# Have you ever successfully solved a Rubik's Cube? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 25, 2016, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190 "2016-01-25T17:21:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/41 "2016-01-25T22:24:19Z")
I developed my own weird method back in the '80s, which goes: bottom layer, top corners, top sides, middle layer. I suspect it may not be as efficient as the ‘official’ method, because I could never get it done in much under 45 seconds, and I practised A LOT. But I’m never going to look up the official method because - geek pride. Once you can do a 3x3 and a 4x4, you can do anything. My current only cube is a 5x5 which drives my children to tears. I kinda lust after a 13x13, which is the biggest I can find commercially available, but not enough to pay _three hundred dollars_ for one (_faints_) ---
**Author:** ![Kimble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimble/32/19185_2.png) [@Kimble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimble)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/42 "2016-01-25T22:42:28Z")
I think I was 10 (maybe 9) when I got my first cube. Even though I was a pretty smart kid, there was no way I would have figured out a solution by myself. (I solved Rubik’s Clock without help in high school, but that’s a lot easier.) I had the Simple Solution book by Nourse as well. I memorized the solution and eventually taught most of it to the class bully before school ended and I moved out of state. Almost 35 years later, I still remember its moves a lot better than the Petrus method I learned about a year ago. Not coincidentally, I don’t think I’ve ever had a sub-four minute solve. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/43 "2016-01-25T23:21:02Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > This ts the solution guide that I bought in the early 1980’s. It’s a collectible out of print book now. > [http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Solution-Rubiks-Cube/dp/0553140175/ref=sr\_1\_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1453743161&sr=8-3&keywords=rubik’s+cube+solution](http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Solution-Rubiks-Cube/dp/0553140175/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1453743161&sr=8-3&keywords=rubik%27s+cube+solution) > > It doesn’t give a quick hack. It does give strategies to solve it. I got about half the cube done before losing interest. Huh. I still have this, but it’s pretty dog-eared. But I did use it successfully! ---
**Author:** ![bonzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/45deac/32.png) [@bonzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bonzer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/44 "2016-01-25T23:22:30Z")
Sure I did. The irony of it all is that it was the wee brother who bought one with his pocket money during the heyday of them when we were teenagers, but then never solved it, while my twin brother finally got reasonably proficient by following one of the books. Meanwhile I’d gotten there first by figuring it out from scratch with no help. Though I’ve never understood it in a deep Group Theory fashion. But, back in the day, I could solve it in about a minute or so. These days, I only have a mini, key-chain, version and still occasionally enjoy rattling through it. Perhaps every few years. But evidently not enough to fork out for a proper version that might optimise my speed again. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/45 "2016-01-25T23:37:48Z")
I’ve never really tried. I’ve never really seen them around anywhere. I may have at one time seen one and futzed with it a bit, but not with any plan to actually complete it. I did once read some algorithms for the heck of it, but it didn’t seem like anything I could pick up quickly, so I just ignored it. Now that I’ve worked out how to do any slider puzzle, I guess I might give it a go in the future. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2016, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/46 "2016-01-25T23:45:53Z")
What a bunch of turkeys. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/47 "2016-01-26T00:34:20Z")
I basically used Lumpy’s method but instead of putting each edge in the proper place individually, I’d put each in its proper “axis” until all I had left were opposite face swaps, which are pretty easy. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/48 "2016-01-26T01:33:42Z")
No, I never solved one. I did, however, throw one out of the window of a moving car, converting it to plastic shrapnel. Which _sorta_ solved it. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/49 "2016-01-26T02:24:58Z")
Let’s spin this over to The Game Room. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/50 "2016-01-26T02:46:23Z")
No. Tried several times when the toy was first introduced, but had neither the patience nor the intellect to solve it. ---
**Author:** ![Henga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Henga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henga)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/51 "2016-01-26T02:49:26Z")
What about a can of spray paint? ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/52 "2016-01-26T02:54:07Z")
I would consider my life complete if I could either solve one, or punch somebody who solved one. ---
**Author:** ![CAMJAY77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5fc32e/32.png) [@CAMJAY77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CAMJAY77)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/53 "2016-01-26T03:49:55Z")
I got one not long after they first came out. It took awhile to learn how to do it, but I eventually did and was able to do it in a short amount of time over and over again. Been a long long time since I messed with one, but could probably get one done in around a half hour maybe a little longer. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/54 "2016-01-26T04:35:18Z")
I never had the patience. My sister figured it out. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/55 "2016-01-26T05:19:33Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > I would consider my life complete if I could either solve one, or punch somebody who solved one. Learning to solve one probably takes less energy than punching someone, and will get you in less trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/56 "2016-01-26T05:55:15Z")
I used to be able to do it. Used the one of the books mentioned upthread and learned how, and then I was able to do it on my own for a while until I lost interest. Haven’t touched one in probably 30 years. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/57 "2016-01-26T06:31:54Z")
I’m proud to say I solved it without help from any book. Wouldn’t have gotten very far without a how-to website, though. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/58 "2016-01-26T06:38:03Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > And that robot linked in the OP is definitely not a world record, as it requires a modified cube (it needs holes drilled in the faces to insert the manipulators). Modified cubes are allowed by the standards body. You can read the rules [here](https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#article-3-puzzles). The relevant subrule seems to be: \*Modified versions of puzzles are permitted only if the modification does not make any additional information available to the competitor (e.g. orientation or identity of pieces), compared to an unmodified version of the same puzzle. \* Small, identical, and symmetrical holes would seem to be allowed. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/59 "2016-01-26T07:14:50Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > This ts the solution guide that I bought in the early 1980’s. It’s a collectible out of print book now. > [http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Solution-Rubiks-Cube/dp/0553140175/ref=sr\_1\_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1453743161&sr=8-3&keywords=rubik’s+cube+solution](http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Solution-Rubiks-Cube/dp/0553140175/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1453743161&sr=8-3&keywords=rubik%27s+cube+solution) > > It doesn’t give a quick hack. It does give strategies to solve it. I got about half the cube done before losing interest. I bought that book during the original craze in the early 80s, and used it to learn the solution (I was in high school). At that time, I was able to solve a Cube in under a minute. I remember, on several occasions, friends would give me a Cube to solve…and, after several unsuccessful tries, I’d hand it back to them. “Did you take some of the stickers off and try to solve it that way?” “Ummm, yeah, why?” “That changes the cube, and makes it unsolvable (which the book had pointed out).” ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190/60 "2016-01-26T16:55:27Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > I also made my own Rubik’s Cube at home from scratch out of all natural vegan ingredients. What are you some kind of commie-pinko-Russian-Chinese person? I made mine from the essence of Freedom and America, bacon. > [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > I would consider my life complete if I could either solve one, or punch somebody who solved one. We should meet up some time. I was the champion of my middle school. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-successfully-solved-a-rubiks-cube/744190.md?page=4)