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How to Solve Rubik’s Cube in 20 Moves

The Rubik’s Cube, with its vibrant squares and enigmatic facade, has captivated the minds of puzzle enthusiasts for decades. Its seemingly insurmountable complexity often deters aspiring solvers, but with the right approach, it can be conquered in as few as 20 moves. This comprehensive guide will unveil the secrets of the Rubik’s Cube, guiding you through every step of the process with clarity and precision. Whether you’re a seasoned puzzler or a complete novice, this step-by-step solution will empower you to solve the cube with confidence and efficiency.

To begin your journey into the realm of Rubik’s Cube mastery, it is crucial to establish a solid foundation. This entails becoming familiar with the cube’s terminology, understanding the mechanics of its movements, and comprehending the basic principles of solving. The Rubik’s Cube is composed of 54 colored squares, arranged in a 3x3x3 grid. The six faces of the cube can be rotated independently, allowing for countless permutations of the squares. To conquer the cube, solvers must manipulate the faces strategically, moving specific squares into their correct positions while maintaining the integrity of the solved state.

The first step in solving the Rubik’s Cube is to focus on a single face. Choose any face and, using the appropriate notation, rotate the faces until you have solved that face completely. This means matching all nine squares on the face, ensuring that each side has a uniform color. Once you have solved one face, you can move on to the next. The next step is to solve the middle layer of the cube. This involves matching the squares around the center squares on each of the four sides. To do this, you will need to use a combination of moves on the front, back, and side faces. Once you have solved the middle layer, you can move on to the final step, which is solving the top layer of the cube. This is the most challenging step, as it requires you to manipulate the top layer while keeping the other two layers solved. However, with a little practice, you will be able to master this step and solve the Rubik’s Cube in no time.

Step 1: Solve the White Cross

The first step in solving a Rubik’s Cube is to create a white cross on one of the faces. This provides a solid foundation for the rest of the solution.

4 Center Pieces

Start by identifying the four white center pieces. These pieces are permanently fixed and cannot be moved. They will form the center of the white cross.

4 Edge Pieces

Next, locate the four white edge pieces. These pieces have one white side and one colored side. They will be used to fill in the arms of the white cross.

Align Edge Pieces

To align an edge piece, hold the cube with the white center piece facing you. Find the edge piece that corresponds to the color on the adjacent center piece. For example, if the center piece on the right is blue, the edge piece you need should have a blue side.

Insert Edge Pieces

To insert an edge piece, hold the cube as shown in the table below. Rotate the top layer until the white side of the piece aligns with the center piece. Then, rotate the front layer to insert the piece. Repeat this process for all four edge pieces.

Step 2: Solve the White Corners

Now that the top face is solved, it’s time to tackle the white corners. This involves maneuvering the four white edge pieces into their correct positions on the bottom face. Remember, each white edge piece has a sticker that matches one of the center faces. Follow these steps:

Step 2a: Identify the Target Faces

Examine the unsolved corner pieces on the top face. Each piece will have two stickers of different colors. Locate the center face that matches one of these stickers. For example, if a corner piece has green and blue stickers, the target face is the green face.

Step 2b: Position the Corner Piece

Hold the cube with the target face facing you. Bring the corner piece, which has the matching sticker, to the front edge of the top face. Align the stickers so that they match up with the adjacent center faces.

Step 2c: Insert the Corner Piece

To insert the corner piece, perform the following sequence:

Corner Insertion Sequence

Algorithm Rotation

D Turn the right face downward

R Turn the front face clockwise

D’ Turn the right face upward

R’ Turn the front face counterclockwise

This sequence will insert the corner piece into the bottom face, matching the target face and creating a 2×2 solved section.

Algorithm	Rotation
D	Turn the right face downward
R	Turn the front face clockwise
D’	Turn the right face upward
R’	Turn the front face counterclockwise

Step 3: Solve the Middle Layer

Solving the middle layer requires positioning the edge pieces of the second layer beneath their corresponding colors on the top layer. This will create a “cross” pattern on the top layer, with each edge piece aligned with the center piece above it. Here’s a detailed guide to solving the middle layer:

Step 3a: Find an Edge Piece that Matches a Top Color

Inspect the top layer and identify an edge piece that matches one of the four colors. The goal is to move that edge piece directly beneath its matching color on the top layer.

