Speedcubing (also known as speedsolving, or speed-cubing) is the activity of solving a Rubik's Cube or related puzzle as quickly as possible. Here, solving is defined as performing a series of moves that transforms a scrambled cube into a state where each of the cube's six faces is one single, solid color.
Most cubes are sold commercially in variations of 2×2×2, 3×3×3, 4×4×4, 5×5×5, 6×6×6, and 7×7×7. Variations of the puzzle have been designed with as many as 17 layers [1], but the largest denomination cube that has been patented is a 7x7x7.[2] The current world record for a single solve of the 3×3×3 in competition is 5.66 seconds set by Feliks Zemdegs during the Melbourne Winter Open 2011.[3] However, unofficial "faster" times have been recorded on video.[4][5]
Speedcubing is a popular activity among the international Rubik's Cube community. Members come together to hold competitions, work to develop new solving methods, and seek to perfect their technique. As a part of the community, puzzle builders try to invent new forms of permutation puzzles.
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The Rubik's Cube was invented in 1974 by Hungarian professor of architecture Ernő Rubik. A widespread international interest in the cube began in 1980, which soon developed into a global craze. On June 5, 1982, the first world championship was held in Budapest. The height of the craze began to fade away after 1983, but with the advent of the Internet, sites relating to speedcubing began to surface. Simultaneously spreading effective speedsolving methods and teaching people new to the cube to solve it for the first time, these sites brought in a new generation of cubers, created a growing international on-line community, and raised the profile of the art. Twenty years after the first World Championship, the 2002 Dutch Open competition was the first in a new wave of organized speedcubing events, which include regular national and international competitions.[6] There have been four more World Championships since Budapest's 1982 competition, which are traditionally held every other year, the first held in Toronto in 2003, the second in Lake Buena Vista, Florida in 2005, and after 25 years the tournament returned to Budapest, Hungary in 2007. In 2009, the tournament was held in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The standard Rubik's Cube can be solved using a number of methods, not all of which are intended for speedcubing. Although some methods employ a layer-by-layer algorithm, other significant (though less widely-used) methods include corners-first methods, and the Roux method.
CFOP (Cross - F2L - OLL - PLL) system, also known as the Fridrich method, was named after one of its inventors, Jessica Fridrich, who finished 2nd in the 2003 Rubik's Cube World Championships. It first works to solve a cross-shaped arrangement of pieces on the first layer. The remainder of the first layer and all of the second layer are then solved together in what are referred to as "corner-edge pairs" or slots. Finally, the last layer is solved in two steps — first, all of the cubies in the layer are oriented to form a solid color (but without the individual pieces being in their correct places on the cube). This step is referred to as orientation and is usually performed with a single set of algorithms known as OLL (Orientation of Last Layer). Then, all of those cubies are permuted to their correct spots. This is also usually performed as a single set of algorithms known as PLL (Permutation of Last Layer).
The CFOP system is a widely-used speedcubing method. Its popularity stems from the speed at which it can be easily performed. Besides the first step, which can be planned during the customary 15-second inspection time, the entire solve of the cube consists of executing predefined algorithms based on the state of the cube.
The Petrus method, named after its inventor Lars Petrus, is considered by some people to be more intuitive than the structured Fridrich method. The Petrus method works by first solving a 2×2×2 block of the cube. This block is then extended to a solved 2×2×3 block. All edges are then oriented and then the first and second layers are completed. Next, the top corners are put in the right place and then the layer is oriented correctly (all stickers facing up) and finally the last edges are permuted (moved around). Lars Petrus developed this method to address what he felt were inherent inefficiencies in layer-by-layer approaches, which he explains in his method's tutorial: "When you have completed the first layer, you can do nothing without breaking it up. So you break it, do something useful, then restore it. Break it, do something, restore it. Again and again. In a good solution you do something useful all the time. The first layer is in the way of the solution, not a part of it!". This method is often used as the basis for fewest moves competition solutions.
The first step of the Roux method is the formation of a 3×2×1 block. The 3×2×1 block is usually placed in the lower portion of the left layer. The second step is to create another 3×2×1 on the opposite layer. The remaining four corners are then solved, which leaves six edges and four centers that are solved in the last step.
