How To Solve A Rubik's Cube In Under A Minute

This article is a companion piece to the video of the same name, featuring world speed-cubing champion Chris Dzoan: http://www.videojug.com/interview/how-to-solve-a-rubiks-cube-in-under-a-minute

Intro To Cubing

Faces

Each side is called a "face".

When doing a series of moves (sometimes called "algorithms"), here are the terms cubers use to teach each other how to solve.

F = the Front face (the one facing toward you)
B = the Back face (away from you)
D = the Down face (the bottom)
U = the Up face (the top)
L = the Left face
R = the Right face

Pieces

A middle piece is in the middle of side, has one sticker on it and never moves.  The color of the middle piece is the color of the face - the side with the green middle sticker is the green face.

A corner piece has three stickers on it and is on the corners.

An edge piece has two stickers on it, and is between two corner pieces.

Turns

The instructions will tell you which face to have toward you before you start.  After you do a turn, put that same face toward you again, then perform the next turn.

You'll see three kinds of turns listed.

If you see a letter, turn that side clockwise once (90º).  For example:

R = turn the right side clockwise once
If you see a side listed with a 2 after it, turn that side twice (or 180º).  For example:

R2 = turn the right side twice

If you see a letter with an apostrophe after it, it means turn that side counterclockwise.  For example:

R' = turn the right side counterclockwise.

So,

R L' U2 = right side clockwise, left side counterclockwise, up side clockwise twice.

First Layer

Note: While this method will solve any cube, following along with Chris Dzoan in this video requires you to start with a pre-solved cube.

Step One:  The Scramble

First, we need to scramble the cube.  This process will solve any cube situation, but here's the scramble Chris uses in the tutorial.  Face the green side of the cube toward you and do this algorithm.

R2 D2 U L B2 L' F U2 B L

Step Two: Daisy Cross

We want to make The Daisy first - white edges with the yellow sticker in the middle.  This might be the hardest part, as there's no formula.  Get to this part, and read below on how to get the rest of the way.

Step Three: White Cross

The goal here is to take the four white edges that surround the yellow center piece and flip them to the other side of the cube, giving you a white cross. 

To do this, put the daisy you made on top.  Turn the top until the edge piece sticker facing you matches the color of the middle sticker it sits on - the white piece with the blue edge sticker should be over the blue middle sticker.  Then turn that side 180º (F2).  Do this for all four edge pieces.

Step Four: Corners Of The First Layer

Find a corner piece with a white sticker on it.  See the other two colors on that piece?  Turn the side with that piece until that corner piece is between the two faces that match the colors of that corner piece.  For example, if the white corner piece has blue and orange on it, you put it between the orange and blue face.

If the white corner sticker is on the right face, face the white sticker toward you and then perform this algorithm:

U' L' U L

If the white corner sticker is on the left face, face the white sticker toward you and then perform this algorithm:

U R U' R'

Do this for all four corners, and you've solved your first layer.

Second Layer

Step Five: Second Layer

The key to this step is to connect an edge piece that was on the yellow face to the corner piece that matches it, then move it into the second layer.

Put the yellow face on top.  Find an edge piece on the yellow face with no yellow sticker on it.  Note the color of the sticker that's not on the yellow face.  Turn the yellow face until the color of that edge piece you were looking at is on top of the center piece with the same color.  For example, the blue sticker on an edge piece should be directly over the center piece.  Face that side toward you and do this algorithm.

U R U' R'

To move these into the second layer, do the same algorithm you did in
"Step Four: Corners Of The First Layer".  The white corner piece you see now has two other colors on it.  That corner piece should be between the middle faces of those two colors.

If the white corner sticker you see is on the right face, face the white sticker toward you and then perform this algorithm:

U' L' U L

If the white corner sticker is on the left face, face the white sticker toward you and then perform this algorithm:

U R U' R'

Repeat until all the pieces in the second layer are solved.


Third Layer

Step Six: Yellow Cross

Disregard the corners for this step.  If all the edge stickers on the yellow face are yellow (resulting in a yellow cross), you got lucky.  If not, there are three other scenarios you may get; each require a different starting point for your move.  Look at the yellow side.

The Dot:
If you see a yellow sticker in the middle and no edges with yellow on it, you've got "The Dot".  Keep the yellow face on the top and put any side toward you.  Then do this algorithm.

F R U R' U' F

The L:
If you have two yellow stickers that are touching the yellow center piece that form an L, you have "The L".  Perform the same algorithm; just make sure not to break the L on the first turn.

The Line:
If you have two yellow stickers that are touching the yellow center piece, thus forming a line, you have "The Line".  Perform the same algorithm, just make sure not to break the line on the first turn.

If you get The Dot, The L or The Line after doing one of these algorithms, do the algorithm for the scenario you get, as listed above, until you get a yellow cross.

Step Seven: Yellows To The Top

You'll have one of three scenarios.  Each requires a different start position for the move.  Put the yellow face on the top and take a look.

The Fish:
If you have a cross with only one yellow corner sticker, you have "The Fish".  If this is the case, take the yellow corner sticker (the head of The Fish) and face it toward your left shoulder before performing this algorithm:

R U R' U R U2 R'

Two Yellows On The Side:
If you don't have The Fish, but see two yellow corner stickers on one face (other than the yellow face), face those two yellow stickers toward you, before you perform the same algorithm.

One Yellow On The Side:
If you don't have The Fish, or two yellow corner stickers on one face (other than the yellow face), take any side with a yellow sticker and face it toward you, before you perform the same algorithm.

If after these moves you still get The Fish, the Two Yellows On The Side scenario or the One Yellow On The Side scenario, do the algorithm for the scenario you get, as listed above, until you get a all the yellows to the top.

Step Eight: Corners

Having the corners solved means having all the corners of the cube line up with the same color on each layer.  At this point, you'll have either two corners or four corners solved.  It might look like you have only one corner solved, but if you twist the unsolved layer, you'll see you either have two or four.  If you have four, go to the next step.

If you have only two corners solved, put the yellow layer on the top, and place the solved corners on the left.  Then perform this algorithm:

R U2 R' U' R U2 L' U R' U' L

Now you have all four corners solved.

Step Nine: Edges

You'll have three or four unsolved edges; usually you'll have three.  If you have four, start the algorithm yellow on the top, with any other side facing you.  If you have three, place the middle unsolved edge piece toward you before you begin this algorithm:

F2 U L R' F2 L' R U F2

Look… You've just solved your cube.  Done.