The document discusses Rubik's Cubes, including their origin and structure. It provides an overview of common solving techniques like the Fridrich and Lars Petrus methods. It also covers speed cubing competitions and how they are organized by the World Cube Association.

1. Rubik Cubes For Geeks
http://bit.ly/rubikcube
Barcamp Singapore 4
21th Nov 2009
Benson & Hong

2. Overview
Origin
Structure
Notations
Techniques
Speed Cubing
Competition

3. Once Upon A Time...
Erno Rubik
Professor of Architecture
Invented in 1974
Original color scheme (White, Yellow, Red, Orange, Blue,
Green)

4. Structure
6 faces
8 corners (3 colors)
12 edges (2 colors)
6 + 8 + 12 = 26 cublets
6 springs pulling the 6 centre cublets

5. Speak The Language
R - Right face clockwise
L - Left face clockwise
U - Upper face clockwise
D - Down face clockwise
F - Front face clockwise
B - Back face clockwise
R' - Right face anti-clockwise
F' - Front face anti-clockwise
B2 - Back face 180 degree
U2 - Upper face 180 degree

6. Techniques
Layer-By-Layer
Most popular
E.g.Toy R' Us booklet,
Fridrich
Block Building
E.g. Lars Petrus, Roux
Corner First
E.g. Waterman
Mathematical
Rubik's Cubic Compendium (Recreations in
Mathematics)

7. Need For Speed
Look ahead
Finger tricks
Lubing

8. Lube Your Cube
Bad
Methylene Chloride
Acetone
WD-40 (good sticker remover )
Good
Silicon spray

9. Competition
World Cube Association (http://www.worldcubeassociation.
org)
Rules and Regulations
Judges, scramblers, score takers
Speed cubing, single hand, blindfold, feet cubing, ...
"Competitors must bring and use their own puzzles.
Competitors may borrow puzzles from other competitors..."
Max. 15s inspection

10. DEMO

11. Fridrich Method
1. Bottom Cross
2. F2L (First 2 Layers) = 4 x (corner + edge)
3. OLL (Orientation of Last Layer) + PLL (Permutation of Last
Layer)
Characteristics
Popular!
Need memorization
Many variations for last layer

12. Lars Petrus Method
1. 2x2x2
2. 2x2x3
3. Fix bad edges
4. Finish first 2 layers
5. Positions corners
6. Twist the corners
7. Position the edges
Characteristics:
Freedom in movement
Less "breaking" of what you have done
Fewer moves (3x3x3 Fewest Moves Category 2005 World
Championship)