Step 3b: Insert the Edge Piece into the Middle Layer

Hold the cube with the target color facing up and the edge piece to be inserted on the bottom side. Rotate the middle layer (the layer directly below the top layer) to align the open slot with the target color. Slide the edge piece into the slot, turning the layer as needed to ensure that it aligns correctly.

Step 3c: Repeat for All Edge Pieces

Repeat steps 3a-3b for the remaining three edge pieces until the middle layer is complete, forming a “cross” pattern on the top layer. Refer to the table below for specific algorithms to insert edge pieces into the middle layer:

Step 4: Solve the Top Corners

With the top edge pieces correctly oriented, the next step is to solve the top corners. The corners are the pieces that occupy the top-left, top-right, and back-right positions of the cube. To solve them, follow these steps:

1. Identify the Corner Piece

First, identify the corner piece that needs to be solved. It is the one that is not yet correctly positioned.

2. Holding the Cube

Hold the cube with the unsolved corner piece facing you and the white face on top.

3. Rotations

Perform the following rotations:

Rotate the top layer clockwise.
Rotate the right side counterclockwise.
Repeat steps 1 and 2.

This sequence of rotations will move the corner piece to the back-right position

4. Inserting the Corner

To insert the corner piece, perform the following rotations:

Rotate the top layer clockwise until the corner is aligned with the corresponding slot on the back face.
Rotate the back face clockwise.
Rotate the top layer counterclockwise back to its original position.

Rotation	Purpose
Top layer clockwise	Align the corner with the slot on the back face
Back face clockwise	Insert the corner into the slot
Top layer counterclockwise	Return the top layer to its original position

Repeat this process for the remaining two top corners. Once all three corners are solved, the top face of the cube will be complete.

Step 5: Solve the Top Edges

Now that the top face is complete, let’s focus on arranging the four edge pieces around it. These edge pieces should match the color of both the top face and the side face they are adjacent to.

Observe the top face and locate an edge piece that is not in its correct position. Let’s assume the orange-blue edge piece needs to be moved to the front-right position.

Insert the edge piece into the second layer, facing the front. Rotate the front face clockwise until the edge piece is aligned with the right-side face. Then, rotate the right face clockwise to insert the edge piece into the top layer.

To correctly orient the edge piece, you may need to perform a specific sequence of moves:

Edge Piece Orientation	Move Sequence
Blue side facing front	D R’ D’ R
Orange side facing front	D’ R D R’

Once the edge piece is correctly inserted and oriented, repeat the process for the remaining three edge pieces until all four edges are solved.

Step 6: Solve the Top Face

The top face of the cube should now be completely solved, with all nine center pieces and edge pieces in their correct places. If not, follow these steps:

Align the Corner Pieces

Rotate the top face until one of the unsolved corner pieces is in the front-right position. Orient the corner piece so that its correct position on the top face is facing you.

Insert the Corner Piece

Perform the following sequence of moves:

Sequence	Description
R U R’ U’	Move the front-right corner piece to the right and then back
R U2 R’	Move the corner piece to the back and then back to the front

Solve the Edge Pieces

Repeat the above steps for each unsolved edge piece. Rotate the top face until an unsolved edge piece is in the front position. Perform the same sequence of moves (R U R’ U’ for the left edge, R U2 R’ for the right edge) to insert the edge piece.

Orient the Edge Pieces

If any of the edge pieces are oriented incorrectly, perform the following sequence of moves to flip it:

Sequence	Description
U R U’ R’	Flip the front edge piece

Once all the top face pieces are solved and oriented, you have successfully completed Step 6 of solving the Rubik’s Cube.

