoin, it you ore lucky, some of the top-corner cubes will be cor- " rectly positioned ond oriented when you siort. ond you will hove to do these steps fewer thon 4 times

2A.

Locote

o top-corner cube (thot is, one

corner

{I'

cube thot belongs in o top-corner position) thot is not currently correctly positioned ond ortented. This is the desired cube, lf the desired cube is correcily positioned but inconectly oriented, go to step 2E.

30

35

28.

cunently on the T foce, do the following sequence. Hold the cube so the desired
r tne desired cube
is

cube

is in

the

FRT

position,

"MoYe f{T to BFL: R- B- R+

This moves

the desired cube to the

foce'

2C.

Vtove the desired cube, which is now on the B foce, under the desired topcorner position by rototing the B foce. Hold the cube so the desired position is FRT ond the desired cube is in the BFR
position,

Remember thot you moy hove to repeot these 6 steps (2A-2F) os mony os 4 times to position ond orient eoch of fhe 4 fop-corner cubes individuolly, Upon completion of this step, the top one-third of the entire cube will be correct, I hope you chose o color you like for the iop foce; otherwise, you might be very tired of looking of it, ln ony cose,lhope you ore not seeing'red" of this stoge; there is stillquite o bit more to do.

Short culs L
There ore

two odditionol olternotive

2D.

se-

2D. oo tne follpwirrg sequence of moves to correctly

position the desired top-corner cube.

quences for moving o cube from BFR to FRT, These puf the cube in on orientotion dif-

ferent from the sequence in step Move Move

BFR BFR

"Move

BFR

lo FRT: R- B- R+

to to

FRT: F+ FRT: R-

B+ FB+ R+ F+ 82

F-

2E.

f tne FRT cube is inconectly oriented, do one of ihe

following olternotive sequences,

"Orlenl
Orient

FRT:
FRT:

R- B2 R+ F+ 92 jF+ 82 F- R_ 82 R+

The short cut is to decide when to use

eoch

of the three possible BFR-Io-FRT sequences.

You will be oble to ovoid the reorientotion sequence this woy.

Note thot the first sequence turns the corner cube counterclockwise. The secoM sequence turns the corner cube clockwise, As you goin experience, you will be oble to choose the proper one, However, it does not motter which you choose for'now.

2.

2F.

the

cube is sfill incorrectly oriented, repeqf W sequence you chose in step 2E. This wlll teove ihe FRT cube conectly positioned ond
ff

the

FRT

oriented.

i ,.

Moue ony top-corner cubes thot stort out on the B foce up to their correct position ond orientation on the T foce before bringirig ony cubes down from the T foce, Moving o cube frorn the B foce to the T foce outomcticolly brings o ditferent corner cube bock dowry on occosion. this will be one you wont to bring down, onyhow.

i
;

f,

Fs6 l.g.^
f'-\\\

37

STEP

3: VERTICAL

EDGES (FL, FR, LP, PR)

38.

lf the desired cube is noi on the B foce, do the following sequence of moves. Hold the cube so

ihe desired cube

is

qt
B

FR.

"Drop

R- B+ R+ B+ F+ B-

FR

lo

toce (BP):

F-

LP

FL

-I
L

3C. At this point. the desired cube is on the B foce,

FR R PR

Rotote the B foce until the color of the verticoi foce of the desireC cube motches the color of the center cube on one of the 4 sicie foces. Hold the

cube so the desired cuife beiongs in the FR positbn. lf it motches on the [i foce, do ihe sequence Bi? tc FR. if it moiches on the F foce, do ihe sequence BF to FR.

LEFT

FACE

RIGHT FACE

The purpose here is to ploce ond orient the 4 cubes

thot

belong on the edges odjocent to but below the T foce. This con be ihought of os completing the "middle loyer" or "equotor." After completion of this step, the top twothirds of the cube is correct. For eoch of 4 cubes thot belong in the verticol-edge positions. do the following 4 steps (3A-3D). Agoin, you moy be lucky to find some of these verticol-edge cubes olreody positioned ond ori-

ented correctly.

