How to Solve a Rubik's Cube | WIRED

WIRED's Robbie Gonzalez learned to solve a Rubik's cube from Tyson Mao, one of the co-founders of the World Cube Association. In two weeks, Robbie got his solve time down from 45 minutes with Tyson, to 20 minutes on his own, to under a minute on average. Learn his 8-step method here.

STEP-BY-STEP:
00:00 (Introduction)
03:06: Step 1: Make the Daisy
04:47: Step 2: Create the White Cross
06:32; (How to Hold the Cube)
08:10; Step 3: Solve the Bottom Layer
12:20; Step 4: Solve the Second Layer
14:57: Step 5: Create the Yellow Cross
15:06: (Cube Notation)
17:35: Step 6: Solve the Yellow Face
19:10; Step 7: Position the Corners
21:46: Step 8: Position the Edges



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Here's a handy step-by-step guide for you to better navigate the tutorial!

STEP-BY-STEP:
00:00 (Introduction)
03:06: Step 1: Make the Daisy
04:47: Step 2: Create the White Cross
06:32; (How to Hold the Cube)
08:10; Step 3: Solve the Bottom Layer
12:20; Step 4: Solve the Second Layer
14:57: Step 5: Create the Yellow Cross
15:06: (Cube Notation)
17:35: Step 6: Solve the Yellow Face
19:10; Step 7: Position the Corners
21:46: Step 8: Position the Edges

[nianib]

(Making points for myself)

Daisy formation 4:17
White cross: 4:51
Right trigger: 7:23
Left trigger: 7:40
Steps to the bottom layer: 8:25
White on top layer: 8:47
White on bottom: 10:15
White on top of cube: 10:41
Steps to the second layer: 12:24
If unsolved and all are matched with yellow: 13:46
{Cube Notation: 15:08

CW - Clockwise
CCW - Counter-Clockwise

F: Front Face, 90° CW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R: Right Face, 90° CW
U’: Upward Face, 90° CCW
R’: Right Face, 90° CCW
F’: Front Face, 90° CCW}

Yellow Cross: 16:42
{Solving the yellow layer: 17:37

R: Right Face, 90° CW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R’: Right Face, 90° CCW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R: Right Face, 90° CW
U2: Upward Face, 90° CW X2
R’: Right Face, 90° CCW}

{Solving the last corners: 19:12

L’: Left Face, 90° CCW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R: Right Face, 90° CW
U’: Upward Face, 90° CCW
L: Left Face, 90° CW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R’: Right Face, 90° CCW
R: Right Face, 90° CW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R’: Right Face, 90° CCW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R: Right Face, 90° CW
U2: Upward Face, 90° CW X2
R’: Right Face, 90° CCW}

If one face has matching corners: 20:54
Once all corners are matching: 21:33

{Positioning the edges: 21:53

F2: Front Face, 90° CW X2
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R’: Right Face, 90° CCW
L: Left Face, 90° CW
F2: Front Face, 90° CW X2
L’: Left Face, 90° CCW
R: Right Face, 90° CW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
F2: Front Face, 90° CW X2}

Did I just pull an all nighter to learn how to solve a rubik’s cube because I was curious? Yes.
Do I regret it? Not at all

[arianmayan]

Spent my entire life thinking I would go to my grave without ever being able to solve the Rubik's cube. And then just a week ago came across this video and solved the cube for the first time in my life. My happiness knows no bounds. Thanks Robbie and Tyson for sharing this.

[suddenmutsengi]

The most legit way of solving Rubik's cube for beginners. I've tried a lot of other videos but this is the most simplest and straight forward way of solving the cube. Easy to understand and to follow the steps. Thanks to you Robbie, I've solved my first ever Rubik's cube. You're a Lej.

