My name is Colin Howald and this is my site for advanced cubers(Rubik's Cube Solver). If you are not an advanced cuber and want to learn how to solve a Rubik's cube, start by visiting my site for beginner speedcubing. If/when you become adept in the skill feel free to return and hone in your cubing skills. The ability to solve a cube (in maybe a couple minutes) is a skill that will intrigue and surprise, though the ability to speedsolve a cube in less than 20 seconds for an audience will awe and amaze all but master cubers (which I dont claim to be). I would first like to mention that this is not a completely original site, although I did create this website, I did not create this style of solving. This was created by Fridrich (who is indeed a true cube master). This method is used by many great speedcubers including Shotaro "Macky" Makisumi, the current world record holder (as of caltech spring tourn. 2005). In this page I will atempt to make clear the Fridrich method, some would say the most efficient method for number of alg's to memorize (52 total I believe, and yet it has been used to grab the world record). Though small in comparison to say 1212 alg's (total ll positions), 52 is a large number to html in. It will be a miracle if I can even get all the algs to function on the first atempt, so bear with me if I make an error. If you seem to be unable to get the proper outcome from one of my algs, check it on one of my reference pages, and if it is incorrect, please e-mail me ASAP. Site accuracy is one of my number one goals. For those of you thinking you can breaze through this solution like my beginner solution or other simple solutions, you might as well leave now. This solution is quite intricate, it took me 4 months to learn, and Macky one year. Mastering this solution will require devotion and time management (1-4 hours a day of practice). This solution will also require good memorization skills. Memorizing 40 algs at once is not easy. But for those of you willing the take your cubing skills to the next gear, I think you will be pleasantly rewarded. When I first decided to find a faster soltion, my old solution was topping out with fastest times of 1 min, slightly less sometimes. After several months of learning, memorization, and practice my new record was under 40 seconds and has dropped off all the way down to 17.13 seconds currently.

Solving The Cube

The Fridrich method for solving the cube has four sequential steps: forming a cross on the U (upper) layer, finishing the first two layers (F2L), orienting the last layer (OLL), permuting the last layer (PLL). Good luck!

Cross

F2L

OLL

PLL

Cross

The first step is a no brainer (hopefully). Simply make a cross on U layer, make sure that the middles of the second layer match. Afterwards, flip the whole cube upside down. I hope this step needs no explanation. If this is confusing, try reading my Beginners Guide to Speedcubing.

Continue to the First Two Layers

First Two Layers

The next step is to complete two layers. Ignore the last layer (ll) and imagine the cube without it, as a 2 x 3 x 3. Right now you have a cross, and the four second layer middles. If you fill in the four "slots" in between middles with a corner and edge, you will have ocmpleted two layers. In my beginners guide, this was done in two steps, first the four corners, then the four edges. In this solution you will place each corner/edge pair simultaneously from the ll. Fridrich wrote a very good page on the complexity and flexibilty of the first two layers here. Here are all possible cube positions for the second layer, reflections are not included, but should be easily discovered. If you have trouble with reflections, Fridrich has a page devoted to them (does she think of everything?). Cubes are categorized for your convenience.

