Post by Blake

Solving the top row is the hardest part of the solution, believe it or not. Keep in mind that when you solve the one side, you have to solve the adjoining row at the same time. That means that if you decided to solve the blue face first, it would have to look something like the above picture. Notice how the red and green squares are all lined up nicely in the top row. Up to the challenge? Here we go...

Step-by-Step Instructions:

• Don't Panic
• Pick a color of the six (I will be using blue in most of the examples, so whenever I say blue, I really mean top color).
• Find a sticker of that color that is in the center of the face. This will be your top.
• Move the corresponding edge and corner pieces of that color next to the center cube while making sure the top outside row colors line up (may the thinking juices flow).

Let's break down that last part...

What you're basically trying to do is this:

When you're trying to do this for the first time, it's always a good idea to solve the edge pieces first, so you have a cross on the top like this...

This will make positioning the corners easier.

However, sometimes you will get this little dilemma...

Here's what to do if that happens:

Click here for an animation of the above sequence

When moving an edge piece to its place, make sure that while you're turning the sides it doesn't interfere with the edge pieces that are already in place. Move the top side so you can avoid messing up what you've done already.

Always remember to make sure that the colors on the side of the edge pieces line up with the other center squares (VERY IMPORTANT)...

Once you've got that down, you can move on to solving the corners.

If the corner you want to move is on the bottom row, move it directly underneath where you want it to go. Remember that the colors have to match up when it gets to the top row. So don't move a corner piece that has blue, yellow and orange on it directly underneath the blue-red and blue-green edge pieces.

WRONG:


RIGHT:


There are three ways to move this corner to the top row without disrupting any edge pieces. Depending on how the corner is oriented, you can decide how to move it.

The "2" means to turn that side 180 degrees. It doesn't matter which way.

Blue sticker is facing right:


Blue sticker is facing left:


Blue sticker is facing down:


What if the corner you need is on the top row already, but is in the wrong place or has the wrong orientation?

Do this while holding the cube so that the desired corner is in front:

The piece you need is now on the bottom row somewhere to the left. Crisis Solved.

Look what you've just done:


On to Step 2

Tags: Rubik's Cube