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Solving the Rubik's Cube without Algorithms (Video)

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May 10, 2020
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When I was 14 my mom bought me my first Rubik's Cube and dared me to solve it without any algorithms or tutorials. It took me about a year and a half of twisting and turning to recognize patterns and I solved it. I really didn't use any algorithms, formulas or YouTube videos.
10 years later I can still solve it.
Is it common to solve the Rubik's Cube without algorithms?

Thanks!

Edit: Thank you for all the encouragement! As requested, I have uploaded a video of my solve.

So earlier today I posted a video of my solve that took 3.14. Yesterday when I recorded myself I was trying too hard to go fast and was very conscious of the time and that backfired on me.

Today I thought I would give it another try and just casually do it with my regular speed and logically think about each move and I did it in 1.16. (I'm surprised that I can do it in 1.16)

Here's the video of solving it in 1:16
 
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When I was 14 my mom bought me my first Rubik's Cube and dared me to solve it without any algorithms or tutorials. It took me about a year and a half of twisting and turning to recognize patterns and I solved it. I really didn't use any algorithms, formulas or YouTube videos.
I can still solve it and my best record is under two minutes.
Is it common to solve the Rubik's Cube without algorithms?

Thanks!

waaaaaaaaa! how?! without algorithms? without any tutorial it is so hard!
 

xyzzy

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Dec 24, 2015
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I really didn't use any algorithms, formulas or YouTube videos.
You probably did, but with algorithms you came up by yourself, which is much more impressive than just learning them off of someone else! Most people give up and take the easy route.

I remember it took me half an hour or something like that to solve a skewb when I first got one; I'd learnt how to solve most of my other puzzles from tutorials, so I wanted to try working out something on my own too.

And hey, welcome to the forums!
 
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waaaaaaaaa! how?! without algorithms? without any tutorial it is so hard!
It's a lot of practice and random turns and twists to start recognizing patterns and positions. So I would essentially remember that if I twist it this way the cube position would be there... And after a year and a half I just solved it!

You probably did, but with algorithms you came up by yourself, which is much more impressive than just learning them off of someone else! Most people give up and take the easy route.

I remember it took me half an hour or something like that to solve a skewb when I first got one; I'd learnt how to solve most of my other puzzles from tutorials, so I wanted to try working out something on my own too.

And hey, welcome to the forums!
Yea I guess I'm using a algorithm I don't know. It's weird because I do it differently every time and I can't even explain how I do it... It just kinda happens and I can tell when I made a good or bad move.
When I solved it the first time I was scared to mix it up cause I wasn't absolute sure how I did it. Even now I can't conclusively tell how I solve it... I just do... It's weird.

And thanks! I'm happy to be a part of this forum!
 

Cody_Caston

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It's a lot of practice and random turns and twists to start recognizing patterns and positions. So I would essentially remember that if I twist it this way the cube position would be there... And after a year and a half I just solved it!
I don’t think you get how impressive that is, most of us only tried to do that for like 1 day then realise we wont ever be able to do it without help then go to youtube
 
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I remember it took me half an hour or something like that to solve a skewb when I first got one; I'd learnt how to solve most of my other puzzles from tutorials, so I wanted to try working out something on my own too.
Yeah, I too wanted to try to really solve something after I knew the solution of 3x3. 4x4 was difficult (took me some months to find a way to solve parity lol) but very fun and clock was pretty easy (I solved it in half an hour). I'd like to try skewb as it seems interesting...

anyway, do you solve it at random Cutecubercucumber, or do you have a "method" i.e. do you solve first these pieces, set these other pieces here to do that ect. ?
 
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I don’t think you get how impressive that is, most of us only tried to do that for like 1 day then realise we wont ever be able to do it without help then go to youtube
Thanks! It kinda became a hobby and I would just twist and turn it as I'm watching TV or bored on a car ride.

Honestly, the reason I ask if its common is because when my mom told me to solve it without any algorithms I thought it was a common thing and that's how people did it. But as a grew up I realized that it's not the case and people use algorithms. So I just wanted to come on this forum and ask.
 

SenorJuan

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Back in the early 80's, I knew three people who successfully devised their own solution from scratch. But all of them ended up creating algorithms. An algorithm doesn't have to be anything complex - M U M' is all it takes to do something useful. And beginners solutions typically make heavy use of repetition, and combinations of two algorithms together, to achieve a goal. These then themselves become an algorithm. All three of them used a logical corners-first approach. When reaching the 'edges' stage, it's almost inevitable that you're going to use algorithms.
You've joined a fairly small club, I think. Even in the early days, there were 'cheat-sheets' circulating around schools, so it was easy to give in to temptation. Now with the internet it's even easier, so hats off to your perseverance.
 

EngiNerdBrian

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Great work. Most of us don’t have patience to figure it out ourselves and there’s some much info available in the digital age we all rush to the internet for tutorials (I originally used Dan Harris’ book when I was stuck on last layer trying to solve it intuitively).

I often enjoy trying to figure out new puzzles intuitively now, turning for hours and hours. Im confident I wouldn't have been able to come up with the 3x3 last layer solution intuitively at the beginning of my cubing endeavors.

Congrats!
 

EvanTheCuber

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Joined
Apr 1, 2020
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When I was 14 my mom bought me my first Rubik's Cube and dared me to solve it without any algorithms or tutorials. It took me about a year and a half of twisting and turning to recognize patterns and I solved it. I really didn't use any algorithms, formulas or YouTube videos.
I can still solve it and my best record is under two minutes.
Is it common to solve the Rubik's Cube without algorithms?

Thanks!
WHAT? you must be 400 IQ :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
 
Joined
May 10, 2020
Messages
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Great work. Most of us don’t have patience to figure it out ourselves and there’s some much info available in the digital age we all rush to the internet for tutorials (I originally used Dan Harris’ book when I was stuck on last layer trying to solve it intuitively).

I often enjoy trying to figure out new puzzles intuitively now, turning for hours and hours. Im confident I wouldn't have been able to come up with the 3x3 last layer solution intuitively at the beginning of my cubing endeavors.

Congrats!
Yea it's really enjoyable when you start noticing patterns and recognizing positions. Really keeps your mind going when you try to solve a puzzle intuitively.
 
Joined
May 10, 2020
Messages
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Yeah, I too wanted to try to really solve something after I knew the solution of 3x3. 4x4 was difficult (took me some months to find a way to solve parity lol) but very fun and clock was pretty easy (I solved it in half an hour). I'd like to try skewb as it seems interesting...

anyway, do you solve it at random Cutecubercucumber, or do you have a "method" i.e. do you solve first these pieces, set these other pieces here to do that ect. ?

I have a basic "method" to start. So I start out by doing two sides and then it will form what I found out is called the "first layer". So my method is that no matter how I twist and turn the bottom/initial side have to stay completed. So whenever I turn it to move one piece to a certain position I'll also fix the bottom side to make it stay completed.

That's how I generally start it but after that I can't really explain because I recognize patterns and realize if I turn it this way this side will be like this and go on from there. I don't have a conclusive way... I just go by what "feels right" sorry it's kinda weird. Maybe I'll post a video of it.
 

dudefaceguy

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Feb 17, 2019
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Devising your own solution is uncommon, at least these days. Most people, like me, are just curious to learn about how the cube works, and don't want to spend lots of time deciding their own solution.

Congratulations on solving it yourself! I'd love to see your solution.
 

GenTheSnail

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I would love to see a video of you solving it! It is very rare to solve it without a tutorial.
Yeah, if you could record a solve or two I'm sure we could figure out whats going on and try and figure out what sort of processes you go through to solve it. That sounds really interesting to me.
 
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