Flip edge, preserve corner	Insert edge, preserve corner	Flip edge, flip corner

Insert edge, flip corner		Insert corner, preserve edge

Flip corner, preserve edge	Insert corner, flip edge

Insert corner and edge

On to the OLL

Orientation

The next step is to orient the last layer. This step simply consists of making the last layer a solid layer, as is obvious from the above cube. The perimeter of the last should not and almost always will not match, that is the destination of the following step, which in turn completes the cube. This step is very easy in theory and requires next to no thinking. This is the easiest step to understand for that reason, though is balanced by the fact that there are a hell of a lot of algorithms to memorize, though is done right and practiced this step should just be a 5 second or less go-between for the f2l and the pll. In this step, only pay attention to the last layer color, any other colors are unimportant. Find the cube with matching last layer color configuration, and that's the correct algorithm. My advice: start at the top and memorize, surely but slowly. Take it like a long musical song, don't move on until you know you have the previous section down, otherwise you will just overload your mind and get confused, forgetting what you already knew. Though this step is the fastest to complete (excluding the cross, which can hardly be considered a step) it is the longest to learn, and it might take you months, you wouldn't be the first. Although it is possible to take oll shortcuts (and I did when I first started) I won't mention them because they just give you less things to memorize and more steps to make during solving, which is exactly the opposite of the idea of this whole solution, which is to be a long memorization process and a short solve time. Just learn them all and remember them, you will thank yourself later. If you want practice memorizing algorithms, you could just start with the pll which has only 12, though they are generally longer in length, and come back to the oll afterwards. In what order you learn this solution is trivial and unimportant, it won't matter once you finish, and until then you can't use it anyway. It is totally up to you. I would like to mention that the view shown in the cubes may not always be preferable. I avoided whole cube rotations except when they are highly suggested, especially in the oll, in order to make the algs easier to understand. At different points during these moves you may want to turn the whole cube or "regrip" it, in order to have a better view of it, and/or a better position do use finger tricks. The choice of when/how/if to regrip is totally up to you and will depend on and define your individual style. And now for the fun part (for both of us seing how I have to embed 40 java cubes, which is about 36 pages of source code, really). Note:cubes will be listed by number of U face stickers on the top layer, to make it easier to find algorthms.

LL(yellow) stickers on U face	Algorithms
1-2
3
3
3
3-4
4
4-5
5
5
5
5
5-7
7
7

On to the Pll

Permutation

You're almost there. Now that you have oriented the last layer, the last step is two permute the peices into their correct spot while leaving the ll oriented. The pictures next to the algorithms explain the movement of the pieces into their correct spots. At first it can be hard to decide which algorithm you need, but that comes faster with time. My suggestion is to study the cubes themselves. Each algorithm has a certain number of cubes that are already in place and match. These in place cubes are often next to each other and form "patterns", which will make more sense later, I promise. If you can turn the top layer, so that the pieces match in acordance with the cubes, you have the right algorithm. This is just something that you will have to accept will make more sense later. For this step I would like to mention that there are many other algorithms out there, and that these are just the ones I use, and some of them I am currently looking to replace. Try out as many algorithms as you can and use only the ones that feel right to you. I didn't mention this for the oll, b/c it is a pretty non-important step. The key to the oll is quantity, not quality. If you know an algorithm to each and every position you should be fine. The pll is the opposite, quality. There are many fewer algorithms and you should know them all well, you should also find the right algorithms for you. Don't forget to practice. Practice the pll often, to get very fast. The first two layers should be the only part of the cube that requires thinking. The last layer should be: recognize position, do algorithm, recognize position, do algorithm. If your algorithms are trained, and you can recognize them quickly, these two steps (oll and pll) can be done with blazing speed (some can do it in less than five seconds). Some sites with other algorithms are Fridrich, Macky, Ross's last layer tricks. Bring on the cubes:

Pll diagrams	Algorithms

Cubing Tips

Okay, so you finally finished with my site but your saying, "My times are still nowhere near some other people in tournaments and online. How can I cube faster?". Have no fear, here are a list of categorized tips on helping you improve your cube times. First of all, if you haven't finished memorizing all of the algorithms, my first tip is to make sure you know them all. Any time that you don't know an alg that you need, is not going to be a good time, the only way to guarantee that it will never happen is to know them all. Consider my first advice to learn them, and know them well.

