A mnemonic system for solving Rubik’s cube
The basic methods described below are well
known and can be found for example at
https://how-to-solve-a-rubix-cube.com/
That web page has more details than what I
describe here, so please check it out for further clarification.
To make it easier to remember the methods,
though, I have created a system of mnemonics where consonants represent the
various sides of the cube and vowels represent the clockwise and anticlockwise
directions.
For example, instead of having to remember
something like
T' L' T L T F T' F'
you instead remember
Willy's palatable tofu tiffin
and you say it in your mind (or aloud)
while you make the moves.
To quickly get an idea of how the mnemonics
work, look at the example above. The first consonant is a W which means
you should move the top layer. The vowel after the W is an i
which means that you should turn the layer anticlockwise. The next consonant is
an l which means you should move the left side. The vowel after the l
is a y which means that this side should also be moved anticlockwise.
Very quickly you get used to it and automatically move according to the mnemonics you say.
Below follow the rules of the mnemonic system and the mnemonics needed to solve the cube.
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|
Top
T (Top)
P (toP)
V (View
from the top)
W
(Wonderful view)
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|
Left
L (Left)
D (D has a
left side)
K (K
points to the left side)
S (the
first Side, counted from left)
|
Front
F (Front)
N (froNt)
C (Center)
X (X marks
the center)
|
Right
R (Right)
G (riGht)
H (rigHt)
J (J has a
right side)
|
|
|
Bottom
B (Bottom)
M (bottoM)
Q (Q has a
line at the bottom)
|
|
|
|
|
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Clockwise
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Anticlockwise
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A,
O, U, [no vowel]
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E,
I, Y
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Rules
- Double consonants count as one.
- Maximum two movements per word.
-
Words with less than three letters are
ignored.
- Initial vowel is ignored.
Solving the cube
1.
Start by fixing the first layer yourself (first the
sides, then the corners). Turn this first layer to the bottom.
2.
Fix the sides of the middle (second) layer with
methods "Move down right" and "Move down left".
3.
Fix the top cross with method "Top
cross".
4.
Fix the top edges with method "Top
edges".
5.
Position the top corners with method
"Position top corners".
6.
Orient the top corners with method "Orient
top corners".
Methods
(The ' indicates anticlockwise)
Move down right
T R T' R' T' F' T F
P G P' G' P' N' P N
V H V' H' V' C' V C
W J W' J' W' X' W X
|
Trap Peggy's penny in Wonderland
|
Move down left
T' L' T L T F T' F'
P' S' P S P N P' N
V' K' V K V C V' C
W' D' W D W X W' X
|
Willy's palatable tofu tiffin
|
Top cross
F R T R' T' F'
N G P G' P' N'
C H V H' V' C'
X J W J' W' X'
Top edges
R T R' T R T T R' T
G P G' P G P P G' P
H V H' V H V V H' V
J W J' W J W W J' W
Position top corners
T
R
T'
L'
T
R'
T'
L
P G P' D' P G' P'
D
V H V' K' V H' V' K
W J W' S'
W
J' W' S
|
True teleportation worries Ted
|
Orient top corners
R' B'
R
B
G'
M'
G M
H' Q' H Q
J'
J