[Member Intro] Hello everyone!

[Skywalker2026]

I am an engineer who recently became interested in cubing. At the moment, I mainly solve the 3×3, 4×4, and 5×5 Rubik's Cubes.

My interests are learning new solving methods, practicing, and developing notebooks to better understand the mathematics, algorithms, and theory behind speedcubing. I am fascinated by how expert cubers develop such elegant and efficient algorithms.

My goals are to become a better and faster cuber, deepen my understanding of cube theory, and, if possible, contribute something useful to the cubing community. I am looking forward to learning from the many experienced cubers in this community.

 

[acrystal]

I am an engineer who recently became interested in cubing. At the moment, I mainly solve the 3×3, 4×4, and 5×5 Rubik's Cubes.

My interests are learning new solving methods, practicing, and developing notebooks to better understand the mathematics, algorithms, and theory behind speedcubing. I am fascinated by how expert cubers develop such elegant and efficient algorithms.

My goals are to become a better and faster cuber, deepen my understanding of cube theory, and, if possible, contribute something useful to the cubing community. I am looking forward to learning from the many experienced cubers in this community.

Welcome! You should learn 2x2 or Pyraminx next

 

[Sub 20 Cuber]

Hello!

 

[Jacob Jacobsen Dampe]

I am an engineer who recently became interested in cubing. At the moment, I mainly solve the 3×3, 4×4, and 5×5 Rubik's Cubes.

My interests are learning new solving methods, practicing, and developing notebooks to better understand the mathematics, algorithms, and theory behind speedcubing. I am fascinated by how expert cubers develop such elegant and efficient algorithms.

My goals are to become a better and faster cuber, deepen my understanding of cube theory, and, if possible, contribute something useful to the cubing community. I am looking forward to learning from the many experienced cubers in this community.

Hello, you should be able to solve 6x6 and up if you know how to solve 3x3-5x5

 

[That0newe1rdo]

why did i read Hello in that goofy ahh verity voice

anyway, welcome !

I am an engineer who recently became interested in cubing. At the moment, I mainly solve the 3×3, 4×4, and 5×5 Rubik's Cubes.

Since you know 5x5 and 4x4, you should be able to do 6x6 and up rather easily.
Once you get around to it, maybe try Square-1 ! I think it's a really cool puzzle that might interest you as someone that likes the theory behind cubing.

My interests are learning new solving methods, practicing, and developing notebooks to better understand the mathematics, algorithms, and theory behind speedcubing.

Oh ok ok so your someone more focused on the theory part of cubing, that's canny cool.

I am fascinated by how expert cubers develop such elegant and efficient algorithms.

I am quite inexperienced when it comes to this, but I am pretty sure that cubers tend to use https://trangium.github.io/BatchSolver/

Here are some sources I recommend going through on it, if your interested in it.

Document :

Batch Solver Documentation

Puzzle: This field determines which puzzle is to be solved, therefore determining what the move notation is. 3x3x3, 2x2x2, Pyraminx, Megaminx, and Skewb are natively supported puzzles: just selecting that puzzle on the dropdown is sufficient. The batch solver also supports custom puzzle definiti...

docs.google.com

Video :

Thread :

Thread 'The Batch Solver - Generate large algorithm sets automatically!'

May 12, 2022

The Batch Solver

Batch Solver Tutorial by OreKehStrah

Batch Solver Documentation

Introduction
Before the batch solver, generating algorithms involved inputting each and every case into Cube Explorer, running the search for that one case, testing out the generated algorithms to determine the best one for that case, then repeating the process for all cases in the set. For algorithm sets with 50, 100, or even 500+ cases, this quickly becomes extremely tedious and a huge time commitment. The batch solver automates most of this process. Given a...

• trangium
• alg set generate software
• Replies: 68
• Forum: Software Area

• 
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My goals are to become a better and faster cuber, deepen my understanding of cube theory, and, if possible, contribute something useful to the cubing community. I am looking forward to learning from the many experienced cubers in this community.

Good luck in getting faster and understanding cube theory !

