How did you learn how to solve the cube?!

[brunson]

I would get parity issues and one algorithm that I taught myself sucked something aweful. Basically I would solve the corners completely and then do an M' D M D' D' M' D M. Most of the time I would get a corner parity.

In the words of Inigo Montoya... this word you keep using, I don't think it means what you think it means.

Still, to figure it out by yourself, even sometimes, in 4th grade? That's pretty impressive in my book. I don't think most of us here ever did it without a reference. Good job.

 

[StachuK1992]

First Layer by myself. Dan Brown the rest of the way, combined with my friend from school that can and could solve in 35s (he doesn't practice).

 

[rokicki]

Still, to figure it out by yourself, even sometimes, in 4th grade? That's pretty impressive in my book. I don't think most of us here ever did it without a reference. Good job.

Yeah, 4th grade is pretty awesome. It took me *forever* but I did figure it out by myself in high school. (With all puzzles, the first thing I do is throw away the solution book; I still am surrounded by unsolved puzzles. I can't even remember what that stupid Gordian Knot looks like when it's reassembled.)

But then I'm no speed solver, and really have never been, although in college I was pretty quick.

 

[JTW2007]

I learned from the Dan Knights instruction booklet. Cross on green FTW!

In the words of Inigo Montoya... this word you keep using, I don't think it means what you think it means.

Ha!

 

[PEZenfuego]

I would get parity issues and one algorithm that I taught myself sucked something aweful. Basically I would solve the corners completely and then do an M' D M D' D' M' D M. Most of the time I would get a corner parity.

In the words of Inigo Montoya... this word you keep using, I don't think it means what you think it means.

Still, to figure it out by yourself, even sometimes, in 4th grade? That's pretty impressive in my book. I don't think most of us here ever did it without a reference. Good job.

Sorry.

The F U edge (not to be read offensively) and the R U edges were both flipped. It may not be parity, but even though I'm not a newb to cubing, I am a newb to speedcubing...so cut me some slack lol.

 

[DavidWoner]

I dunno..did he figure out the last layer method by himself?

LOL no. The proper name for the method Dan Brown teaches is the Dan Knights Beginner Method.

I learned from this page (Jasmine's guide?) and subsequent steps from the links provided at the bottom. After fiddling around one of the algs on Jessica Fridrich's f2l page, I managed to figure out intuitive F2L by myself, then a friend and I worked out various ways to do some of the nastier cases.

I learned 5x5 from alchemistmatt's page. Then for a while I did freestyle first 3 centers, and used his method for the last 3 centers. Since his guide never really explained how to do the last 3 edges, I had to figure that out myself, and it took about 2 hours. However, this did lead my to create my own 2 at a time edge pairing method, which I continue to use to this day. The method is based entirely on move 6a and its mirror, with various setups.

I then learned parity algs for 4x4 from Bigcubes.com

I learned Ortega from Erik's site. I also solved megaminx on my own, and then looked up LL algs on Erik's site.

I learned BLD from Pochmann/Joel's site, and sq1 from Emile's vid and intuition.

Dan taught me how to do pyra, and by "taught me" I mean he said "you make a V then solve the rest" and let me have at it.

Edit: LOL I forgot the best one.
I figured out some awful face first then piece by piece for second face method for clock, then learned pochmann from his site.

 

[Ashmnafa]

Dan Brown, till I found Thrawst for speedcubing.

 

[Bryan]

From http://www.nerdparadise.com/puzzles/333/ (he should really move step 4 before step 3)

After I knew, then I went to Fridrich's site.

 

[JTW2007]

So much Dan Brown! I'm surprised.

 

[Tim Reynolds]

But why do he advertise vaseline??? Because of him I ruined my two cubes when They were my only cubes!!

Did he put a gun to your head and make you put the vaseline in your cuber? Did he say to put the vaseline in the cubes or he will kill you and your family? He didn't make you do anything. And so what? Every lubricant kills your cube, slowly...

Woah...calm down. He didn't say that he made him use vaseline. He said that, following Dan's advice, he ruined two of his own cubes. Take it easy...