3A.

Locote o verticol-edge cube (one thot belongs in o veriicol-edge position) thoi is not currently correctly positioned ond oriented, This is the desired cube. lf the desired cube is correctly positioned but inconecily oriented, go to step 3D.

TURN PAE FOR STARTING POSITIONS FOR MOVES IN STEP 3 CVERTICAL EDC+S).

38

39

The stcrting positions for these sequences ore shown

below.

3D.

ttotO ihe cube so the desired cube is in the FR position. lf it is incorrectly oriented, do the foilowirg reorient sequence.

R- B+ Ri T+ F+ BJ FB+ R- B+ R+ B+ F+ B. Flf the 4 verticol-edge cubes cre not oll correctly positioned ond oriented, go bock to step 3A,

"Orienl

FR

(oll 15 moves):

Error eorrection
vious 2 steps. Throughout these sequences of moves, only o single top-corner cube (the one thot stod.s of FRT) is ever more thon one turn owoy from its correct position ond orientotion, Should you gpt lost or moke c mistoke during one of these sequences, simply stop ond reconstruct the T foce. Generolly, you will hove to rotote either ihe F or R foce to return cubes to the top ond then repeot one of the sequences in step 2 lo return the wondering top-corner cube. Hoving done this, try ogoin stortirq ot step 3A.
These sequences ore longer thon ihose used in ihe pre-

lf

colors mcrtch on the

foce, use the sequence of moves

Bl?

to

FR.

"Move

B+ F+ B- F- B- P- B+ n+

BR

to

FR:

Shorl cuts

l.

rorely necessoryto drop FRto the Bfoce (step 3B). Simply ploce ond orieni those cubes okeody on the B foce into their correci positions. This will oulomoticolly drop orcther edQp cube to the B foce,
It is

2.

'

lf

colors motch on the

foce, use the sequence of moves

BFtoFR

l'Move 3F lo

B- R- B+ R+ B+ F+ B-

FR:

F-

in the number of moves required cqn be ochieved by combining step 2 (top corners) ond step 3 (verticol edges), You moy hove'noticed thot the sequences in step 3 unrovel, ond then portiolly repeot, those of step 2 Try to f(7ure

(fxpe*) n mojor reduction

out how to combirre the 2 stePs.

STARTING POSITIONS FOR MOVES IN STEP 3 (VERTTCAL EDGES)

i-" ,

j\

/'\

40

41

\\

STEP

4: BCTTOM

CORNERS

(BFL, BFR, BLP, BPR)

ADJACENT EXCHANGE

DIAGONAL
EXCHANGE

48.

'
BOTTOM FACE

tt the 2 out-of-ploce corner cubes ore odjocent, do the following sequence, Hold the cube so thot the cubes thot must be exchonged ore BFL ond BFR.

"Exchsnge

R- B- R+ F+ B+ F- .R- B+ R+
Now proceed to step
4D.

BFL

qnd

BFR:

82

fo plcce oncj orient the 4 corner cubes on the B foce. This is done by first plocing ihe cubes ond
The nex.f slep is

then orienting thern, These 4 cubes ore not ploced independently bui os q set oll of once. To cornplete this step, you must follow the instructions of steps 4A-4E just once.

4{C.tt the 2 out-of-ploce corner cubes ore'diogonol, do the following sequence, Hold the cube so thot the cubes thot must be exchonged ore BFL ond BPR. "Exchonge BFL qnd BPR:

R- B- R+ F+ 82 F- R- B+ R+

B+

4A.First, it is necessory to rotote the B fcce until the lorgesi nurnber of bottom-corner cubes are properly positioned with no concern for orientotion, lgnore the edge cubes on the B foce for now. Rotote the B foce until you get either 2 or all 4 of the bottom-corner cubes conectly positiored. lt will olwoys be possible to position conectly either 2 or oll 4 of the bottom-corner cubes by just rototing the B foce, ff oll 4 ore correctly positioned, proceed io step 4D. lf 2 ore correctly positioned. the 2 fhot remoin out of doce will be either on odjocent corrrs
or opposite (drogonol) corners. lf they ore on.odjocent corners, do step 48. lf they ore on opposiie (diogonal) corners, do step 4C,

