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Cubing History

website·Indexed 31 days ago

https://www.cubinghistory.com

A comprehensive archive documenting the history of twisty puzzles, including the evolution of Rubik's Cube hardware, the origins of the World Cube Association (WCA), and the development of solving methods. It details specific techniques for 3x3, blindfold solving (such as 3-Style, TuRBo, and Classic Pochmann), Fewest Moves Challenge, and other puzzles like the Rubik's Snake.

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What's inside Cubing History

  1. Overview of L5EP (Last 5 Edges Permutation)

    L5EP is a Rubik's Cube solving step focused on the permutation of the last five edges. It was first proposed by Mike Bennett in 2005 and later independently developed by Michael James Straughan for the MI1 method. The technique is utilized in several advanced solving methods, including ZZ-Portico, Hawaiian Kociemba, Mehta, and Squall. Detailed algorithms and case-specific data are maintained on the SpeedSolving wiki.

  2. Overview of early 3D twisty puzzle precursors

    Before the official patent of the Rubik's Cube, several three-dimensional twisty puzzles and sliding puzzles influenced the design or preceded its invention:

    • 15 Puzzle: A 2D sliding block puzzle often regarded as a predecessor.
    • Gustafson's Manipulable Toy (1960): The earliest known patent for a 3D twisty puzzle, resembling a spherical 2x2x2.
    • Nichols' Pattern Forming Puzzle (1970): A cubic 2x2x2 puzzle using magnetic force (with options for mechanical attachment) to hold pieces together.
    • Fox's Amusement Device (1970): The first known patent of a 3x3x3 puzzle. It was a spherical device using interlocking tongues and grooves, originally intended as a 3D version of tic-tac-toe but later described as a color-pattern puzzle.
    • Pyraminx (1970): Designed by Uwe Meffert, though not patented until 1981 after the success of the Rubik's Cube.

  3. Overview of ZBLL (Zborowski-Bruchem Last Layer)

    ZBLL is a speedcubing technique used to solve the last layer of a 3x3 Rubik's Cube in a single step. This is possible only when all last layer edges are already oriented (EO - Edge Orientation). It is commonly used as the final step in the ZB method or the Petrus method.

  4. Overview of the 3OP blindfold solving method

    The 3OP method, developed by early solvers including Olly Hayden and Richard Carr, separates the solving process into orientation and permutation phases. The standard sequence of steps is: 1. Orient corners, 2. Orient edges, 3. Permute corners, 4. Permute edges. Memorization typically involves assigning numbers to corners (1-8) and edges (1-12) and memorizing strings of numbers to track misoriented pieces and required swaps.

  5. Overview of the Beyer Hardwick (BH) blindfold solving method

    The Beyer Hardwick (BH) method is a blindfold solving technique for the Rubik's Cube created in 2009 by Daniel Beyer and Chris Hardwick. The method focuses on using move-optimal 3-cycles to solve pieces two at a time, utilizing UR and UBR as the buffer.

  6. Overview of the Roux method steps

    The Roux method is a block-building approach to solving the 3x3 Rubik's Cube. It consists of four primary steps:

    1. Build a 1x2x3 block on the left side.
    2. Build a 1x2x3 block on the right side.
    3. Solve the upper layer corners.
    4. Solve the last six edges (LSE).

  7. Overview of the Twisty CLL (TCLL) 2x2 method

    Twisty CLL (TCLL) is a 2x2 Rubik's Cube solving method similar to CLL, but designed for cases where a single bottom layer corner is misoriented. The TCLL algorithm simultaneously solves the upper layer corners and corrects the orientation of the misoriented bottom layer corner.

  8. Introduction to Downsolving

    Downsolving is a solving style where a competitor solves the same scramble multiple times, attempting to find a shorter solution each time they repeat the process. This concept was highlighted in December 2002 by Lucas Winter in the Speed Solving Rubik's Cube Yahoo! group.

  9. Overview of Hao Cheng's 3-cycle Blindfold Method

    Hao Cheng's method for blindfold cubing solves both permutation and orientation of pieces simultaneously using 3-cycles. The method targets an average solve count of approximately 120 moves, utilizing 3-cycles for both corners and edges with a maximum of two setup moves (including double-layer moves). While more efficient than traditional methods, it requires memorizing 60 to 70 additional algorithms and involves a higher level of difficulty in judgment during the solve. Some cases may require a parity adjustment step.

  10. Overview of OLS (Orienting the Last Layer)

    OLS is a collection of systems used in Rubik's Cube solving to orient the pieces of the last layer (LL) simultaneously while solving the final corner and edge pair of the first two layers (F2L).

  11. Overview of the ZBLS (Zborowski-Bruchem Last Slot) method

    ZBLS (Zborowski-Bruchem Last Slot), also historically referred to as ZBF2L, is a speedcubing technique designed to solve the final F2L slot and the last layer simultaneously. It was proposed in 2001 by Zbigniew Zborowski and Ron van Bruchem. Originally part of the 'ZB method' (which combined ZBLS and ZBLL into a two-step process), it is now categorized as a Last Slot Last Layer (LSLL) system. It is typically used after reaching an F2L-1 state, often in conjunction with CFOP, CFCE, or ZZ methods.

  12. Overview of the TuRBo blindfold solving method

    TuRBo (The Ruling Blindfold Method), created by Erik Akkersdijk in 2007, is a blindfold solving method designed for simplicity, making it a common recommendation for newcomers to blindfold solving. The method focuses on solving pieces in pairs using setup moves and cycle algorithms.