Rubik's Cube

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Lord-Svenstikov

I have recently (less than a week) taking up cubing. I have done it in 4 and a half minutes with a dodgy cube that doesn't really turn properly. Any other cubers out there; if so, which methods do you use? A person tells me it is best to start with a 2 by 2 by 2 cube then working out from that corner; whereas I do it by doing a side first.

Discuss!

cloudjubei
Top side first than layers, as in middle, then bottom layer cross, and then edge pieces left. Acquire urself a new cube at Hawkin's Bazaar at Crown Gate ;)
StacyBearden
I take the stickers off and then reapply the stickers. I can do this in about 3 minutes on a good day and if the stickers are new. My method is to take all the stickers off, except the center blocks which are not stickers, and then work from color to color until the puzzle is complete.
LeviAJones
my best time is one minute
Lord-Svenstikov
I think I'll get a new one for christmas. Yeah I have the same method as you Kamil, I've been practicing a lot recently. You may have seen me walking around the college with my cube out, (in a cool, non-geeky way of course :)).
StacyBearden
I try to not walk around with my cube out.
TonightOnly
When I used to be able to solve them (I wonder if I could remember), I did one side first. I know there are faster ways though. Did you try googling? It seems like such a  chess players game.
Sprite

I used to be hooked.  Best 2x2 time was ~5 seconds, 3x3 was ~42. 

The Lars Petrus method (2x2 box->2x3 box-> solved cube) is efficient in terms of number of moves, but it's really challenging to learn on your own (without internet/friend). 

I do the basic layer by layer method.  Get first layer, second layer, and then third layer.

Make sure you get a speedcubing cube (instead of the crappy ones that are hard to turn) if you try to do it for speed.  I used a crappy cube, and now I have screwed up wrists.  Buy a DIY cube and lube it to death.  You won't regret it, and you'll be much faster.

When you're starting to improve time-wise, you should try to work on "seeing ahead".  This reduces the time that you spend imbetween sequences, and is a vital part of speedcubing.  It's better to move almost without stopping (even at a slower turn speed) than do a sequence quickly only to finish it and have to find where to go from there.

If you have any other questions, feel free to message me.

erik
i can do a regular cube in 2 minutes on average. i learned a set of patterns which are not the most efficient, but are the easiest to memorize. plus it makes a good party trick where i can do huge long sequences without looking and sometimes that is really funny because people think i am doing it blind.
kyuudou
I use the layers method, too. My best is 1'56", but it was using a regular cube, not a speed cube. I know I could learn new methods that would speed up my time, but I'm rather proud of the fact that I've taught myself everything I know how to do.
ATJ1968
Back in 82 i could do it in about 30 seconds, bou can't remember now. I've been after one of them solution books on e-bay, but have had no luck.
Sprite

Once you do it, you actually realize how slow you did it.  Then you want to get faster and faster!

scandinaviandefense

I solved a side behind my back in 4 seconds. I solved the cube in 2 min. 30 sec.

 

 

Capoboy
I can do it about one and a half minute.. using Fridrich's method. It's a great method!! Good luck!!
NoOneOfConsequence

Back in the early 80's I would routinely finish one in about 45 seconds, with my best time being thirty something.  (32, maybe?)  These days... well, I'm not sure I remember the patterns for the bottom. :(  (I used the top, middle, bottom method.)

I always lubed the inner surfaces of mine with vasoline, which had the unfortunate side effect that if I got careless while doing a speed run the cube would sometimes fly apart. :)

Lord-Svenstikov

Many of you people pay reference to the fact that you have been doing it since the eighties. I feel such a newbie. :(

Basically I have 7 steps in my routine:

1. complete a horizontal/vertical cross on one face (I generally start as white)

2. get the corresponding corner pieces on the bottom layer then bring them up

3. put the four middle layer pieces in

4. make a yellow horizontal/vertical cross but not necessarily with the correct colours matched up

5. switch the order of the pieces in the cross so they are the correct colours

6. get the corner pieces in the correct place

7. turn the corner pieces so that they have the correct colours

I have little algorithums at every step; in some steps I have more than one that I know. At the moment I am starting to improvise more on the first two steps to cut out some moves.

oginschile

I remember a looooong time ago this very attractive co-worker was showing me how to solve the cube. I... paid attention.

I would come to work everyday for a month and solve rubics cube and tell her how fast i did it. She humored me for a while, but one day she acted like she just didn't care.

The reproach still burns.

I think I would have no idea how to do it anymore. I haven't seen a rubics cube in years. Amazing how popular they have stayed over the years though. Great toy.

By the way.. in case the story told in this post makes me sound completely pathetic... i must remind you... she was VERY attractive! Tongue out

magnetar
Akiko can do a rubik's cube behind her back....IMPRESSIVE EH?Wink
Redwall
solved it once, not knowing any method, took me a week to figure it out
Apoapsis
I can solve it in 95 seconds. I got one this Christmas. I'm that hooked!Embarassed