This method makes more efficient use of the standard 15 second inspection time, since one can plan the solution of 5 pieces rather than 4 for the Fridrich and Petrus method. It also isn't as dependent on algorithm memorization as the Fridrich method, since all but the third step is done with intuition as opposed to predefined sets of algorithms. The Roux method doesn't require as many cube rotations as the Fridrich method, so it is easier to look ahead while solving i.e. solving a collection of pieces and at the same time looking for the solution to the next step.
This method involves solving the corners then finishing the edges with slice turns. Corners-first solutions were common in the 1980s, with one of the most popular methods that of 1982 world champion Minh Thai. Currently corners-first solutions are less common among speedsolvers. The best corners first method was created in the cube craze by Dutch cuber Marc Waterman. He averaged 16 seconds in the mid-late 80s. First, build a face on the left. Then, solve the remaining corners. Next, solve two right edges and place one remaining right edge in the right layer OR solve three right edges. Then, solve the last right edge(s) and orient middle edges simultaneously. Finally, permute middle edges. This method only requires the memorization of around 7 algorithms.
ZZ is a modern speedcubing method, originally proposed by Zbigniew Zborowski in 2006.[7] The method was designed specifically to achieve high turning speed by focusing on move ergonomics. The initial pre-planned step is called EOLine, and is the most distinctive hallmark of the ZZ method. It involves orienting all edges while placing two opposite down-face edges. The next step solves the remaining first two layers using only left, right and top face turns. On completion of the first two layers, the last layer's edges are all correctly orientated because of edge pre-orientation during EOLine. The last layer may be completed using a number of techniques including those used in the Fridrich method. An expert variant of this method (ZZ-a) allows the last layer to be completed in a single step with an average of just over 12 moves and knowledge of 177 algorithms.[8]
According to the World Cube Association (WCA), competitors (in the same round) must solve cubes that are scrambled using a consistent algorithm (as in, every competitor solves the same scramble). Currently, the official timer used in competition is the StackMat timer. This device has touch-sensitive pads that are triggered by the speedcuber lifting their hands to start the time and placing their hands back on the pads after releasing the puzzle to stop the time. In addition to the electronic timer, there are human judges with stopwatches, who act as a back-up in case the timer doesn't work properly. These judges also ensure that the competitors are following competition regulations.
Official competitions are currently being held in several categories.
Category | Cube Type |
---|---|
speedsolving | 2×2×2, 3×3×3, 4×4×4, 5×5×5, 6×6×6, 7×7×7 |
one-handed solving | 3×3×3 |
blindfolded solving | 3×3×3, 4×4×4, 5×5×5 |
solving with feet | 3×3×3 |
solving in fewest moves | 3×3×3 |
Competitions will often include events for speedsolving these other puzzles, as well:
WCA organises World Rubik's Cube Championship as the main international competition once every several years. The latest championship was held in Bangkok, Thailand, 14–16 October 2011.
Championship | Year | Host | Dates | Nations | Puzzles | Events | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I | 1982 | Budapest | 5 June | 19 | 1 | 1 | [9] |
II | 2003 | Toronto | 23–24 August | 15 | 9 | 13 | [10] |
III | 2005 | Lake Buena Vista | 5–6 November | 16 | 9 | 15 | [11] |
IV | 2007 | Budapest | 5–7 October | 28 | 10 | 17 | [12] |
V | 2009 | Düsseldorf | 9–11 October | 32 | 12 | 19 | [13] |
VI | 2011 | Bangkok | 14–16 October | TBA | 12 | 19 | [14] |
These are the official speedsolving world records approved by World Cube Association.[3]
