Video:How to Solve a Rubik's Cube

Transcript:How to Solve a Rubik's Cube

Hey guys, Jonathon Stewart here for About.com. Pretty fancy moves, huh? Well, take a look at the following tips, and impress and amaze your friends and family with your Rubik's cube solving prowess, for real. Check it out.

Learn Proper Terminology to Solve a Rubik's Cube

Terminology. Let's start by giving names to each part of your cube. First, the cube has six "faces" which are defined by the color of the center cube on each side. For example, this is the green face. Next, each face is comprised of two other kinds of pieces, the "corners" and the "edges." When we're looking at the cube, we'll refer to each face this way: top, bottom, right, left, front, and back. We'll also use capital letters to show a clockwise move, and little letters to show a counterclockwise move in the notations. Everything in here moves a little quick, but be patient. As you practice more, you'll start to get a sense of how your Rubik's cube works, and some of the steps which may seems a little confusing at first, will magically click into place. It only took me about 25 years, but I'm kind of a slow learner.

Fix the Top Layer to Solve a Rubik's Cube

Step one: the top layer. Start by picking a color as your home base - this face becomes the top, for now. Solving this layer shouldn't be too tough - even for a beginner. Start by solving the four edge pieces, being sure to match them with the center color of each face. Next, align your corner pieces, again, being sure that not only is the top color in place, but also that each of the other colors match the center cube of each side. his stage is a good one experiment on, since there's not much to mess up at this point. Play around with twisting each side until you have a good sense of how to move specific colors into their proper spots. You can start with any color you like, just stick to it. Or if you want to choose the best color, pick green, like me.

Fix the Middle Layer to Solve a Rubik's Cube

Step two: the middle layer. Flip your cube so that your home base color is now on the bottom. We're looking for edge pieces that are going to fill in the middle layer by moving them from the top layer down to either the front left edge or the front right edge. Start by looking on the top layer for an edge cube that does not contain the top face color (in my case, blue). Here's one. Now, hold your cube so that the color of the top of the edge is facing you, and turn the top layer so that the edge is now on the top back. Next, look at the other color on the edge - does it match the left face, or the right face? If it's left, run this pattern: Top clockwise, left clockwise, top clockwise, left clockwise, top clockwise, left counterclockwise, top counterclockwise, left counterclockwise, top counterclockwise, left counterclockwise. If it's the right, run this pattern: top counterclockwise, right counterclockwise, top counterclockwise, right counterclockwise, top counterclockwise, right clockwise, top clockwise, right clockwise, top clockwise, right clockwise. Voila. Repeat these sequences for the remaining three middle edges. If your piece is trapped on the side, just run either algorithm, and it will be freed up back on the top. Algorithm is just a fancy word for pattern, but stick to them, and they'll never fail you. Just be very careful as you're learning - one false move and it's back to square one. And hey, by the way, you're two-thirds done!

Complete the Last Layer to Solve a Rubik's Cube

Step three: the last layer, top edges. Start by picking a new face as your front - but be sure to keep your base color on the bottom. It doesn't really matter, but I'm going to choose red (blue, again, is on top). Let's bring a blue edge to this face - note that it doesn't matter what color is on the top face of the edge. If you don't have any, your cube should have a cross on the top, and you're all ready to move on to the next step. If the top is not a cross, then (once your blue edge is in place) it will resemble one of the three following configurations: the center only, the line, or the upper left arrow. The only move you need to do here is the following: right counterclockwise, top counterclockwise, front counterclockwise, top clockwise, front clockwise, right clockwise. If you're starting with the arrow, you'll need to run this once; from the line, run it twice; and from the center, run it three times, always starting with the blue cube in the center of your front face. Hang with me - you're doing great. Bear in mind the world record for solving this thing is a little over nine seconds, so how hard can it be?

Fix the Side Edges of the Last Layer to Solve a Rubik's Cube

Step four: the last layer, side edges. Turn your top layer so that one of the top edges matches your face. Is this the only edge in its correct position? Great. This is your new front. Now, run this: right clockwise, top clockwise, right counterclockwise, top clockwise, right clockwise, top clockwise twice, right counterclockwise. If all four edges do not match their respective faces, keep running this algorithm until they do - just don't lose track of your new front. If you've got two edges in place, twist the top layer counterclockwise once, and then run the pattern above. Do you have only one correctly placed edge now? Good. Use that side as your new front face, and run the algorithm until all four are correct. You're getting to the point where if you just hold the cube the right way in your hand, it looks like you've solved the whole thing! Not good enough? Alright, plow on, you're almost there.

Position the Corners to Solve a Rubik's Cube

Step five - the last layer, positioning the corners. For this step, you need to pay attention to the positioning of the corners on the cube, but not their orientation. Look closely, is one or more of the corners already in the right place? Again, even if it's not properly oriented, this is the cube to start with. Hold the cube so that it is at the upper right front, and run this pattern: top clockwise, right clockwise, top counterclockwise, left counterclockwise, top clockwise, right counterclockwise, top counterclockwise, left clockwise. Now take a look - are all your corners in the right place? If not, run the pattern until they are, and you'll be good to go. So close I can taste it. At this point, it's all over but the cryin'.

Reorient Corners to Solve a Rubik's Cube

All you need now is to reorient your disoreinted corners, and you'll have totally solved your cube. This time, move your cube so that a disoriented upper right corner is on the front, and a second one on the back right. If they happen to be diagonal, don't worry, just keep one in the upper right front for now. Next, run the following: right counterclockwise, top counterclockwise, top counterclockwise, right clockwise, top clockwise, right counterclockwise, top clockwise, right clockwise, left clockwise, top counterclockwise, top counterclockwise, left counterclockwise, top counterclockwise, left clockwise, top counterclockwise, left clockwise. If its not absolutely perfect, run it one more time. If you've still got disoriented corners, turn the cube clockwise in your hands until you get to the next one, and run the same patterns once again. And before you know it, booyah. Would you look at that. I'm going to go play outside now, but remember - practice makes perfect! Thanks for watching! To learn more, visit us on the web at About.com.