I learned from the instruction manual that comes with the cube (or at least came with the cube in 2002). I read it recently again...and I couldn't understand what they were saying at all. The LL method was permute corners/orient corners/ELL, where ELL basically they gave you M' U' M U2 M' U' M and R U R' U' M' U R U' r', and just were like "solve it"

I invented/discovered some of my own algs. My original middle layer edges method centered entirely around R2 U2 (R/R'/R2) U2 R2. Then I read the method that they had in the book, and it was way longer than necessary, so I discovered R U R' U' F' U' F. I also found a U perm, M' U' M U' M' U2 M U' M' U' M.

 

[krazedkat]

2x2: Self taught (after 3x3)
3x3: Pogobat
4x4: Self Taught
5x5: Self Taught with slight help from Bigcubes site...
Magic: Self Taught (both beginners and experts methods )
Puck Puzzle: Self Taught
Octacube: Self Taught
15 Puzzle: Self Taught
Siamese: Mostly Self Taught... Had to search for a couple algs.

 

[jdouglasusn]

On topic:
I learned from Dan Brown. Learned it in day. Then once my beginner solve start to be under a minute. I wanted to learn intuitve F2L. After realize you can't really be taught an intuitive method (other than hints and tips on what to look for, and figuring it out yourself) I came up with algorithms to solve F2L. I'm still refining intuitive F2L. For the 4x4 was Dan Brown also. Then I learned freeslice for the edges. The V5 and up I just use the same method as the 4x4.

Off topic:
For those of you crying about how Vaseline "DESTROYED" your cube, get over yourself. You're being melodramatic. Vaseline isn't THAT bad. It comes in a PLASTIC container for Christ's sake, and can be stored in it for years. People make it seems like it destroys the cube in weeks. Chances are, you had a crappy cube to begin with.
Other than my DIY Type A. I have a Walmart Rubik's 3x3 with....(you guessed it)...Vaseline in it. It's been in it for many, many months. It's a very smooth and good cube. It has yet to give me such "huge" problems. Not to mention the CRC silicone a lot of people use has acetone in it, which dissolves plastic as well.

 

[brunson]

I would get parity issues and one algorithm that I taught myself sucked something aweful. Basically I would solve the corners completely and then do an M' D M D' D' M' D M. Most of the time I would get a corner parity.

In the words of Inigo Montoya... this word you keep using, I don't think it means what you think it means.

Still, to figure it out by yourself, even sometimes, in 4th grade? That's pretty impressive in my book. I don't think most of us here ever did it without a reference. Good job.

Sorry.

The F U edge (not to be read offensively) and the R U edges were both flipped. It may not be parity, but even though I'm not a newb to cubing, I am a newb to speedcubing...so cut me some slack lol.

That's not parity, its OLL 28. http://www.speedsolving.com/wiki/index.php/OLL

I was only poking a little fun, it's just a thing with me. Please, no offense intended.

 

[chris410]

I stumbled upon Dan Brown's video after watching some speed cubing videos. I ran out and bought a cube and learned it in about a day. Then I heard about the other methods and learned F2L and 2-Look OLL from badmephisto. I learned the 4x4 from Rob, and figured out the megaminx on my own except for the last layer which I learned off of Lance's video.
2x2, bump, and pyraminx I learned on my own quickly. Now, I am working on improving my times thanks to what I am learning here. I just need to find the time to sit and practice, these days I am so busy that I go days between cubing and that has not helped.

 

[Ranzha]

Dan Brown.
Simple as that.

 

[Edward]

Dan Brown.
Simple as that.

"HEY WORLD!!!!! My name is Dan brown, and I'm here to teach you how to solve one of societies modern day mysteries. Erno Rubik's Magic Puzzle cube, is something thats frustrated millions of people since its release in 1980. But never fear, I'm here to put an end to all that BECAUSE, I'm gonna teach you how to solve it."*music plays*.

It's burned into my head now.

 

[Zane_C]

I learnt from a solution booklet with a cube.
I first solved it in about 3 minutes and so i decided to get faster.

 

[~Phoenix Death~]

2x2:After knowing the 3x3, it was easy. I used LBL.
3x3an Brown. Fridich: MemyselfandPi
4x4an Brown K4:fall of shadows
5x5:RobH2069 or something

 

[Andreaillest]

"Hey World!" Yep, you guessed it. Also learned 4x4 from him.
FallofShadows helped me for intuitive F2L.

 

[~Phoenix Death~]

Everyone raise your Hand in Honor of Dan Brown! I can bet that he has at lease 40% of you started with SpeedCubing! Of course, he only knows the 3x3 Beginners. He averages...Sub-60