4D.me 4 bottom-corner cubes ore now oll properly

positioned. Look of the B foce ond hold the cube so thot the color pottern on the.bottom corner cubes motches one of the 7 potterns BCI-BC7. Only the bottom color is indicoted in block on the potterns BCI-BC7. The oniy other possibility is thot oll ore

_
.

to ignore the bottom-edge cubes for now, lf necessory, turn the entire cube in your hond untilthe pcttern motches one of the 7.
oriented correctiy. Remember
This matching of coior potterns is done to determine which will be your F foce for the next sequence. Moke sure the T foce is os olwoys ond proceed io step 4E.
43

42

4E.

Perform the following sequence.

"Orienl bollom-corner cubes:

R. B- R+ B- R- 82 R+ 82 'f+.
i*

BCI

the 4 bottom-corner cubes ore not correctly oriented ofter performing this sequence, go bock to step 4D, You moy hove to perforrn the sequence in step 4E os mony os o tololof 3 times to orient the bottom-corner cubes,
lf

Error eorreclion
Before doing the orientotion sequence in step 4E, it is necessory to hold the cube correctly so thot the T foce is os clwoys ond the F foce is os indicoted in the drowings

of the 7 potlerns BCI-BC7. Should you hold the cube incorrectly ond do ihis sequence, you will merely get bock o differeni pot.tern of the 7 possible. Should this hoppen, simpiy rnotch the potlern you do get to one of tl^re 7 ond lry ogoin by repeoting step 4D.
lf you moke o mistoke when posiiioning or orienting the bottom-corner cubes, it is possible you moy end up with one of the verticol-edge cubes misploced. Should fhis hcppen, you will hove to go back to step 3, correct the error uging one of the sequences in thot step, clnd then

relurn to step 4,

Fr{
{ J -_---)

rF-:

L,.u"

\r,; /
----+-+

lf B kI
'4gr-.

i-wc I

v
Ye t\a

i)

BC6

BC7

it ir,..jc
L)

THE SEVEN POSSIBLE COLOI? PATTERNS OI..i THE BOTTOM FACE' REMEMBER IO IGNORE THE C'JLORS OF THE BOTTOM EDGE CUBES'

i\

44
^
I

45

\.

Short euls

STEP

5:

BOTTOMI EDGES (BF, BL BF, BR)

l.

Use the reverse of the orientotion sequence.

Orient bottomcorner cubes (reverse):

82 R- 82 R+ B+ R- B+

R+

whenever the BC2 potiern occurs. Use fhe forword seguence given obove whenever

the BC1 pottern occurs. This will usuolly

eliminote 8 moves from the overollsolution.

2.

This shorter sequence exchonges two diogonol bottom-corner cubes os required in step 4C. lt does not motter which foce is the F foce, Only the T ond B foces must remoin the some os olwoYs. Use this os o replocement for the sequence in step 4D, F_ B- R- B+ R+ F+

BOTTOM FACE

The finol siep is io ploce ond orient the 4 botfom-edge cubes. First check to see how mqnv of these 4 cubes cre

already conectty

psitA&gwitteut rqard
pSicsitioned.

to orienta-

iion), At this point. there wilt.pp either 4,.l, or none of these

botlom-edge cubes conectly'

lf none ore correctly positioned,go lf I is correctly positioned, go

to step 5A.

to step 58.

lf 4 ore correctly positioned, go to step 5C, The sequences (L- R+ ) ond (L+ R-) ore done repeotedly in this step, They ore put into parentheses for cloritv.

5A.

