Please watch the following video, which gives a brief introduction on how to use the web pages, and explains the terms used throughout the guide.
Note: Since filming of the above video, the program has been enhanced to include a clickable list of turn commands, a clickable legend and corresponding clickable faces on the Cube itself for turning.
The speed control has been changed to a value from 1.0 (slowest) to 3.0 (fastest). The numeric keys 1,2,3 on your keyboard can quickly set the integer speed, while the + and - keys will increase/decrease by 0.1. The speed can also be seen and changed on the menu.
We have also added a "Solve Step" button on the Guided Solve that will solve the current step and take you to the start of the next step. This is helpful when practicing one step at a time (e.g. when you master steps 1 and 2 you can select the following from the Menu: Reset/Scramble/Guided-Solve and then click Solve Step twice to start practicing step 3 without having to go through the first 2 steps.)
This move is used extensively in steps 3 and 4. The guide does not describe the turns involved, so you need to learn them here.
The 1-2-3 Move is performed on either the Right or Left side of the Cube in the following manner:
This move is used in step 5. Its name describes its moves, the first three of which are clockwise, and the last three of which are Prime moves:
The Happy Move is used in step 6. It is done entirely with the right hand, and consists of "in/out" moves (R-Prime, r) and "twists" (u turns.)
The Right Prime Move is used in step 7. It consists of turns on the right, front, and back sides. The mnemonic -- given in the video and in the details for step 7, below -- will help you remember this series of moves.
The f-furl move is the last of the five moves that need to be memorized. It is used in step 8. "f-furl" gives the first five turns, but just as in the Right Prime move, there are 12 turns in all. Once again, a mnemonic is given to help in memorization:
The algorithm for the 8-step Guided Solve was taught to me (and other Teaching Company customers) by Professor Arthur T. Benjamin of Harvey Mudd College, in his course on The Mathematics of Games and Puzzles: From Cards to Sudoku, and was, in turn, taught to him by former world champion cuber Tyson Mao. The episode is currently available on YouTube at: How to Solve a Rubik's Cube in 8 Steps, and is embedded below: Mention of these individuals/companies/organizations is not meant to imply their association with or endorsement of this site.
Here is an external video (from Wired magazine) where Robbie Gonzalez goes through the 8 steps used in this solving method: How to Solve a Rubik's Cube, Step by Step. There are a few minor differences in his video and what we present here. To prevent confusion, here is a list of those differences:
(The story for remembering the steps is of my own invention, and I take full responsibility for its craziness.)
There are many methods for solving the Cube. This is not the most efficient method, but is one of the easiest to learn. Once you master the 8 steps you should be able to solve any standard 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube in under five minutes.
Each step involves placing four cubes (or cube faces) in particular spots. That way the overwhelming challenge is broken down into more manageable chunks.
There are 3 types of cubes:
Each step will deal with either 4 corner cubes or 4 edge cubes.
When you choose Guided Solve from the menu, the page will guide you step-by-step through the process, highlighting the relevant instructions and making the moves for you. Even so, it is a good idea to look over the following information; you'll see some tips on memorizing the moves, and gain some familiarity with what the Guide will take you through.
Note: Keep the Yellow home-face on the Up side (as shown in each cube illustration below) throughout the entire solving process!
Place the white edge pieces on the Up-face, forming a "daisy" (yellow center with 4 white petals around it)
One day you climb Up a hill and plant a daisy.
Look for white edges:
Move the white "daisy" petals from step 1 to the down face, resulting in all of the white edge pieces oriented in their proper positions (along with all bottom-rim edges.)
On day two the daisy sheds its petals: they all fall down to the ground.
Repeat the above steps three more times to bring all of the white edge pieces to the Down face.
Put bottom corners in place, completing lower third of the puzzle!
The shedding of the daisy's petals makes you so sad that you also shed: some tears. But then you console yourself by singing the song that has always made you smile since you were a child: the "Easy as 1-2-3" song by the Jackson Five.
Find 1 of the 4 White corner pieces.
If White corner (wc) is on:
Repeat the above steps until all four of the lower-rim corner pieces are in place.
Complete middle rim (solving 2/3 of the puzzle!)