 

[Skywalker2026]

Thank you all for the warm welcome and the great suggestions! I really appreciate them. I am especially interested in understanding the theory behind cubing and how algorithms are developed, so I will definitely take a look at the resources you recommended. I still have a lot to learn, and I am very glad to have found this community.

 

[Skywalker2026]

May the Force be with you!

 

[bcube]

I am especially interested in understanding the theory behind cubing and how algorithms are developed

What do you mean by algorithm, though? You can read the discussion following that linked post to see it varies from person to person.

Also, as an engineer (I am guessing a software engineer), you might like to read this article.

 

[abunickabhi]

Hello fellow engineer

 

[Skywalker2026]

What do you mean by algorithm, though? You can read the discussion following that linked post to see it varies from person to person.

Also, as an engineer (I am guessing a software engineer), you might like to read this article.

Thank you for the pointers. These references are very helpful to me. It is clear that many cubers are exceptionally talented at developing algorithms. I am certainly not at that level yet. I only hope that one day, when I encounter a pattern I do not recognize, I can immediately find and apply an algorithm that an experienced cuber has already developed.

For example, I bought a 6×6 cube the day Jacob suggested that I try one. I was fortunate to solve my first two scrambles, but on the third one, I got stuck on the last two centers. I searched the tutorials I could find online, but I could not find a documented algorithm for the particular pattern I encountered.

I have run into similar problems before, which is what first sparked my interest in how experienced cubers develop algorithms. Experiences like this have continued to make me wonder whether other beginners might run into the same problems. I am currently trying to document the 5×5 last-two-center cases more systematically, in the hope that this may be helpful to beginners like me.

Thanks again for pointing me to these resources. I will read them carefully.

 

[microchado]

welcome

 

[bcube]

I am currently trying to document the 5×5 last-two-center cases more systematically, in the hope that this may be helpful to beginners like me.

One way could be explaining to beginners there are 2 types of movable pieces in 5x5x5 centers, both of which can be solved using commutators (look up that term if interested).

Instead of memorizing move sequences, which some cubers might not like at all, beginners would be allowed to solve 5x5x5 centers intuitively.

 

[Skywalker2026]

One way could be explaining to beginners there are 2 types of movable pieces in 5x5x5 centers, both of which can be solved using commutators (look up that term if interested).

Instead of memorizing move sequences, which some cubers might not like at all, beginners would be allowed to solve 5x5x5 centers intuitively.

Thank you very much for your insightful suggestion. I really like your idea of introducing the commutator approach for understanding 5×5 center solving. The animation cube resource you shared is also very impressive and helpful. I especially appreciate how it visually demonstrates the movement of center pieces.

Coincidentally, I have just documented my study of the 5×5 Last Two Centers (L2C) in two new notebooks (#6 and #7). In these notebooks, I also discuss how TT and MM cases can be solved or transformed using approaches related to commutators.

If you have time, I would be very happy if you could take a look. I would also appreciate any comments or suggestions from your experience.

Here are the links:

https://ltwang888.github.io/resources/LT_Wang_Notebook_6_August_15_2026_v1.0.pdf

https://ltwang888.github.io/resources/LT_Wang_Notebook_7_August_15_2026_v1.0.pdf

Thanks again for sharing your insights and for your help.

 

[bcube]

I have just documented my study of the 5×5 Last Two Centers (L2C) in two new notebooks (#6 and #7).

In notebook 6, on page 11 and 12, there are cases 2, 4 and 15. I don´t like that structurally, different move sequence is used for each case. For me, all these cases are structurally the same, see the move structure of each case on the simulator below.

The animation cube resource you shared is also very impressive and helpful. I especially appreciate how it visually demonstrates the movement of center pieces.

Glad to hear that. Go ahead and make your own simulator & share it with us on the forum or in your website.

I really like your idea of introducing the commutator approach for understanding 5×5 center solving.

In fact, commutators and conjugates are powerful weapons for finding your own move sequences on many puzzles, not only in 5x5x5 center solving, If you teach a beginner to use these weapons on the 3x3x3 cube, it will feel natural for him to use them when solving 5x5x5 centers as well.

 

[Skywalker2026]

Thank you very much for your many constructive comments and suggestions. I apologize for my late reply, as I was busy finishing Notebook #8.

