User:Stux/Megaminx Notes

Megaminx Notes (methods)

Note, the notation used below is based on the Daniel Hayes guide:

        U
(LUL) UL UR (RUR)
     L  F  R
        D
   (DL)   (DR)

• (side B is completely hidden, opposite F; hidden sides are in parentheses; F is the side facing you, pointy side up; TODO: find an image)
• NOTE: In order to differentiate ambiguous terms (such as DR) we separate each step with a space. For example: D R D R is not the same as DR DR.

Steps (Beginner's method?):

• Make the white star
• Fill in the edge pieces that join the pentagons around the star
  • Assuming the F face is the one we are working on, the following basic algorithms help place edge pieces (assuming the edge piece is on the U face):

Alg

F L F' L'

Alg

F U' F'

Alg

F' R' F R

Alg

F' U F

• Place each "corner" piece to fill in the white pentagon:
  • Use this algorithm (F2L_32) to place the piece (note that while not necessary for the white layer, the move eventually becomes necessary and this is a good place to start practicing; and there's less to memorize 😉 ):

F2L

(R U R' U')(R U R' U')(R U R')

• The piece can easily be re-oriented (after placing it on the corner to the right of our edge) in order to match the required setup using 1-2 applications of:

Alg

R U'

• The following algorithm can also be used in tight spaces (when placing the corner right over the edge we want to place it in):

Alg

D' U D U' U'

• F2L_32 can be used to rotate a piece as well! Simply do U' to place the piece on the top right corner and perform F2L_32. The piece will be rotated counter-clockwise.

• Note: If there is no room to perform F2L_32, do F' to move the edge piece up. Here, doing F2L_32 will only affect the top gray layer. F will move the face back down and the correct piece will be placed on the bottom left corner. (This applies to F2L_33 and F2L_34 below.)
  • Also, the face can be moved in the opposite direction (F first, F2L_32 and then F') if the corner piece better matches the left side of the intended target location.

• Otherwise, if you do not want to rotate the piece prior to performing F2L_32, you can use modified versions of F2L_33 and F2L_34 as needed

• F2L_33 v2 (notice that U2' is replaced by U2):

F2L

U' (R U' R') U2 (R U' R')

• F2L_34 v2 (notice that U2 is replaced by U2'):

F2L

U (R U R') U2' (R U R')

• Repeat these steps for each higher face, ideally from left to right, bottom to top, in order, until only the top gray face remains unsolved (Last Layer)
• Use Megaminx LL algorithms (see below for Beginner steps)

---

Last Layer Beginner Steps:

• For the gray edges: It is enough to use multiple applications of the following algorithm (after some F rotations as needed):

Alg

D R F R' F' D'

• For the non-gray edge alignment, this algorithm should be sufficient:

Alg

R' F' R F' R' F2 R

• we can use this algorithm to move a correct piece next to another already-solved piece so that we get the configuration we want.
• This move is designed for the case where the top two edges are correct and the bottom 3 edges simply need to rotate clockwise.
• If the edges need to rotate counter-clockwise, perform F' and you should reach a similar configuration but with the necessary clockwise rotation. (NOTE: I haven't proven this, it's from experience, worst case the analogous setup is elsewhere or the move is performed twice.)
• If there is a 1-edge gap between the two correct edges (almost guaranteed this is the only other remaining option) then perform the algorithm so that the middle piece is correct.
  • To be more specific: there should be two configurations after F rotations with the above condition and one should allow the move we want to make. I believe this option is always available (proof is pending.)
• Okay, so the last option will only allow 1 correct edge. One of the F rotations should allow moving into one of the previous states (leave the correct edge alone and randomly perform the algorithm one any one of the other rotations).

• corner piece, gray orientation:
  • Take one unoriented corner and perform the algorithm R' DR' R DR (in pairs) multiple times until the corner is oriented.
  • Using the original guide's notation (TODO: fix Alg link):

Alg

R' DR' R DR R' DR' R DR

• This is the same as the beginner's method final step for 3x3x3 cubes. The unoriented corner is also at the very top.

• Corner swapping using alternating pairs of these two algorithms (TODO: fix Alg links):

δ

R' DR' R

ε

R' DR R

• The way these work is by "staging" a corner piece in a corner so that the top face can be rotated and that piece can be placed in the right location.
• These must be executed in pairs: first, δ is executed, the top face is rotated as needed, then ε must be executed. In between operations, the bottom layers will be temporarily disturbed, but the final ε move will fix them back.
• The first time this algorithm is executed, we begin at an out-of-place corner. We can choose any corner that isn't in its correct location.
• Once δ is executed, we note the two colors of the corner piece that was "staged" and rotate the top face until we find the edge pieces that match the staged piece.
• Executing ε will place our staged piece in that corner and bring down a new piece to be staged.
• We can now rotate to the top face until we find the edge pieces that match the staged piece and execute δ.
• We repeat the above process until all pieces are in their correct locations and the Megaminx is solved!