The Basics
The 2x2x2 Rubik’s cube, most often called the 2 by 2, Mini Cube, or Pocket Cube, is named for the two colored squares on every edge of the cube. As far as the cubes go, it’s the easiest to master, and either 2×2 or 3×3 cubes will make for good starter cubes. As you master the 2×2, you can move on to 3×3, 4×4, and, if you’re feeling ambitious, 5×5 and above! For any age level, beginners or masters, 2×2 is a fun and basic cube that’s great for fiddling with, and your friends will be in awe at your cube-solving abilities.
Why the 2×2?
Because 2×2 cubes are smaller and simpler than 3×3’s and above, they’re easier to master and make a great cube to practice on if you’re new to the art of Rubik’s cubing. With six faces to a cube, it can be intimidating to get every color in order, but 2×2 offers the easiest solution with only two rows and columns to line up—rather than three or above. 2×2 cubes are also smaller than any other size, making them the perfect cube to slip into a backpack and bring anywhere. The faster you get at solving Rubik’s cubes, the cooler it looks, and with a little practice, even the basic 2×2 can be impressive and entertaining. Fun fact: 2×2 cubes have over three million unique color combinations when scrambled, and you can learn to solve all of them!
While the 2×2 is a great beginning cube if you’re just getting into cubing, there isn’t one specific cube that you have to start with. 3×3 is the most common kind of cube out there, and it takes different techniques, but isn’t too hard to master with some effort. Anything bigger than 3×3 will be hard to start with, though. 2×2 isn’t just for beginners, either; even as an experienced cuber, you can still enjoy fiddling with a little 2×2 and breaking your personal speed records.
Records
While for some, Rubik’s cubing is just a fun hobby, there is a community of competitive “speedcubers” who attempt to break records in their communities or worldwide. The world record time for solving a 2×2 cube is 0.49 seconds, set by Maciej Czapiewski (Poland) on 20 March 2016! https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/93767-fastest-time-to-solve-a-2x2x2-rubiks-cube
The world record for the fastest average time to solve a 2x2x2 rotating puzzle cube is 1.02 seconds, set by Zayn Khanani (USA) on 12 February 2022. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-average-time-to-solve-a-2x2x2-rubiks-cube
Solving a 2×2
If you’ve already learned how to solve a 3×3, you’ll be happy to know that solving a 2×2 is basically the same strategy—a 2×2 is just the corner of a 3×3. Basically, you’ll want to get a certain pattern solved as the first step, and then from there you can do the rest. You’ll usually aim to solve that pattern in yellow or white. (This goes for all Rubik’s cubes, so it’s good to have that committed to memory!) For 2×2’s, that base pattern is solving the first layer. You’ll get the white (or yellow) side solved in such a way that the first layer of all the other colors on the edges are also lined up. To do that without ruining things you already have lined up, two easy algorithms are R’ D’ R and F D F’. Next, flip the solved layer so that it’s on the bottom and solve the new U face (which, if you started on white, will be yellow, and vice versa). This time, don’t worry about those edges. Finally, you’ll look for any corners that are correctly aligned (or “permuted”) and move them into place, do U’, and execute the algorithm L’ U R’ D2 R U’ R’ D2 R2.
More in-depth content related to solving a 2×2 will hopefully be coming soon; for now, J Perm’s video on 2×2’s is a great place to look, and Rubiksplace 2×2 tutorial is a good one as well. If you’re having trouble figuring out all the terminology or getting overwhelmed by the tricky ways things move, don’t give up! Watching lots of videos on YouTube will help you start to spot patterns of movements that navigate things into place.
Notation
Rubik’s Cube notation is a way of recording the solving or scrambling a Rubik’s Cube, and it refers to parts of the cube and how they should move. The 2×2 has no middle layers, so the notation is simpler than bigger cubes, and becomes intuitive pretty easily. Hopefully, a more in-depth tutorial will be posted soon; this is just a basic overview to help you get familiar with notation.
When using tutorials to learn to cube, you’ll see the outside faces of the cube referred to using letters, like “U”, “R”, or “F”. This can look really confusing if you don’t know what those letters mean, which is why it’s handy to get familiar with notation. The faces are according to the way you hold and look at it, and they are as follows: “F” (for “front”, the side facing you); “B” (for “back”, the side opposite “F”); “R” (for “right”, the side to the right of “F”); “L” (for “left”, the side to the left of “F”); “U” (for “up”, the side above “F”); and finally “D” (for “down”, the side below “F”). Whichever face is stated in the notation, that’s the one you’ll be rotating, in whichever direction is marked.
Also, the faces will always be in uppercase letters, because lowercase letters will indicate layers in Rubik’s cube notation. Because you don’t have to worry about layers with a 2×2 cube, we’ll save the lowercase letters for the next size of cube up.
And finally, the direction of rotation. If the notation says “R”, it means rotate that face clockwise; an “R” with an apostrophe ‘ next to it means to rotate that face counterclockwise (you’d read the apostrophe as “prime”—therefore, R prime); and R2 means rotate that face counterclockwise twice. Technically in basics, it won’t matter which direction you rotate with an R2, since it’ll wind up in the same place either way—but in speedcubing, it can help to improve the flow or speed.
