Rubik's Cube Algorithms

Part One

ALGORITHM KEY

`F` = Front side
`U` = Up side
`L` = Left side
`R` = Right side
`D` = Down side
`i` = Turn counter-clockwise (otherwise, you always turn clockwise)

`Fi U Li Ui` = Turn the Front side counter-clockwise, then turn the Up side clockwise, then turn the Left side counter-clockwise, then turn the Up side counter-clockwise.

Watch the Part One video for a full explanation of how to use the algorithms below!

LIST OF ALGORITHMS

Fi U Li Ui

Ri Di R D

U R Ui Ri Ui Fi U F

Ui Li U L U F Ui Fi

F R U Ri Ui Fi

R U Ri U R U U Ri

U R Ui Li U Ri Ui L

Ri Di R D

Krishna commented that those last two are wrong; they should be:

U R Ui L U Ri Ui Li

Ri D R Di

Kev commented that Krishna's correction was incorrect. I've reverted to the original algorithm.

Part Two

Thanks for the Rubik's cube tips, Dan!

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60 Comments

  1. I use to be able to do the Rubiks in less than 2 minutes when they were popular when I was lil. Now, I just sit and stare at it. 🙁

  2. sorry if i sound stupid but is the list posted above of algorithms, if you do them in order will that solve the cube entirely

  3. to the guy who used to solve it in 2min. You should try doing it again, its good for the brain.I once was pretty quick back in the days… 1982 my quickest time was 26 sec.

  4. These two algo. is not properly currect 1. U R Ui Li U Ri Ui L , 2.

    Ri Di R D that is to be U R Ui L U Ri Ui Li, 2. Ri D R Di.

      • Great Page Raam! I’ve managed to memorize all but the penultimate algorithm. I’m not sure what krishna is on about, but your last two algorithms work fine for me and krishna’s seem to mess up my cube!

        Your penultimate algorithm (U R Ui Li U Ri Ui L) works fine for me. If no corners are in the correct place, repeating this eventually puts one in the correct place. Then I move the cube so that it is positioned in the bottom right corner of the top face (as you describe in your video). I then keep the same correct piece in the correct corner whilst repeating the algorithm until all are in the correct positions. I then use Ri Di R D to clean up.

        I’ve done this about 3 or 4 times successfully per day for around two weeks…

        • Kev,

          Thanks for the info! I don’t have a rubix cube handy to test this, but seeing as how you’ve been doing it for two weeks, I will assume you are correct and revert Krishna’s correction.

          I need to do what you’re doing and just memorize the algorithm once and for all. 🙂

  5. Hiya!

    Basically I do everything correctly right up until the last algorithm. If I have 3 final corner pieces left to unsolve, I can do 2 and everything lines up properly and then if I attempt the last one (using Ri D R Di or Ri Di R D) it always mucks up the rest of my cube 🙁

    Am I doing something wrong? Thanks.

    • I’m not sure, Aled. I don’t have a Rubix Cube with me at the moment, so I can’t check (I have yet to memorize the algorithm and its been awhile since I used it). I’ll have to find my cube and retest this soon.

    • Hi Aled,

      I’ve been learning this as well, I use Ri Di R D. But in the early days I got caught out a few times because the although the algorithm is 4 steps, the top face corners always appears to be solved on step 3 so sometimes I forgot the 4th step and rotated the top face to the next side too early, which screwed up my cube. If you make sure you complete all 4 steps before rotating you should be fine…

      I hope this helps you out…

  6. Amazing guide and cant wait to use It when I get ahold of my cube. So, just to make it clear, if I repeat all these algorithms then it will be solved right? Like go through the list as many times as I have too? Or just once?

  7. Like what I’m saying is how many times do I have to repeat this cycle before it’s completed? I’m getting a speed cube tomorrow and I’m really excited! Its the Dayan 50mm stickerless.

  8. Hi so I’m almost done with the first video but I still need two more greens. The problem is I can’t get them to the bottom without messing up everything else. What do I do?

  9. Now on the second video I’m on the last side and last edge but I can’t get it on the top middle edge on the front to do the algorithim but it’s on the top middle and all I need is an algorithim to switch them and then I can finish the two rows all around. I tried an algorithim from the first video but it messed up the bottom green and everything so I undid it and now it’s back to the original problem.

  10. I am so close to finishing but the red and white top edge peices are mixed and you only said how to fix them if they are directly across from each other so is it the same algorithim if they are next to each other as the algorithim for across from each other? If not what do I do!?

  11. Excuse me but could you make a list for like every notation. Or what it means like l, r, example: l’ = left inverted

    • That’s how its done move the right side to the bottom, the bottom layer to the left, the right side to up and finally, move the down to the right

  12. I learned this method years ago and wrote it down. By far the best and simplest method. I never bothered with the algorithm for the first cross.
    7 steps and it begins and ends with Ri Di R D.
    Loved it then and still love it.

  13. Isn’t the second algorithm wrong? In the video he says Down Inverted but turns it clockwise, and the only way to get the corners to match is to do Ri , D , R , Di

Webmentions

  • ET May 16, 2018