General Cubing Tips

1. Practice. No matter what problems you have with the cube right now, if you continue to practice a lot, your average will continue to drop. Practice all the oll and pll algs, don't just know them, be confortable and smooth with all of them. If you don't like a pll alg, don't use it. Visit another site and find another that you like. I can't stress hand fitting algs to your style, just do it. I know the last thing you want to do now is learn more algorithms, but i also know that what you do want to do is get good cube times, and that will help. Just keep cubing and dont give up.
2. Smooth, smooth, smooth. Any good solve will have a)One constant motion. No pauses in between algorithms, and no wrong turns. b)Contant smoothness, very steady and calm, not rushed, inaccurate "frantic cubing". I cannot stress how important it is to have a "smooth solve" and i will explain, in detail, how to do so. This is the number one way that i achieve good times, pay attention, it will help. Once you start solving a cube, it takes a few solves for your fingers to get warmed up and acclimated to your cube. Do not let an important solve be the first solve of that day. Get warmed up first. But once you solve the cube for a while, you might get a peak in your solves, especially after a really good solve. The problem: You've gotten excited, you hands are shaky and your movements are rushed or forced. Your solves should always be smooth, no jamming or popping. The solution: Stop. Take a few deep breaths, when mixing your cube slow down and turn it slowly. Do not time your self. Solve it a couple times, much slower than normal. Just easy and relaxed, once you've calmed down start timing yourself again. Do not try to solve for speed. Try to solve for a very steady and smooth motion. This may seem very slow, but if done properly can actually greatly increase your times. Simply look ahead at the cube and stay relaxed, see the next move and gracefully tie it to the one that you are completing. DO NOT RUSH. Never attempt to push the cube faster than it will go, or faster than you can turn it smoothly. After a number of solves see if you can go a little faster while maintaining smoothness. You will feel a difference from your normal solves. Just very relaxed, smooth, and perfect. Up the ante a little and see how fast you can make each move, while being smooth, if you jam or pop the cube, you are going to fast. At the beginning you may not be able to go very fast while being smooth, but as you practice the algorithms, you should be able to do them fluidly. Remember: Don't rush, be calm and precise. If you get excited again, just forget about speed, and solve for fluidity, work your way back into the zone. Okay the was a large bullet, read it again at least once, and try it, with practice you will start breaking your records like they were easy. I hope this help you guys solve faster.
3. Have a good cube. It should be worn in, not new. And well lubricated. Everything you need to know is at The definitive guide to buying and maintaining a speedcube. Read it through and do what you think is necessary. I, personally, Macky, Dan Knights, and other rubik's cubers live by liquid silicone spray, like SNAP. The choice is up to you. Your cube should be able to preform all the algorithms smoothly and quickly, as fast as only a couple seconds, even if you can't do them that fast yet.
4. Cube under pressure. Cubing with an audience is much harder than by yourself, and with tension and stress you run into the same problem as excitability, like i mentioned before, but worse. Cube in front of friends and family as often as possible. This is will also help you if you ever plan to compete in a tournament, which i suggest you do. I have never made it to one but i certainly will attend the next that i can.
5. Get a stackmat timer. They cost $60, but are worth it. Google it to see a picture, buy the newest one, it seems to be the same price as the original. Stackmat timers are very accurate, and you will save a couple of seconds simply by eliminating the pause assosiated with starting and stoping a stopwatch. They are also the timers used in official Rubik's Cube tournaments. I don't have one yet, but plan to order one today! (8-24-2005) If you're broke, just ask for money for bday and xmas, that should easily be enough. If you have aunts and uncles that like to spoil you, put it on your list too, and use the extra money you get to buy something else fun (like a really big cube).
6. Go to a tournament, lot's of fun and good practice. For a really good sight on everything you will encounter at a tournament (with videos!) visit Chris Hardwick's Rubik's cube competition tutorial, including a great guide, to how to set down a cube with a stackmat timer (also with videos!).Highly suggested!

Cross

1. In tournaments you will have a 15 second inspection period to inspect the cube. Use this time to plan out the cross.
2. Start by taking as much time on the cross as you need, until you know you have it memorized. Do it slowly, and smoothly, it should only take a few seconds, and 99 percent of the time can be preformed in under 7 moves. No need to rush yourself and memorize it in under 15 seconds yet.
3. Do as before, but blindfold yourself, you shouldn't make any mistakes.
4. Don't stress out, if preforming in front of an audience, you can request time to inspect the cube.
5. Don't rush it, just do the few moves and worry about the f2l, that's the important part anyway.