[UberKvlt]

I found replacing step 3 with the throw it over the fence method much more therapeutic

[mrwarhammer]

When I saw 16M views I thought wow so many people saw this but now i realise that about 1M people watched this on repeat

[akbaliyarsingh-myht]

10:17 Outward facing white on the bottom layer
10:46 When white stickers on top layer
16:50 Yellow cross
17:55 Solve yellow side
22:15 Clockwise algo
22:42 Counter ockwise algo

[ATerriblepurpose]

I got to part four by myself but you have put into words my thinking. I been a week and I’ve probably put about 10 minutes in every day. Today I decided to get serious. I checked out a bunch of other videos before this and this is by far the best. The others can’t seem to resist showing off and the ego is distracting. They may be good but this one is clearly articulated. Thank you so much.

[kuhrm]

Daisy formation 4:17
White cross: 4:51
Right trigger: 7:23
Left trigger: 7:40
Steps to the bottom layer: 8:25
White on top layer: 8:47
White on bottom: 10:15
White on top of cube: 10:41
Steps to the second layer: 12:24
If unsolved and all are matched with yellow: 13:46
{Cube Notation: 15:08

CW - Clockwise
CCW - Counter-Clockwise

F: Front Face, 90° CW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R: Right Face, 90° CW
U’: Upward Face, 90° CCW
R’: Right Face, 90° CCW
F’: Front Face, 90° CCW}

Yellow Cross: 16:42
{Solving the yellow layer: 17:37

R: Right Face, 90° CW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R’: Right Face, 90° CCW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R: Right Face, 90° CW
U2: Upward Face, 90° CW X2
R’: Right Face, 90° CCW}

{Solving the last corners: 19:12

L’: Left Face, 90° CCW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R: Right Face, 90° CW
U’: Upward Face, 90° CCW
L: Left Face, 90° CW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R’: Right Face, 90° CCW
R: Right Face, 90° CW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R’: Right Face, 90° CCW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R: Right Face, 90° CW
U2: Upward Face, 90° CW X2
R’: Right Face, 90° CCW}

If one face has matching corners: 20:54
Once all corners are matching: 21:33

{Positioning the edges: 21:53

F2: Front Face, 90° CW X2
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
R’: Right Face, 90° CCW
L: Left Face, 90° CW
F2: Front Face, 90° CW X2
L’: Left Face, 90° CCW
R: Right Face, 90° CW
U: Upward Face, 90° CW
F2: Front Face, 90° CW X2}

[isabellescherbovich]

15 tries, 3 meltdowns, and 1 cry of happiness later, I have officially solved my first Rubik's Cube!

[xaviersanchez]

I think your real talent is instructing complex subjects and simplifying them so anyone can learn in a carefree way. I’ve watched many videos but many lost me half way! You’re careful and concises step for step instructions are truly inspiring. Thanks!

[abbyc]

well since i’m stuck indoors ig i’ll learn a new skill 😂

update: i can solve in under 2 minutes now! ik its not the fastest but i'm happy w/ it :)

[snor]

Me: *does the last algorithm*
Me: yes I’m almost done!
Me ten seconds later: ok so I’m gonna start with the daisy

[deepblue]

This was by far the most clear tutorial on solving the cube. Took me about 10 days at an hour a day (without a cheat sheet). Got my best time now is 2:06. Would love to see a demo of the 1 minute solve one day to see any little tricks you're using. Thanks for taking the time and energy to create this vid, and for making lots of people think I'm a genius.😁

[JonathanAufderheide-lnpr]

This was the first cube tutorial I watched. I can solve it in under 18 seconds consistently now. Coming back just to relive that feeling is something special. Thank you. ❤

[merryberry]

Gotta say, after you solve it it feels soo GOOOD and makes me want to just keep solving it

[alexanto]

I did it. It took me 16 years after my purchase. All that lead to it is corona. By the way thanks man.

[TheTaracad]

This was explained really well. Both my daughter (9years old) and myself can perform the solve in under 5 mins. Took us about a week to practice and learn the algorithm. I will recommend this to all my family and friends.

[grayemski]

One more thing ticked off my bucket list! Robbie is a really good teacher. This video really covers it all so well. Many thanks!!!

[jenna]

Him: “You’ll never have 3 yellow corners” me: *looks down to my 3 yellow corners*