Step 7: Permute the Top Edges

The next step is to permute the top edges. This means that you want to arrange the top edges so that they are all in the correct positions. To do this, you will need to use the following algorithm:

Algorithm	Description
R U R’ U R U2 R’	This algorithm moves the top edge that is at the front of the cube (the one with the green sticker on it) to the right.
L’ U L U’ L U2 L’	This algorithm moves the top edge that is at the back of the cube (the one with the red sticker on it) to the left.

You can use these algorithms to rearrange the top edges until they are all in the correct positions.

Once you have permuted the top edges, you will have completed the seventh step of the Rubik’s Cube solution. You are now one step closer to solving the cube!

Step 8: Orient the Top Corners

Now that you have positioned the top corners, it’s time to orient them correctly. This involves aligning the colored faces of the corners with the corresponding faces of the middle layer. To do this, use the following algorithm:

Algorithm:

Step	Move Sequence
1	R U R’ U’ L’ F R F’ L

With this algorithm, you will insert one corner at a time into its correct position and orientation.

Tips:

Start with any corner that is out of place.
Apply the algorithm slowly and precisely.
Repeat the algorithm until all four corners are correctly oriented.
If you make a mistake, don’t panic. Just undo the algorithm and start again.

Once all the top corners are oriented, you are one step closer to completing the cube. In the next step, you will learn how to position the top edges.

Step 9: Solve the Bottom Cross

Once you have solved the top layer, the next step is to solve the bottom cross. This involves matching the edge pieces on the bottom layer to the center pieces on the corresponding sides. To do this, you can use the following algorithm:

Algorithm:

Step 1: Rotate the front face until the edge piece you want to solve is at the front-right corner.

Step 2: Rotate the bottom face clockwise once.

Step 3: Rotate the front face counterclockwise once.

Step 4: Rotate the bottom face counterclockwise three times.

Step 5: Rotate the front face clockwise once.

Repeat this algorithm until all four edge pieces on the bottom layer are solved.

Orientation Check:

After completing step 4, check if the edge piece is inserted correctly by its orientation. If the colors of the edge piece don’t match the center pieces on either side, apply the following orientation algorithm:

Step 1: Rotate the front face clockwise once.

Step 2: Rotate the front face counterclockwise twice.

Step 3: Rotate the front face clockwise once.

Step 10: Solve the Bottom Corners

With the bottom face solved, it’s time to tackle the bottom corners. Each corner piece has three sides, and they should match the colors on the adjacent sides of the bottom face.

Matching the Corners

To match a corner, hold the cube with the bottom face facing you. Locate a corner piece with one side matching the color on the bottom face. If it doesn’t, rotate the top face until it aligns.

Positioning the Corners

Once you have a corner piece with a matching side, you need to position it correctly. Use the following steps:

Hold the corner piece with the colored side facing up.
If the other colored side of the corner piece should be on the front face, turn the front face so that the matching color is facing you.
Insert the corner piece into the bottom layer and rotate the front face back to its original position.

Corner Table

The following table shows how to position the corners:

Corner Piece	Color on Bottom Face	Front Face Color
White-Blue-Green	White	Blue
White-Green-Orange	White	Green
White-Green-Red	White	Green
White-Orange-Red	White	Orange

How To Solve Rubik’s Cube 20 Moves

The Rubik’s Cube is a classic puzzle that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for over 40 years. It is a simple puzzle to learn, but it can be very difficult to master. There are many different ways to solve the Rubik’s Cube, but one of the most popular methods is the 20-move method. This method is relatively easy to learn and can be used to solve the cube in under 20 moves.

The 20-move method is divided into three main steps:

Solve the white cross. This step involves getting the four white edge pieces into the correct position on the top face of the cube.
Solve the white corners. This step involves getting the four white corner pieces into the correct position on the top face of the cube.
Solve the rest of the cube. This step involves getting the remaining six pieces of the cube into the correct position.

The 20-move method is a great way to learn how to solve the Rubik’s Cube. It is relatively easy to learn and can be used to solve the cube in under 20 moves. With practice, you can even learn to solve the cube in under 10 moves.