Whenever you think of them now, you can't help but think of them as Michael & the Jackson Four, due to the subsequent fame of the lead singer's solo career. In retrospect, the group wasn't very diverse (no yellow faces to be seen, for instance -- though later on Michael had to use makeup to fix white patches on his skin.) And you can't help but recall the latter-day image of his infamous crotch-grabbing dance move which you always jokingly referred to as "slap u middle!"
Look for an edge piece (in upper-rim or middle-rim) with no yellow on either side. [Yellow edges, of course, are destined for the upper-rim, and we're working on the middle-rim in this step.]
If edge piece (ep) is on:
"Fix White" by performing Step 3 ("Easy as 1-2-3) on the one misplaced White corner piece.
Repeat Middle formula as needed until all four middle edge pieces are properly aligned (so that the bottom 2/3 of the puzzle is completed.)
Form a yellow cross on the Up face edges.
After binge-watching old music videos all weekend it's now Monday morning and time to go to work. You have to laugh when you think of your boss: Irv. He's a stickler for details when it comes to those working under him, but the poor guy has an odd hillbilly-type accent, and overuses clichés, which he always misquotes. One of your co-workers likes to mock him by saying:
"When werkin' five to nine fur Urf be sure to cross your Y's."
(Meaning: "When working nine to five for Irv, be sure to dot your I's and cross your T's.")
If possible, rotate the Cube so that the yellow faces on the Up-side form a right-angle in the upper left corner (like clock hands indicating nine o'clock.) [It doesn't matter what other yellow faces may be on the Up-side, as long as three of them can form this pattern.]
Perform the fur URF moves (even if the 9:00 position was not possible):
Repeat the above steps as needed until all four Up edges are yellow (the "yellow cross" referred to in "cross your Y's.")
Complete yellow Up face.
After work you head over to Happy's Bar & Billiards for happy hour which starts at 6 o'clock. You go there mostly to watch the pool players. Tonight an amateur is playing in the front room with one of Happy's notoriously curved pool cues. The guy is aiming at the yellow ball (which is emblazoned with a happy face ), calling the left corner pocket nearest you. You watch as he:
If there is exactly 1 yellow corner on the Up-face, rotate the Cube so that the yellow corner is near you on the left of the Up-face.
If there's not exactly 1 yellow corner on the Up-face, rotate the Cube so a yellow corner of the upper-rim is on the Front face to your left.
With your right hand do the "Happy move":
Repeat the above formula until the Up face is entirely yellow: just like a Happy ("smiley") face!
Complete Upper-rim corners.
You head to the back room of the bar; the best players are in the back. The bartender, after turning on the lights, stands before the old wall-sized ad for Right Prime beer, and ritualistically recites his nightly reply to it prior to offering you a seven dollar bottle:
Shortcut (when possible): If all the corners are in their proper relationships to each other, but in the wrong places, do u-turns as needed to send them all home -- and you're done with this step! (i.e. if all it needs is a u-turn or two to orient all the corners, then make the u-turn(s) rather than doing the Right-Prime move.)
Otherwise:
"Best in the back": If there is an upper-rim side with matching corners, align to home & position to Back.
Do the "Right Prime" move:
Repeat the above formula until the upper corners (up face and upper-rim) are in their correct places and orientations.
Orient the Upper-rim edges, completing the puzzle!
The TV behind the bar is broken, so at 8 o'clock each night the bartender unfurls a faded movie-projector screen and shows an old movie. Tonight's feature is a B&W prison flick which takes place at the Frisco Federal Penitentiary. The first scene opens on the warden's pride and joy: his make-shift classroom he fondly refers to as the frisco federal university (being non-accredited, it doesn't rate capitalization.) The prisoners march in: the complete dunces to the left, and incomplete dunces to the right. The warden commands: "Both sides down!" And the men take their seats.
Then the warden goes to the safe where he keeps the textbook.
He dials around the combination, opens the safe -- and finds the textbook has been stolen!
So he orders the men: "Both sides up!"
The men stand, then start to grumble at not having received their daily lesson, until the warden shouts:
"That's enuff!"
If there is a completed side (all one color) position it to the Back.
Do the "f-furl" move:
Repeat the above formula until the puzzle is complete -- and that's "enuff"!