In #8, I explored how a small set of commutators can be used to solve the 6×6 L2C with minimal memorization. I am still unfamiliar with conjugates, but I am beginning to understand them as a way of using setup moves to transform a configuration into a familiar case, applying the familiar algorithm, and then accounting for the setup. Is this roughly the right way to think about them?

For example, if one prefers to use the familiar BT Sune algorithm, my understanding is that related configurations can be handled through setup transformations such as:

TT = U + BT
BB = F' + BT
TB = U F’ + BT
TB/TB = BT + U F' + BT

Is my understanding correct? In my notebook #6, I listed the TT, BB, TB, and BT algorithms separately because some cubers may prefer one direct algorithm over another. Speedcubers may also prefer the shorter 7-move algorithms during competition.

Regarding the AnimCubeJS simulator, I would love to incorporate something like it into my website. However, I still do not quite understand how it works. My current understanding is that if I provide a move sequence, the simulator can animate it so that I can visually check whether the algorithm I am using is correct. If so, I would already find that extremely useful, because I am often confused by the individual moves in many algorithms.

One practical issue is that an engineer helped me build the website, so I am not sure whether he would know how to incorporate the simulator or have the time to help me do so.

In any case, I am very pleased to let you know that I included your nickname, bcube, in the Acknowledgments of Notebook #8 in appreciation for introducing me to the idea of thinking about these cases through commutators and conjugates. If you have a chance, you are very welcome to take a look:

https://ltwang888.github.io/resources/LT_Wang_Notebook_8_August_18_2026_v1.0.pdf

Thank you again for generously sharing your knowledge with me and the cubing community.

 

[bcube]

I am still unfamiliar with conjugates, but I am beginning to understand them as a way of using setup moves to transform a configuration into a familiar case, applying the familiar algorithm, and then accounting for the setup. Is this roughly the right way to think about them?

For example, if one prefers to use the familiar BT Sune algorithm, my understanding is that related configurations can be handled through setup transformations such as:

TT = U + BT
BB = F' + BT
TB = U F’ + BT
TB/TB = BT + U F' + BT

Is my understanding correct?

Yup, you got the idea

Although I would describe it as: setup moves - move sequence - undoing setup moves. I will borrow my previous simulator:



In example 3, the meaning of moves is following:

1: setup move
2-11: commutator
12: undoing setup move

You see, commutators are meant to influence only a few pieces without affecting the rest of the puzzle, such as (on a 3x3x3 cube):

• cycling only 3 corners
• cycling only 3 edges
• twisting only 2 corners
• flipping only 2 edges

Your BT sequence (Sune) is doing much more than that, and you don´t need to do the undo setup move(s) because the BT sequence affects pieces you currently don´t care about. But as I was saying, you get the idea.

Regarding the AnimCubeJS simulator, I would love to incorporate something like it into my website. However, I still do not quite understand how it works. My current understanding is that if I provide a move sequence, the simulator can animate it so that I can visually check whether the algorithm I am using is correct. If so, I would already find that extremely useful, because I am often confused by the individual moves in many algorithms.

AnimCubeJS can do much more than just that. For starters, you might like to know there is the AnimCubeJS documentation. Most important for you is the parameters section (don´t read the doc, play with the simulators instead if the parameter name is unclear to you), and you might like the configuration tool as well.

One practical issue is that an engineer helped me build the website, so I am not sure whether he would know how to incorporate the simulator or have the time to help me do so.

This will get you covered.

 

[Skywalker2026]

Yup, you got the idea

Although I would describe it as: setup moves - move sequence - undoing setup moves. I will borrow my previous simulator:



In example 3, the meaning of moves is following:

1: setup move
2-11: commutator
12: undoing setup move

You see, commutators are meant to influence only a few pieces without affecting the rest of the puzzle, such as (on a 3x3x3 cube):

• cycling only 3 corners
• cycling only 3 edges
• twisting only 2 corners
• flipping only 2 edges

Your BT sequence (Sune) is doing much more than that, and you don´t need to do the undo setup move(s) because the BT sequence affects pieces you currently don´t care about. But as I was saying, you get the idea.