First Two layers

1. Take time to practice the f2l whenever possible, after a time, you will begin to recognize the patterns of the algorithms on your own. Once you understand how the algorithms work, you can make up your own, and adapt them to special circumstances. As long as you don't screw up the cross, you have a lot of freedom.
2. Start slow. Find two matching pieces on the u layer. See the pattern. Choose the algorithm and do it slowly. As you finish placing a pair, look ahead, find the next, and plan the next algorithm, if done correctly you can proceed smoothly into the next algorithm without a lengthy and time consuming pause in between the two. Go through all algorithms like this.
3. Once you start to recognize the algorithms easier, go somewhat faster. But still go slow enough to start the next algorithm once you finish the previous. You want to eliminate all gaps in the step.
4. Do the algorithms as fast as you can, while remaining smooth and seeing the next pair ahead of time. Don't loose control of the cube, and don't loose your bearing. You should only have to do 4 algorithms. Placing pieces incorrectly will hurt your time badly. If you are in bad light, this is where your time will suffer. Make sure to be accurate. This step need not end up being very fast, take your time and do it right. The next two steps will be faster.
5. Do the last pair as fast as possible and look ahead for the oll algorithm.

Oll

1. Learn every algorithm
2. Practice every algorithm until they become fluid and stored securely in your long term memory. If you forget an algorithm, look it up and do it ten times, in half an hour, do it ten more times.
3. Try to pick out which algorithm you need while you finish the f2l, that way there is no need to stop in between.
4. Do not go too fast, you still have one more step to complete.
5. Do it smoothly, it is really important.
6. Make sure not to pop the cube.
7. Look ahead to the pll as you finish it.

Pll

1. Look ahead from the oll.
2. Find at least two pieces on the perimeter that match each other, and match them to their respective side, with a U turn.
3. Practice your algorithms like the oll. Do the move as fast as you possibly can while still smooth. You should think of it as one big turn, not turn, turn, turn, turn... I can preform all my pll algs in 1-5s.
4. Don't like it? Dont use it. Find algorithms you do like.
5. As you finish the alg, think about putting down the cube and stopping the timer, don't get cocky and do something stupid, like make a wrong move, or put it down one move away, that will land you a two second penalty. For more information on setting down the cube on a stackmay timer, see the above link.
6. You may wish to regrip mid alg to end it in a better position for stopping the timer.

Cube Videos

I have had some requests for videos, so I'm starting a page for them. You may need the free Divx Codec to view the videos.

	This is the current unofficial world record (4:03.83) for solving a 3 x 3 with a knife and fork, done by me.
	This is a 22.10 second solve that I did on vacation, notice the background.

Annotation

Here are a number of cubes to help you understand the annotation of the page. I'm assuming that most of the regular moves are self-explanatory, but the whole-cube or middle slice moves may be helpful. For the sake of space I will only include the U, F, and R faces (the front three), since the other three are just reflections.

	U	F	R
'(counter-clockwise)
2
M(Middle layer)
C(Whole cube)

Records

This is where i will leave my records. I will provide world records for all that I can to give you a reference. I suggest you visit the cube records page, it has it all, very entertaining and informative. I will have a last updated date at the bottom. This is independent of the one on my main page, seing as when i update it i usually update my whole site, but records may need to updated at unusual times(whenever I make a new one).

Rubik's 3x3: 0:17.13 (8-19-2005) Non-lucky: 0:19.77 (8-31-2005)

World Record: 12.11 sec by Shotaro Makisumi (Japan) at the Caltech Spring Tournament on 3 April 2004.

