Rubik’s Cube
Aug 1st, 2007 by Clare
Rubik’s Cube is a mechanical puzzle invented by a Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture, Erno Rubik. Long before your time (and my time), it was called the Magic Cube until people found out that there was no magic in there except for some trick that you have to do to solve the cube.
Walking around one of my heavens, Toys ‘R’ Us, pressing buttons on kids’ toys to make them play annoying jingling music, with Alvin attempting to pry me away from the Under 3 Years Old section, something from afar caught my attention. I made my way there and *ta da* hundreds of Rubik’s Cube displayed before my eyes greeting me. They even have a small TV playing the video of some guys speed-cubing. Interesting!
I bought myself a Rubik’s Cube and stubbornly tried to solve it without any help. After 3 days, I still had difficulty solving one side of the cube, never mind the whole cube. However, I have since learnt to solve the cube in under 4 minutes.
First of all, you need a Rubik’s Cube (DUH!!!). The center colour of each surface remains the same however you rotate the cube.
Here are how I solve it. Assuming the white layer as the base, I’ll solve the white layer first. To get every white surface correctly positioned, first, I have to make a white cross on the white surface. And then I’ll solve the whole white surface with every other side adjascent to the white correctly positioned.
See? The blue and orange surface nearest to the white surface are all properly aligned with the correct colour. There, first layer completed.
Next, I’ll solve the second layer without scrambling the completed first layer.
There, second layer completed. Final layer left, but to do that, I’ll have to solve the yellow layer (which is opposite the white layer) first.
See? Yellow layer solved without messing up the first two completed layers of the cube. Now let’s solve the top labels. I am going to solve it, leaving only the middle top labels to be solved, like this:
Then, the final step is to put the middle top labels into their right positions. So, after twisting and turning and rotating the cube in a specific way, I was almost done:
The layer nearest to the green surface are all of the same colour groups. Now final move. All I have to do is to turn the front layer 180 degrees and *ta da*
I am done! All under 4 minutes! My method of solving the cube is the layer-by-layer method, one of the most common method used worldwide. However, there are about 90 other methods can be used to solve the cube. Professionals need only 30 seconds or less to solve the whole thing. The fastest cube solver could even solve it blindfolded in 1 minute 56 seconds, if I am not mistaken.
Alvin explained it more detailed than I do in one of his posts. Oh, and he can do it faster than me, under 3 minutes. If I practise a lot - in the toilet while doing businesses, in the bus to classes, in the aeroplane, in classes, in restaurants, during boring speeches, etc - I think I can speed-cube as well.
I have been challenged by friends (mostly male) here to solve it countless of times because they did not believe that I could actually solve it under 5 minutes! (Just because I am a female!!!) I have even won myself free meals to prove them wrong. LOL!!! 
I miss playing with that toy. I need to get one asap since I’m gonna be couped up at home for the next one month. Sigh…
Go get one and end up speed-cubing like a pro…no, Toys ‘R’ Us ain’t paying me moolah to advertise their Rubik’s cube
Glad you are back!
I used to play this a lot when I was a kid. Look like a simple game back then. I think kids can solve the puzzle faster the untrained adults cause they are more creative. Correct me if I am wrong.
Yeah, I agree kids can play it pretty impressively…their brains are still developing, that’s why lor
i never could complete a rubic cube
Look up the solution from the internet, sure can wan
When i was kid, i dismantled that little thing to rearrange it after fed up turning and twisting without result.
Smart you!
I can never solve this thing…
Ps. That’s the thing that killed Megatron!!
Hahahahhaa!!! I have the cube, I have Megatron as well!
Long time never play this kind of game liao… sure play till next day cannot complete it… LOL
Hahahhaha!!! I played for three days also cannot solve!
I saw it at Toys’ R Us. Wanted to buy it but my wife said “what for? u can only solve one side.”
Rubik’s Cube is good for the brain…
Really or not? Or the picture actually show reverse one?
I can’t solve it so don’t bother to play with it 
Wanna challenge me? Wait I go back Sibu then you have to chia me eat kampua liao…
This is a game I have not play for a long long time, back then got hexagon rubic also! BTW u know how I solve the puzzel??? I just peel off the colour sticker & then stick back all same colour !!!! Ha! Ha! See I am not only ‘hor ny’ but also very ‘clever’!!! Have a nice day!
Hahahhahah!!! I thought of the same thing when I cannot solve it…
Haha…so smart la you. I’ve got broken English too. Damn it, I could only get to two same colours then no more do. You’re great
Thanks! Just go and find the solution online…I am not that smart really…
I always think that a person who can solve the rubic cube is a smartass. Me? Don’t ask la. After reading your tutorial, now hands itchy wanna buy rubic cube liao.
Go buy one lah…worth it what…Toys ‘R’ Us got a lot…and learn to solve it online…the process of doing that is interesting…
Have a nice weekend!
Uahh! Clever la. Genius la lu. I was looking for a tutorial to solve it for my kid. Haha.
Not clever lah, find solution from the net wan…Hehehe!!! Toy ‘R’ Us got the Rubik’s Cube solution pamphlet
where can i get one? i wanna get asap …
Toy ‘R’ Us got a lot…
Wooo, few weeks ago out of blue i went to search online to get the solution even i did not rubic cube with me.
After that, i got an old cube from my brother after i went back my howmtown during Raya and i was getting excited to solve the puzzle.
Wooo… Within 30 minutes, layer by layer i able to solve the cube.
As my cube is old, i will get a quality cube as my toy.
Thanks for provide tips to buy Rubic Cube from Toy”R”us.
Love-Fun-Peace
Kevin Low
kevinlow2u.com
Congrates! And you are welcome! Enjoy yourself with Rubik’s Cube!
can i know which toys’ r us did u buy that rubik’s..i have been trying to find that thing around jb shopping complex..
Toys ‘R’ Us anywhere also got. I saw a lot of them in toy ‘r’ us.