10 Easy Steps To Solve The Rubik’s Cube

Featured Image: [Image of a Rubik’s Cube being solved]

The Rubik’s Cube, an iconic puzzle that has fascinated and challenged minds for decades, has become a symbol of both frustration and intellectual triumph. Solving this enigmatic cube in just 20 moves is a feat that requires a combination of strategy, patience, and precision. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the intricacies of the Rubik’s Cube and provide a step-by-step method to achieve this challenging milestone.

Before embarking on this journey, it is important to understand the basic mechanics of the Rubik’s Cube. The cube comprises six faces, each consisting of nine squares. Each face can be rotated independently, allowing for numerous combinations. The goal of the puzzle is to align all the squares on each face so that they match in color. While there are countless possible combinations, the method outlined in this guide will provide a structured approach to solving the cube with minimal confusion.

To begin, we will focus on the top face of the cube. Using a series of intuitive moves, we will guide you through the process of aligning the edge pieces and then the center pieces. Once the top face is complete, we will proceed to the remaining faces, gradually expanding the solved portion of the cube until the entire puzzle is solved. Each step will be accompanied by clear instructions, diagrams, and tips to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the process. By following this systematic approach, you will not only learn how to solve the Rubik’s Cube in 20 moves but also gain invaluable insights into the mechanics and strategies behind this iconic puzzle.

Unveiling the Six Sides: A Beginner’s Guide

Stepping into the world of Rubik’s Cube solving, it’s crucial to get acquainted with the cube’s six distinct sides, each adorned with nine colored squares. Visualize the cube as a 3D puzzle, with each side rotating independently, akin to the faces of a die.

Let’s break down each side and its corresponding colors:

Side	Color
Front	White
Back	Yellow
Left	Orange
Right	Red
Up	Green
Down	Blue

Understanding these sides is pivotal to grasping the cube’s mechanics and the subsequent steps involved in solving it. As you progress through the puzzle, you’ll manipulate these sides, rotating them, and aligning the colored squares to achieve the ultimate goal of a solved Rubik’s Cube.

Decoding the Center Pieces: Mapping the Core

The Rubik’s cube consists of six faces, each with a central piece that remains fixed throughout the puzzle. These center pieces act as the foundation for solving the cube, establishing the framework for the subsequent steps. By understanding the orientation and location of these center pieces, you can lay the groundwork for a successful solution.

Visualizing the Center Pieces:

Imagine the cube as a whole, and envision the six center pieces forming a cross shape in the middle. Each center piece represents a specific color: white on top, yellow on bottom, red on one side, orange on the opposite side, green on another side, and blue on the remaining side. This arrangement of colors remains constant throughout the puzzle.

Mapping the Center Pieces:

To map the center pieces, you need to identify their correct locations and orientations.

1. Hold the cube in one hand and examine the center piece on the top face. This piece should always be white.

2. Use the other hand to rotate the side faces of the cube and search for the center piece that matches the color of the top face. For example, if the top center piece is white, you should look for a white center piece on one of the side faces.

3. Once you have located a matching center piece on a side face, rotate the side face to align the center piece with the top center piece. Repeat this process for all four side faces.

4. After aligning all four side center pieces, you will have a solid cross shape in the middle of the top face, with each side center piece matching the color of the corresponding side face.

Laying the Foundation: Completing the First Layer

Master the White Cross

Begin by rotating the top layer to Position a white edge piece over its corresponding center on the bottom layer. Once aligned, flip the edge inward and rotate the top layer clockwise to lock it in place. Repeat this process until all four white edge pieces form a cross.

Align the White Corners

Next, locate a white corner piece that is not in its correct position. Bring it to the top layer and rotate it clockwise or counterclockwise until it aligns with its respective corner on the bottom layer. Move the corner down and slot it into place by rotating the top layer.

Flip the White Corners

Some white corners may be facing the wrong direction. To correct this, locate a corner that needs flipping and bring it to the top layer. Next, rotate the top layer counterclockwise, rotate the corner clockwise, rotate the top layer clockwise, and finally rotate the corner counterclockwise. This will flip the corner and solve the first layer.