Blindfolded: 12:38.41 (8-15-2005)

WR: 2:41.54 minutes (including memorising), Leyan Lo (USA) at the Caltech Spring Tournament on 16 April 2005

One-handed: 0:57.59 (8-12-2005)

WR: 25.95 sec by Christopher Hardwick (USA) at the US Championships on 10 July 2004

Average 10 of 12: 23.67 (8-31-2005) Times: 21.57 21.61 22.13 27.88 (27.90) 21.13 27.00 24.90 23.13 (19.77) 22.87 24.43

WR: N/A

Rubik's 4x4: 2:02.13 (7-24-05)

WR: 1:01.52 min by Frédéric Badie (France) at French Championships on 22 April 2005 in Paris.

Rubik's 5x5: 5:20.45 (10-23-2005)

WR: 2:08.45 min by Lars Vandenbergh (Belgium) at the European Championships 2004 in Amsterdam.

Rubik's 6x6: does this even exist? I've heard rumors.(contact me if u know)

Back to my homepage

For more record information visit the Official Rubik's Cube World Records Page.

News

This is where I will post all my news items, whether they are cube related, site related, or just cool stuff on my end. Note: This page was launched on august 26th, more than a month after my new site, therefore news during that time will not be included (like i could remember that all anyway). I do know that in that time i broke my records for 3x3 (one handed, blindfolded, avg. 10 of 12), and 4x4 fastest. See my records page for those. I will start this page off with its construction date, started and completed.

News

Date	News
10-25-2007	Wow. I was working on my site today, and backing up all my data locally, when I stumbled onto a horrifying problem. It seems, somehow I omitted two algorithms in my PLL page, and one of them is the most common algorithm of them all! Well, needless to say, these have now been added and are the last two cubes on the PLL page. I apologize to anyone who has used my site and was likely confused by the missing algorithms. I can't believe I missed something so vital all this time.
6-19-2007	Well, I haven't done much with my site for a long time. But now that it's summer again, I thought I would update it and give myself something to do. I now use html, CSS, and javascript in coordination to give you the site you see now. I hope you like it. I must say that it has changed a lot visually, and I even changed my beginners site, so it's no longer such an outdated html eyesore. I have to say, I really like the javascript approach to all this. With javascript, I changed my advanced site so it is all one page, and all of the information is included in it. This may make take it a little while to load, but that means that navigation (at least on my comp, with DSL), is lightning fast. This is because instead of taking you to a new page which looks a lot like the main page, the nav bar now uses a javascript function to change what appears in the main text area. Sooner or later I will get around to switching all of my pics left on my site to smaller ones for those of you using slower internet, because now I'm pretty sure that they all load in my 5x5 area when you first visit the site. The only other thing is that all of my java cubes seem to be loading in their finished position, which is not ideal, especially in my OLL page. I'm afraid I don't know how to change that, but if you just press back on the cubes (more than once sometimes)it will reset to the beginning. If anyone has any site related comments or ideas, feel free to email me, I'd love to hear from you. My email is in the contact me area.
2-05-2006	I just finnished a massive up date to my site. It involved "graying out" all of the stickers on every cube(except the pll page, where the whole cube is valid) that were unimportant (didn't help to explain the algorithm). In my oppinion, the java cubes are extreemly easier to use and comprehend now that all the clutter is gone. If you go to one of my alg pages, you will see what I mean. I had been meaning to do this for some time, but it took a while to figure out how. In the end, I think this will make it much easier to learn from my site.
10-23-2005	I broke my professor's cube record again with 5:20.45. I hope to improve that further now that my cube is operational because my times are still far slower than other cubers out there. Also, the video of me solving the 3 x 3 with a knife and fork is now available and working on my videos page.
10-22-2005	Just launched my new Videos page. I hope to put several speedcubing videos in there.
10-17-2005	I haven't posted in a while, due to lack of time to work on my speedcubing. My five by five has been losing stickers like crazy, keeping me from breaking my record. I sat down and replaced the troublesome one's with electrical tape. Some day I will replace them all, but the task is simply daunting. Today I broke my record for fastest 5 by 5 with 5:47.82. It can be improved.
8-31-2005	Yes! Finally broke my record average of 26.62 with 23.67, over 2.5 seconds, I knew i could do it. This drops me unnofficially from 109th to 92nd in the world. I will post it soon. Stackmat timers a a worthy imvestment if you can afford them.
8-30-2005	My new stackmat 2 arrived today and it is awesome. The UPS guy delivered it at 8:00, didn't know they were out that late. I'm kinda excited about it coming so my times are a little weird, either low 20's (great) or low 30's (horrible). Guess once I'm awake enough tomorrow I will attempt to break my average (26.61).
8-26-2005	Launched this page today. Plan to update it often.

