How to Solve a Rubik's Cube
Since the introduction of the Rubik's cube, many people have puzzled over how to solve the mystery of the cube. Here is a breakdown of the most commonly recommended method to returning the faces of the cube to their original order and location.
Always Begin Facing the Cube Head On
Trying to look at the position of the faces on more than one side at a time solves nothing. By focusing your attention on one side, it is easier to begin getting a grip on what moves will be productive in realigning the colors. Choose one side of the cube and stick to it.
Address the Top Layer
Begin the task by lining up the top row corners with the same color. Adjusting those two will create an anchor for the color scheme and serve as a guide during the process of slowly getting the entire top row into unity of color. Once the two top corners are in place, then address the two middle pieces and work around until they are unified with the top end pieces.
Go to the Middle Layer
With the top layer in place, it is time to line up the middle layer. In this scenario you will not turn vertically, as that would disrupt the top layer. Instead continue to turn horizontally until you achieve a the same color on the two middle pieces. Once the two middle pieces are properly in place, continue the process until the two outside middle faces are the same color.
Turn the Cube Upside Down
With uniform colors on the first side you addressed, turn the cube upside down and work on the last row. Arrange the corners of the cube first, and then go for the middle two. This will have the cube well on the way for being fully arranged, even though it may still look as if nothing is getting accomplished just yet.
Bring It On Home
At this point, flip all the corners around to their final positions and begin to finish the edges one at a time. This may take some concentration, but once the edges are in place, the job is almost done. With only the center areas to deal with, the task now will become a matter of trying to achieve an "H" pattern then slowly fill out around the pattern to complete the puzzle completely.
Full instructions for solving the Rubik's cube can be found at a number of gaming sites, many of them with full illustrations that can be followed step by step.