Middle Layer Magic: Aligning the Edges

Now, it’s time to tackle the middle layer’s edges. These are the pieces that connect the corner pieces and will form the sides of the cube.

Step 4: Aligning the First Edge

To align the first edge, identify the desired edge piece and locate its correct spot on the middle layer. Hold the cube so that the edge piece is facing the top, then rotate the top face until the desired edge piece is aligned with its matching color on the middle layer.

Next, perform the following sequence to insert the edge piece into the middle layer:

U’

R’

U’

R’

This sequence will insert the edge piece into the middle layer while preserving the orientation of the top layer and the solved corner pieces.

Top Layer Transformation: Flipping and Permuting

5. Corner Permutation Correction Algorithm: [R U R’ U’] x 2

This algorithm is applied when only the positions of the corner pieces on the top layer are incorrect, while the edges are correctly situated. The goal is to swap the positions of two adjacent corner pieces.

Steps:

[R U R’ U’]: This sequence rotates the top face clockwise, moves the corner piece clockwise one position, rotates the face counterclockwise, and moves the corner piece counterclockwise one position.
Repeat twice: This step ensures that the two adjacent corner pieces are swapped.

Explanation:

The first [R U R’ U’] sequence moves both corner pieces clockwise.
The second [R U R’ U’] sequence moves the top corner piece counterclockwise, while the bottom corner piece is held in place by the turn.
This results in the two corner pieces swapping positions.

Visual Aid:

Before	After
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9	1 3 2 4 5 6 7 8 9

The Essence of Conjugate Pairs: Mastering Rotations

Mastering the Conjugate Pair Technique

When rotating any side of the cube, the opposite side undergoes a complementary rotation. This principle is known as "conjugate pairs." Understanding this concept is crucial for solving the Rubik’s Cube efficiently.

Importance of Conjugate Pairs

Conjugate pairs play a pivotal role in manipulating the cube’s layers independently. By rotating one side and its conjugate pair, you can isolate the layer you want to work on without affecting the other layers.

Examples of Conjugate Pairs

Left (L) and Right (R): When you rotate the left side clockwise (L), the right side automatically rotates counterclockwise (R’).
Front (F) and Back (B): Rotating the front side counterclockwise (F’) causes the back side to rotate clockwise (B).
Top (U) and Bottom (D): Rotating the top side counterclockwise (U’) results in the bottom side rotating clockwise (D).

Tips for Using Conjugate Pairs

Remember that conjugate pairs always rotate in opposite directions.
Use conjugate pairs to isolate the layer you want to work on.
Practice rotating conjugate pairs smoothly and accurately.

Table of Conjugate Pairs

Rotation	Conjugate Pair
L (Clockwise)	R’ (Counterclockwise)
F’ (Counterclockwise)	B (Clockwise)
U’ (Counterclockwise)	D (Clockwise)

Parity Perfection: Solving Parity Issues

When encountering parity issues—situations where the corner and edge pieces of one face are swapped—the 7-move algorithm below will resolve the problem seamlessly:

1. Hold the cube such that the face with the parity issue is facing you.

2. Perform the following sequence:

R U R’ U’
R U2 R’
R U2 R’ U’
R U2 R’ U2 R
U R U’ R’
U R U’ R’
U2 R U’ R’

Details of the Algorithm:

Moves	Description
R U R’ U’	Rotates the right face clockwise and counterclockwise, removing any swapped corners or edges.
R U2 R’	Positions swapped corner or edge pieces on the side.
R U2 R’ U’	Moves the swapped piece to the bottom face.
R U2 R’ U2 R	Places the swapped piece in the correct position on the side.
U R U’ R’	Rotates the top face and moves the corner or edge piece back to the face it belongs to.
U R U’ R’	Returns the corner or edge piece to its original position on the face.
U2 R U’ R’	Fully resolves the parity issue by rotating the top face and moving the corner or edge piece back to its correct orientation.