AnimCubeJS can do much more than just that. For starters, you might like to know there is the AnimCubeJS documentation. Most important for you is the parameters section (don´t read the doc, play with the simulators instead if the parameter name is unclear to you), and you might like the configuration tool as well.



This will get you covered.

Thank you very much, bcube. Your explanation helped me understand the distinction much better.

I think I now understand what you meant by a conjugate. The complete structure is setup moves → move sequence → undo the setup moves. My original idea was in the right direction, but not quite complete.

In my L2C examples, I am essentially using the setup idea of a conjugate: I transform an unfamiliar center configuration into a familiar one, apply the familiar move sequence, and then stop. I do not need to undo the setup because, during L2C solving, I do not care about the resulting changes to edges and corners.

I also experimented with my 6×6 cube after reading your explanation. I found that the BT Sune, MM, and CC sequences all behave as local swaps with respect to the center pieces: they swap the intended center pieces without disturbing the other completed center pieces, although they may change edges and corners. This helped me understand the difference between the center-local operations I am using for L2C and the stricter whole-cube locality of the commutators you described, such as flipping only two edges on a 3×3×3.

Thank you also for providing the AnimCubeJS documentation, parameters information, configuration tool, and usage instructions. These are very valuable resources for me. I will take some time to study and experiment with AnimCubeJS so that I can better understand how it works before considering whether to incorporate it into my website.

I really appreciate your patience in explaining these concepts and sharing your knowledge with me. I have learned a lot from our discussion. Thank you again!

 

[bcube]

I found that the BT Sune, MM, and CC sequences all behave as local swaps with respect to the center pieces: they swap the intended center pieces without disturbing the other completed center pieces, although they may change edges and corners

I know what you mean by that. However, there is a slight catch. You say that because the center pieces in the same orbit are not distinguishable from each other on a normal Rubik's cube.

On Supercube, every piece is distinguishable. Let's see the true effect of your BT sequence:



As you can see, the BT sequence affects the center pieces more than you might think (irrelevant for identical pieces but crucial for unique pieces). By the way, I challange you to try solving the 3x3x3 Supercube if you haven't already. AnimCubeJS simulator can help with that (the button toggles scrambled and solved state).

 

[Skywalker2026]

I know what you mean by that. However, there is a slight catch. You say that because the center pieces in the same orbit are not distinguishable from each other on a normal Rubik's cube.

On Supercube, every piece is distinguishable. Let's see the true effect of your BT sequence:



As you can see, the BT sequence affects the center pieces more than you might think (irrelevant for identical pieces but crucial for unique pieces). By the way, I challange you to try solving the 3x3x3 Supercube if you haven't already. AnimCubeJS simulator can help with that (the button toggles scrambled and solved state).

Thanks again, bcube. I have now been experimenting with the AnimCubeJS Configuration Tool and have successfully set up a 6×6x6 cube with Orange on top and Green in front. I can also animate my 7-move BT Sune correctly.

See the HTML code:

HTML code:

<script src="AnimCube6.js"></script>
<div style="width:400px;height:400px;">
<script>
AnimCube6("move=Rw U Rw' U Rw U2' Rw'&wca=1&initmove=Rw U2 Rw' U' Rw U' Rw'&colorscheme=01g3yw")
</script>
</div>

I am now trying to learn how you created the very clean initial center configuration in your earlier simulator, where the edges and corners remain solved-looking and only the desired center pieces BT are shown in the starting configuration.

I tried using the inverse of my BT Sune as initmove, but, as expected, that also scrambles several edges and corners, so it does not produce the clean initial configuration that you showed.

Could you please tell me how you created that initial state? Did you use initmove, facelets, or another AnimCubeJS parameter? If you used initmove, I would be grateful if you could show me the sequence. I am trying to learn how to construct these animations myself.

Thank you again for teaching me!

 

[Skywalker2026]

BTW, you are absolutely right. I can now clearly see the distinction you were explaining. While center pieces in the same orbit are indistinguishable from one another on a normal Rubik's Cube, every piece becomes distinguishable on a Supercube. The arrow orientations make the hidden movements of the center pieces immediately visible. That is fantastic and very educational. Thank you for teaching me this important distinction.