Event | Type | Result (Min:Sec) | Person | Competition | Result Details (Min:Sec) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2×2×2 | Single | 00:00.69 | Christian Kaserer | Trentin Open 2011 | |
Average | 00:02.12 | Feliks Zemdegs | Melbourne Cube Day 2010 | 00:02.38 / 00:01.77 / 00:01.75 / 00:02.21 / 00:02.46 | |
3×3×3 | Single | 00:05.66 | Feliks Zemdegs | Melbourne Winter Open 2011 | |
Average | 00:07.64 | Feliks Zemdegs | Melbourne Winter Open 2011 | 00:07.03 / 00:08.11 / 00:08.36 / 00:05.66 / 00:07.78 | |
4×4×4 | Single | 00:30.02 | Mats Valk | Dutch Nationals 2011 | |
Average | 00:35.22 | Feliks Zemdegs | World Championship 2011 | 00:33.33 / 00:38.71 / 00:33.28 / 00:33.63 / 00:39.33 | |
5×5×5 | Single | 00:56.22 | Feliks Zemdegs | World Championship 2011 | |
Average | 00:59.94 | Feliks Zemdegs | World Championship 2011 | 00:59.59 / 00:58.41 / 01:01.81 / 01:05.40 / 00:56.22 | |
6×6×6 | Single | 01:54.81 | Kevin Hays | Vancouver Winter 2011 | |
Average | 02:02.13 | Kevin Hays | Vancouver Winter 2011 | 02:00.93 / 01:54.81 / 02:10.66 | |
7×7×7 | Single | 03:13.19 | Michal Halczuk | Polish Nationals 2011 | |
Average | 03:25.10 | Michal Halczuk | Swierklany Open 2011 | 03:17.97 / 03:31.68 / 03:25.66 | |
Megaminx | Single | 00:42.28 | Simon Westlund | Danish Open 2011 | |
Average | 00:49.90 | Simon Westlund | Danish Open 2011 | 00:49.46 / 00:49.30 / 00:48.61 / 00:52.44 / 00:50.94 | |
Pyraminx | Single | 00:01.93 | Yohei Oka | Japan Open 2011 | |
Average | 00:03.39 | Yohei Oka | Kyotanabe Open 2011 | 00:03.65 / 00:02.86 / 00:02.75 / 00:03.65 / 00:04.59 | |
Square-1 | Single | 00:08.65 | Bingliang Li | Guangdong Open 2010 | |
Average | 00:11.33 | Bingliang Li | Changsha Open 2011 | 00:11.83 / 00:14.13 / 00:11.44 / 00:10.72 / 00:10.11 | |
Rubik's Clock | Single | 00:05.83 | Javier Tirado Ortiz | World Championship 2011 | |
Average | 00:07.33 | Sam Zhixiao Wang | Guildford Summer Open 2011 | 00:11.30 / 00:06.78 / 00:08.15 / 00:05.88 / 00:07.05 | |
Rubik's Magic | Single | 00:00.69 | Yuxuan Wang | Beijing Spring 2011 | |
Average | 00:00.76 | Yuxuan Wang | Beijing Summer Open 2011 | 00:00.72 / 00:00.77 / 00:00.77 / 00:00.75 / DNF | |
Master Magic | Single | 00:01.68 | Ernie Pulchny | Park Ridge Open 2011 | |
Average | 00:01.75 | Ernie Pulchny | US Nationals 2011 | 00:01.78 / 00:01.71 / 00:01.77 / 00:01.71 / 00:03.08 | |
3×3×3: Blindfolded | Single | 00:30.58 | Yuhui Xu | Suzhou Open 2011 | |
4×4×4: Blindfolded | Single | 03:26.11 | Daniel Sheppard | Guildford Summer Open 2011 | |
5×5×5: Blindfolded | Single | 09:48.58 | Ville Seppänen | Kirkkonummi Open 2011 | |
3×3×3: Multiple Blindfolded | Single | 23/25 in 57:48 | Zane Carney | Melbourne Cube Day 2011 | |
3×3×3: One-handed | Single | 00:10.68 | Piotr Tomczyk | Swierklany Open 2011 | |
Average | 00:13.57 | Michał Pleskowicz | World Championship 2011 | 00:12.34 / 00:15.83 / 00:12.97 / 00:15.11 / 00:12.63 | |
3×3×3: With feet | Single | 00:31.56 | Anssi Vanhala | Helsinki Open 2011 | |
Average | 00:39.98 | Anssi Vanhala | Kotka Open 2011 | 00:37.81 / 00:39.30 / 00:42.84 | |
3×3×3: Fewest moves | Single | 22 moves | Jimmy Coll | Barcelona Open 2009 | |
István Kocza | Czech Open 2010 |
Some speedcubers will lubricate their cubes to prevent wrist and finger injury. Lubricating the cube also allows it to be manipulated more quickly than a non-lubed cube. The WCA allows lubrication for WCA-sanctioned competitions. Usually, the lubricant's main ingredient is polysiloxane.
Some of the more popular lubricants among speedcubers are:
ABS, the main plastic in Rubik's cubes, should not be lubricated with lubricants containing any of the following:
Checking a lubricant's MSDS is often helpful in identifying cube-damaging ingredients.
Here are some definitions generally used by the speedcubing community. For a more complete list of speedcubing terminology, see the cubefreak.net glossary and Speedsolving Wiki's "Cubing Terminology" Page..
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