The Sunflower Pattern: An Essential Algorithm

Step 8: Orient the Corner Piece

Once the corner piece is in the correct slot, you need to orient it correctly. To do this, hold the cube with the solved face on top and the corner piece in the front right position.

1. Rotate the right face clockwise twice: R2
2. Rotate the front face clockwise: F
3. Rotate the right face counterclockwise: R’
4. Rotate the bottom face clockwise: D
5. Rotate the front face counterclockwise twice: F2
6. Rotate the bottom face counterclockwise: D’

This sequence will correctly orient the corner piece. Now, you can repeat steps 5-7 to insert the remaining corner pieces. Once all the corner pieces are inserted, you can move on to the next step of solving the cube.

Corner Control: Manipulating the Last Corners

The ninth step involves controlling the corners of the bottom layer, also known as the “corner control” step. This step is crucial as it provides the foundation for completing the top layer and finalizing the cube.

To control the corners:

Identify the Corner Piece: Hold the cube with the solved white face on top and the bottom layer facing you. Locate a corner piece that is not in its correct position on the bottom layer.
Bring the Corner Up: Perform the following sequence to bring the corner piece to the top layer:
- R U R’ U’ R U2 R’
Insert the Corner: Once the corner piece is on the top layer, identify its correct position on the bottom layer. Rotate the top layer until the corner piece aligns with its home position.
Execute the Corner Swap: Perform the following sequence to insert the corner piece into its home position:
- R U2 R’ U’ R U’ R’
Repeat for Other Corners: Repeat steps 1-4 for the remaining three corners until all corners on the bottom layer are in their correct positions.

Corner Position	Sequence
Front Left	R U R’ U’ R U2 R’
Front Right	R’ U R U’ R’ U2 R
Back Left	L’ U L U’ L’ U2 L
Back Right	L U’ L’ U L U2 L’

Edge Reorientation: Completing the Final Frontier

Once the bottom face is solved, you must orient the edge pieces on the top face to match their corresponding colors on the side faces. To do this, follow these steps:

Identify the edge that needs to be reoriented: Look for an edge piece on the top face that is not facing its correct color.
Hold the cube so that the edge is on the front face: Bring the edge piece to the front by rotating the top face.
Consider the side faces: Observe the side faces adjacent to the front face. If the correct color is on the left, rotate the bottom face toward you (clockwise). If the correct color is on the right, rotate the bottom face away from you (counterclockwise).
Bring the edge down: Rotate the top face counterclockwise to bring the edge down to the bottom layer.
Reinsert the edge: Rotate the bottom face to line the edge up with its correct spot on the side face.
Bring the edge back up: Rotate the top face clockwise to bring the edge back to the top layer.
Rotate the top face again: Rotate the top face clockwise or counterclockwise to correct its orientation.
Check the edge: The edge should now be facing its correct color and oriented correctly on the top face.
Repeat for remaining edges: If any other edges need to be reoriented, repeat steps 1-8 for each edge.
Orient the corners: Once all the edges are oriented correctly, you need to orient the corners on the top face. This involves a series of moves that are different for each corner orientation. Refer to the table below for specific instructions:

Corner Orientation	Algorithm
Front-Left Corner	F R’ F’ R
Front-Right Corner	F R F’ R’
Back-Left Corner	B L’ B’ L
Back-Right Corner	B L B’ L’

How to Solve the Rubik’s Cube in 20 Moves

The Rubik’s Cube is a classic toy that has been enjoyed by people of all ages for decades. It is a challenging puzzle that can be solved in a variety of ways. One of the most popular methods is the 20-move solution. This method is relatively easy to learn and can be completed in just a few minutes with practice.

The 20-move solution consists of a series of steps that are repeated in a specific order. The first step is to solve the top face of the cube. This is followed by solving the middle layer, and then the bottom layer. The final step is to orient the cube so that the colors are all facing the correct direction.

There are a number of resources available online that can help you learn the 20-move solution. You can find videos, tutorials, and even interactive simulations that will guide you through the process.