About Me

Name: Colin James Howald

Hight: 5'6.5"

Hair: Short, Dirty blond?

Eyes: Green(emerald), sometimes blue

Favorite color(s): Blue, green, torquise (see a patern?)

Favorite clothes: Cargo shorts, Dark green shirt, Teva's (nice sandals)

Favorite acitivities: Rock climbing, speedcubing (no kidding =)), go-karting, roller-coasters, knives, fire, rope stuff (last three are cuz i'm a boy scout)

What I look for in a girl: Smart (this is important, i would get so bored of a dumb blond), Good personality (I generally like happy people cuz they make me happy, nice and sincere are also good traits), Cute (dont hurt me, im not shallow, usually I only start to notice good looks until after i get to know her, it's a brain thing), Capable (once again no dumb blonds (or any other color hair, to those smart blonds out there), I like a girl who can fend for herself, and doesn't lean on other people to do everything for her)

What I would name my child/children: Hmmmm....(I'll get back to you on that)

Instrument: Clarinet (dont say its corny cuz it gives me abs of steel and i'm really good at it, next year I'm gonna be a Sophomore in high school and in the highest band(that's cool))

Afraid of: Anything with a large stinger (this is a rational fear seing as how getting stung hurts), Big spiders (biting thing: not so fun, less rational, more creepiness)

About me: I'm a pretty laid back guy. I don't freak out about h/w like geeks, though I do try hard (straight A's freshman year). I have many friends (more juniors than freshman). Many people like me or are at least interested in me cuz my cube (surprisingly). It has gained me many friends and even respect. I care somewhat about what people think of me, but I usually ignore that, if they dont like me they can go to hell i'd say, by the way, what's not to like? ;). I'm in with the kinda different, very good at art crowd, though i cant draw worth crap. I am quite good at poetry. We have a kinda poetry group in memorial that publishes a book "Pressions" each year of the best poetry people bring to them and my english teacher (everseer of pressions) has strongly encouraged my to submit to pressions next year, and come to the meetings. I spend a lot of time in front of the computer, but when I am not there, I am often buried in a fantasy series. My family is very booky, and at any given time have numerous series for me to read (more than are physically possible). I haven't been reading much during the school year around my school assigned books, but now that it is summer, I have, once again, many options.

This is all I can think of to put in here right now. If you have any interesting of funny ideas for me, just contact me at my email(shattered.shadow@gmail.com) and I will gladly post them.

Back to my homepage

Last updated 29 July 2006

Contact Me

I could make a whole page about contacting me but that would be time-consuming and pointless, seing as how it can all be summed up as such: I check my gmail account, shattered.shadow@gmail.com (with the period), daily. If you want a reliable way to contact me, use email. If you are interested in other forms of communication, such as IM, send me an email about it with your handle. I've been meaning to get on aol more often. I don't see any reason why someone would need to use the telephone or mail. If you don't have an email account, you can get one somewhere like yahoo.com for free in about 5 minutes, I suggest you do. Anyone who wants gmail invites will be distributed to with email request. And that's it in a nutshell.

Professor's Cube

7-01-2005 I decided to venture into and take apart that monstrosity, the Rubik's Cube Professor. It is wild and intriguing and anyone who is interested in cubing, I suggest that you buy one, they are wild. Here is a set of pictures that took place between 9:42 and 10:24. The pics with me in them were taken by Shannon, 19, my interested sister. And now, for your viewing pleasure: