The Rubik's Cube

NEW (12/3/01): Efficient Corners-First Method - updated by Victor Ortega and Josef Jelinek

new (8/28/01): ACube 2.5: Program for searching optimal or suboptimal sequences for even incompletely defined cube (can ignore parts of the cube)

new (7/12/01): The fastest sequences for solving last layer when you use Lars's method for the first two layers. Page uses Java applet animations.

new (5/14/01): Non-cubical designs using Rubik's Cubes

new: Java applet for animating cube moves

new: Theese pages in ZIP file

In these pages you should find the most frequently used mathods of solving the classic Rubik's cube. I know that this listing is not complete (perhap it cannot be). So, if you use a method or an algorithm not enumerated here, please, do not hesitate to contact me at my e-mail address. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or anything of interest, send me an email, too.

Be sure to write me, if some algorithm does not work correctly, or if you find some other error, so I can correct it as soon as possible.

• 1 Important concepts
  • 1.1 Basics
  • 1.2 Labelling of moves
• 2 Corners-first method
  • 2.1 Corners
  • 2.2 Edges
  • Example of speed method (by Victor Ortega)
• 3 Edges-first method
  • 3.1 Edges (not available)
  • 3.2 Corners (not available)
• 4 Layer-by-layer method
  • 4.1 First two layers
    • 4.1.1 Layer-by-layer
      • 4.1.1.1 First layer - Everyone should master this first
      • 4.1.1.2 Second layer
    • 4.1.2 Solving with the aid of the first corner
    • 4.1.3 Upper edges, then upper corners together with side edges
    • 4.1.4 Beginning from the 2x2x2 corner
      • 4.1.4.1 2x2x2 corner
      • 4.1.4.2 2x2x3 corner
      • 4.1.4.3 Turning edges
      • 4.1.4.4 Completing the two layers
  • 4.2 The last layer
    • 4.2.1 Placing corners, orienting corners, placing edges
    • 4.2.2 Orientation of the kast layer, permutation of the last layer

Three-dimensional designs of Dr. Hana M. Bizek.

• Three-dimensional designs
  • My cube insanity
• Non-cubical Three-dimensional designs

A few words from the authors:

My name is Hana Bizek and I created these multi-cube 3-dimensional designs. This has probably never been done before, although people have constructed 2-dimensional, picture-like designs. Therefore I am very much inerested in your comments, suggestions, questions and whether you like or dislike these designs. An email from you will be gtatefully appreciated. Alas, I cannot describe this rather complex method in detail here. For those who wish to pursue this subject further, there is a book you may consult. It was written in English by me, and the title is: "Mathematics of the Rubik's Cube Design." Both http://www.amazon.com and http://www.barnesandnoble.com have it in stock.

Hi, my name is Josef Jelinek and I am the author of the texts dealing with the solution of the Rubik's cube. The primary impulse to creating these pages was the fact, that I could not find complete information about the Rubik's-cube solution algorithms. True, I found many web pages about this topic, but only one method, used by the author, was described. Various advantages and disadvantages of these methods were not considered. The overwhelming majority of those authors used the "layer after layer" way and other ways were somehow neglected. Of course, those pages cannot describe all possible ways. But it would be good, if they were as widespread in content as possible. That is why I will be glad if any of you will join us, and contribute something not discussed here. Finally, I would like to thank Hanka for her assistance with the English translations. I know that it is not always easy to understand some of my sentences, and for this I apologize both to you and to her.

The page have been made for you by:
- Josef Jelinek
- Dr. Hana M. Bizek

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Latest revision: 8-28-2001