Oo the following sequence (oll

11

matter ho',v the cube is held foces remoin os before

crs

moves). lt does not long os the T ond B

"(L- R+) F+ (L+ n-) 82

(t- R+) F+ (L+ R-)

,'-r 46

47
+lier+=;r--,-

p,''.\

Now there will be exoctly one of the bottom-edge cubes properly positioned, olthough the orientotion moy be incorrect. At this point, go to step 58.

58.

Hotc the eube so thot the properly positioned bottom-efte cube is in position BF, Then cjo the following sequence (oll 11 moves).

P+) R+)
This

F+ F+

(L+ R-) (L+ R-)

82

the 4 bottom-edge cubes ore stiil not conectly

sequence

is

ihe some os the one in step 5A. lf

positioned. cja the sequence ogoin with the properly positioneC cube in position BF, At this point, oii

the botiom-edge cubes wiil be conectly positioned. lf the cube is completed, gc lc step 5G otherwise, g* to step 5C. 5C"ntt4 bottorn-edge cube-s ore cor;'ectiy
ond the
B

f*'j t:

pcsitioned,

face will show the bottcm color in one of the three potterns BEI-BE3, i{old the cube so the pottern motches. if necessory, iurn the entire cube in ycur hond uniii rhe pottern you hcve motches one of the three. Be sud$She T foce is the some os olwoys ondthe f rcdisS indiccted inthe potterns

BC]-BC3,
lf it is BE2,

'-*..

if it is BEl, do step 5D,

i-l

dc step 5E.
do step
5F.

r--!

lf it is

,-r (

1l l-i

BE3,

jr=-

G {" *

'b
!

49
t= "-:f'***r-a*s-.-

5f),

Do tlre fosowirg (oll18 moves)'

seqere to cornplete the puzzb

"Allernqtive method br step 5

tt is possible to complete ihe cube from oll3 potterns (8E1. BEZ BE3) using only the sequences in steps 5F ond 58' lf

R+) F2 (L+ R-) 82 (L- R+) F+ (L+ R-) 82 (L- R+) F2 (L+ R-) BI'Jow go to step 5G'

(L-

I .t
JI

5E. - -'

I I
*
I i

puzzle fdkrwirg seqrrnce to cornplete the 2 conectlv (Jt go ilveO. FoojG cuoe so tnot me Cuoes ore in Positions BL
Oo the

you get pottern BElor BE2, simply perform the sequences in step 5F ond then 58 os directed, moking sure only thot the T ond B foces remoin ihe some, This will give bock

pottern

BE3,

which

is

then completed using step

5F.

#;;i-d;#;*ds;
ond
BR.

-d

(L- R+) F+ (L+ R-) B+ il* n+i r+ (L+ R-) B+ B+ ir- n+i rz G+ R-) B+ il- n+ i r+ (r-+ R-) 82 cr- n+) F+ (L+ R-) thot you ore This is o long sequence' but note
or*"vtJutnitb tne'F ond B foces tion ibbct<wise). Go to steP 5G'
in the some direc-

eo74{}}
i
,..i

5F, -' '

Hold the oo the following sequenc (oll'17 mov-es)

;ne;o

thot thb BF'onu

BR

bre correctly oriented' F-

"(LThen

R-) B- (L- n+) R-) B- (t- R+i F2 (t+ R-) il,+

R+) F+
(L+

.!

go bock ond do step 58' ofter which the

ond reword

puzzte witt be comPleted'

SG.fett everyone within shouting.distonce ---Vouo"ft *itn o trip to the refrigerotor'

W,Y'"

5l

Error correclion
The net resull of the sequence

Short cuts L
fhe reverse of the sequence in step 58. Remember thot bottom-edge cube BF must be correctly positioned,
Use

(L* R+) F (+, -,or2)(L+ R-)

to move one of the top-edge cubes to the B foce ond reploce it with one of the botfom-edge cubes, Loter on, the top-edge cube is returned to its proper position ond orientotion. Should you moke o mistoke or jusi get lost
is

(L- R+) F- (L+ R-) (L- R+) F- (L+ R*)

82

during one of these lengthy seguences, simply return the

wondering top-edge cube doing the following:

to its correct

position-by

l.
2.

