Johnny E. Cagle April 20, 2017

How to Solve the 3X3X3 Rubik’s Cube Without Algorithms Courtesy of T2 Games at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Za5PhDBpQQ

Understand

• Understand the centers. Six in total. Always in the same position to each other. One color each. • Understand the edges. Twelve in total. Two colors each. • Understand the corners. Eight in total. Three colors each.

Complete the Top White Layer – This layer can be free moves or structured moves. It is generally completed by moving pieces to the bottom layer to position them and them moving them up to the top layer into place.

1. Form the cross: a. Locate the white center. b. Keep it on top for the first two layers. c. Build a cross around the white center.

1. Hold the white center facing up. 2. Find an edge piece with white on it. 3. Match the other color on the edge to the same color center. 4. Turn each edge to the bottom of the same color center. 5. If an edge is on the bottom and the white is facing down, rotate that edge to the top to align with the top white center. 6. If an edge is on the bottom and the white is facing out, turn it to either side. 7. Turn the white center down to where that piece will fit in. 8. Turn the bottom white back into place with the white center and turn those whites back to the top. Repeat by color as

necessary. 9. Continue until the white cross is complete.

2. Place the corners: a. Place the white corners.

1. Hold the white layer facing up. 2. Find a corner piece with white facing out. 3. Place it on the bottom layer between the other two colors of the corner piece. 4. Turn the corner to the left if the white is on the left bottom corner or to the right if the white is on the right bottom

corner. 5. Turn the opposite white side down. 6. Move the white corner back. 7. Turn the white pieces back to the white layer. Continue as needed for all white corners facing out. 8. If you have white corners that are facing down, position them under the corner where they belong. 9. Turn the bottom layer to the right or left. 10. Turn the opposite white side down. 11. Turn the bottom layer back to its original position. 12. Turn the white side back to the white layer. 13. Turn the perpendicular white layer down. 14. Turn the bottom layer to the opposite of the layer turned. 15. Turn the perpendicular white layer back to the white layer. 16. Turn the white corner that now faces out under the corner where it belongs and repeat steps 1 through 8. 17. Repeat steps 1 through 7 in this section until all white corners are placed.

Complete the Center Layer – This layer is completed with one basic structured move.

1. Fix the edges: 1. Hold the white layer facing up. 2. Find an edge piece on the bottom layer that does not have yellow in it. Turn that layer to where the side face color is

aligned with its center. 3. Turn the bottom layer away from the color on the center piece bottom face. 4. Bring down the opposite side face. 5. Turn the bottom layer back to its original position. 6. Turn the side face back to its original position. 7. Position the white piece under the upper corner. 8. Turn the bottom layer to the left if the white face is on the left side of the corner or to the right if the white face is on the

right side of the corner. 9. Turn the opposite side top white face with the open corner down. 10. Move the bottom layer back in position. 11. Move the white positions back up to the top layer. 12. The edge on the bottom should be in the correct position in the second layer. 13. Continue until the center layer is placed or there are no more bottom layer edge pieces without yellow.

Johnny E. Cagle April 20, 2017

2. If you have edge pieces in the second layer that are oriented wrong, hold it facing you and turn the bottom layer away from the piece. Turn the face layer with the piece to the bottom. Turn the bottom layer back to original position. Turn the face layer back to the original position.

3. Go back to the beginning of this section to re-position any edges on the bottom that do not have yellow.

Complete the Bottom Yellow Layer – This layer is completed with three basic structured moves.

1. Form the cross: a. Turn the cube upside down to where the bottom layer with yellow center is on the top. Ignore the corner cubes in this step. b. If you only have a yellow center you can start on any side using the moves in “d”. c. If you have a right angle hold the cube so that the yellow faces form a right angle to the right. Be sure the non-yellow color of the edge you are

facing is matched to the color of the same side. Start on that side using the moves in “d”. d. If you have a line turn the cube so the line is from left to right of the side you are facing.

1. Turn the face to the right. 2. Turn the right up. 3. Turn the top to the left. 4. Turn the right down. 5. Turn the top back to the right. 6. Turn the face to the left.

e. Align the cross to see how many sides match colors. i. If all, you are ready to go to step 2. ii. If one, repeat the same series of moves in “a”, “b”, “c” and “d” above on the face to the right of the aligned face.

iii. If one or two, and they are perpendicular, then turn the cube so the right angle turns to the right of the aligned face. iv. If two, and they are across from each other, then turn the cube facing one of the aligned faces.

f. Align the colors of the cross: 1. Turn the right up. 2. Turn the top to the left twice. 3. Turn the right down. 4. Turn the top to the right once. 5. Turn the right up. 6. Turn the top to the right once. 7. Turn the right down. 8. Align the cross.

g. If aligned, you are ready to go to step 2. h. If not all aligned, repeat “e” until the colors of the ends of the cross are aligned with the side center colors.

2. Place the corners: a. Check to see if the corners are in the correct place even though they may not be aligned correctly. The three colors of the corner should be the

same as the three center colors they connect to. i. If not placed correctly, pick a face where one corner is correctly placed on the right or any face if no corners are correctly placed

and: 1. Turn the left up. 2. Turn the top to the left. 3. Turn the right up. 4. Turn the top back to the right. 5. Turn the left down. (It should be all white). 6. Turn the top to the left. 7. Turn the right down. (It should be all white). 8. Align the sides. 9. If all of the corners are not correctly placed, repeat these steps until they are.

b. Start with any face if the cross is aligned and the corners are placed: 1. Turn the right up. 2. Turn the top to the left twice. 3. Turn the right down. 4. Turn the top to the right once. 5. Turn the right up. 6. Turn the top to the right once. 7. Turn the right down. (It should be all white). 8. Hold the cube and turn the left up. 9. Turn the top to the left twice. 10. Turn the left down. 11. Turn the top to the left once. 12. Turn the left up. 13. Turn the top to the left once. 14. Turn the left down. (It should be all white). 15. Align the colors of the cross with the sides. 16. If all are not aligned, turn the incorrectly place corners to the right and repeat this series until the colors of the ends of

the cross and the corners are aligned with the center colors and the cube is complete.