Hold ihe cube so thot the wondering

iop-edge cube
BR

belongs in the

FT

position,

Determine the chonges of the bottomedge cubes thot these sequences couse. Figure out when to use the forword sequence ond when to use the reverse sequence. The correct choice will ustiolly eliminote ll moves,

Move the wondering top-edge cube to position by rototing the B foce.

3.

Oo the sequence (L- R+ F- (L+ R-) This will put the top-edge cube into its correct posi-

2.

tion on the

wrong. Should this hoppen, do the following

sequence: Orient top-edge cube:

foce, However, the orientotion moy be

(L- R+) F2 (L+ R-) B+ (L- R+) F- (L+ R-)

Allthe sequences in step 5, when completed,leove oll 8 corner cubes,4 verticol-edge cubes, ond 3 top-edge cubes unmolested, so o serious error is unlikely, Should something disostrous occur, simply see how much of the comdeted portion of the cube remoins correct ond go bock to the oppropriote previous step to correct ony
errors.

is possible to reduce significontly the number of moves reQuired to occomplish step 5 by positioning ond orienting the bottom-edge cubes of the some tirne. Try to design sequences of moves similor to those in steps 5A oncl5F fhot permute the bottom-edge cubes in different woys. Then leorn to recognize the orrongements of the bottomedge cubes thot require these new sequences of moves, You wili likely hov-e to recognize more thcn just three pofter,rs @l-BC3) but will comBlete the gfu ln s(2rrtfrcontly fewer moves, Even oi t|s bte stoge, it is still possible to ploce ond crnt 3're of the bottom-edge cubes indepercnfi\ cf tfle other three, One oPFr# *c rrycvrng step 5 is to ccrrectly pdg crri srent I botiorn+dge cube in lfe ffisf h'glf cnd th{r dect.with the re-

(Experl) lt

rrriTrg3ooset

:
I
,

50

AFTENWORD
usuolly solve rondom cube problems by using this solution with the simpler short cuts provided in obout 2Yz

lcon

tokes ihe cube thot storts ouf in the FT position to the position, ihe cube in BP to BF, ond the cube in BF to FT, lt is best to try this on o solved cube to see the overoll efThis
BP

minutes. lfind o consideroble omount of time is spent in locoting cubes ond oligning the foces so thoi the next move con be mode. The stiffness of the cube is q decisive foctor in time triqls.
As wos pointed out in the lntroduction, this solution does

fect. Now, on o solved cube, do the foltowing 2-move

sequence.

R2 T+
the effeei of lcking a cube frcm ,'he some cube, do the sequence:
=his hos
BR

to

FT,

Now, on

not involve the fewest number of moves possible, Nevertheless, by using oll the moves provided, including the "expert" short cuts, I con overoge less thon IOO moves

(LThls is

R+

F2

(L+ t?-) 82

for solution of

o rondom cube problem, olthough occosionolly more thon IOO moves ore required. To ochieve this reduction,lhove to combine steps 2 ond 3, but the other steps remoin the some. There is nothing socred obout breoking up the solution into these 5 steps, ond o betler solution moy well use o different meihod.
An interesting postime (or obsession) is to try to find better solutions for this foscinoting puzzle. lt is octuolly possible to rotionolly design sequences of moves thot hove desired overolleffects, Try the sequence:

the scme os the one given obove. Then "undo" the

T -n4 t- taL

firsi 2 moves:

.rhe overoll

effect

is BP

to

BF

to

BR

to

BP. By

preceding the

&r^nove sequence wiih various moves ond following it *iith the exocf reverse of those rnoves, you ccn choose ?c exchonge ony 3 edge cubes without disturbing the other 9 edge cubes ond oll 8 corner cubes. Using tricks ike this, it is possible to move the cubes oround olmost ot
rr#.

(L- R+) F2 (L+ R-)

82

A recl chollenge is to develop o shorler solution thot eso cbor, simBle, ond error toleront, noppy curbitgl

is