That’s all you need to know about 2×2 notation. It can be hard to commit to memory, especially the whole clockwise/counterclockwise thing, but you’ll get it with practice. To wrap up, let’s look at an algorithm for the 2×2: ” F2 R’ B’ D “. To follow it, rotate the “front” face (the face facing your face) counterclockwise twice. Then rotate the “right” face counterclockwise one time. The “back” face will also turn counterclockwise one time. Finally, the “down” face rotates clockwise once. If your cube now looks like a half-scrambled mess, well done! If you started out with a solved cube and want to get it back to being solved, it’s ok, you can just reverse the algorithm! So to fix it, you would execute ” D B’ R’ F2 “. Congratulations! You’ve just mastered 2×2 algorithm notation!
Where to Buy
Amazon and Walmart are both good and widely found places to get cheap speed cubes, as far as starting out goes. There are also plenty of online cubing stores, like thecubicle.com and davidcube.com, that sell multiple brands. A few good name brand names to check out are GAN, MoYu, and QiYi.
FAQs
How many combinations are possible in a 2 by 2 Rubik's cube? ›
The 2x2x2 Rubik's cube (called the Pocket Cube) has 3674160 combinations. This is a manageable number. If you fiddle with the 2x2x2 cube randomly, eight hours a day continuously, you'll solve it by pure chance roughly two or three times per year. Assuming your cube – or your wrist – doesn't break in the meantime.
How many moves can a 2x2 Rubik's cube be solved in? ›That is the biggest secret of all – God's Number. The God's Number is the maximum number of moves required to solve any of the 43 quintillions or to put it in perspective, 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 permutations combinations of the cube. Apart from God Number you can also Rubik's cube under 30 second using F2L method.
Is 2x2 easier than 3x3 cube? ›Introduction. The 2x2x2 Rubik's cube, or in its official name- the Pocket Cube, is another puzzle in the Rubik's cube series, invented by Erno Rubik. It is considered the "easy" version of the Rubik's cube. You will find out that solving the 2x2 cube is much easier than solving the classic 3x3x3 cube.
Can you solve 2x2 without algorithms? ›You can try and solve this without algorithms by only using intuition. Your goal is to place the white pieces next to each other in the correct position to complete the first layer. Choose a face with white as the bottom and find the white corner at the top layer.
What percentage of the world can solve a 2x2 Rubik's cube? ›It's estimated that less than 5.8% of the world's population can solve the Rubik's Cube. Statistics show that 1 in 20 people who own a Rubik's Cube can solve a Rubik's Cube.
How long should it take to solve a 2x2 Rubik's Cube? ›With some practice, you should easily be able to solve the cube in under 1 minute. If you want to get even faster, you should learn How to do Finger Tricks and Advanced 2x2 Methods. Below are the steps from the video, for reference.
How long does it take the average person to solve a 2x2 Rubik's Cube? ›There isn't really and average time overall, but I know people who can consistently solve a 2*2 in 5 seconds or less, and some other people can take up to a minute, maybe after some practice and a purchase of a good 2*2 cube, maybe 30 seconds, but the more practice the better.
Which method is best for 2x2 cube? ›The Ortega method is an intermediate method that is considered to be the best 2x2 cube-solving method after EG. There are only 3 steps in Ortega and it is quite easy to learn. All you have to do is learn some algorithms and follow the steps. To help you learn this method, we have made a step-by-step tutorial.
Which rubiks cube is easiest? ›- Redi Cube. The Redi Cube is almost as beloved as the Rubik's cube. ...
- Floppy Cube. A Floppy cube is like 1/3 of a full Rubik's cube. ...
- Gear Ball. ...
- Pyraminx Duo. ...
- Ivy Cube.
Most of the times, the Rubik's Cube becomes unsolvable because someone, intentionally or unintentionally, takes one or more pieces out of the cube. If the piece is now put back in the cube in a different position or orientation, the cube will now be impossible to solve.
What is the fastest solve for a 2x2? ›
The fastest average time to solve a 2x2x2 rotating puzzle cube is 1.01 seconds, and was achieved by Zayn Khanani (USA) at the Pioneer Valley Cubing B 2023 event in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA, on 22 January 2023.
Is a mini Rubik's Cube easier? ›Learning to solve the Rubik's Mini is easier than solving the Rubik's Cube (original 3x3), but still a challenge. The Rubik's Mini is solved using sequences of moves known as algorithms.
Is Rubik's Cube good for brain? ›All in all, it helps to your cognitive ability and improves your thinking and memory. All said and done, the Rubik's cube will definitely help you improve your cognitive and problem-solving abilities. It will also teach you many life lessons patience, perseverance and focus in the process.
Is solving rubiks cube a talent? ›You don't have to be a genius to solve a Rubik's Cube, contrary to what most people believe. Although it is not simple nor easy, you can learn to solve it through the countless tutorials available online. There are a few traits that can help make your endeavor easier.
What is your IQ if you can solve a Rubik's Cube? ›So the answer maybe is 100–130 . This will only happen if you use the rubik's cube frequently .
How long does it take a normal person to solve a Rubik's Cube? ›It takes the average person about three hours to solve a Rubik's cube for the first time, but it can take a speedcuber only seven seconds. As the name implies, speedcubing is a sport in which participants solve, most commonly, the 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube as quickly as possible.
Is solving a Rubik's Cube in 2 minutes impressive? ›When you start out it can even be challenging to beat 5 minutes, but once you master them you can definitely hit 2 minutes, but that really is a good time.
What percentage of the population can solve a Rubik's Cube? ›It is estimated that only 5.8% of the total population can solve the Rubik's cube. So if you are among the elite ones, you deserve to take pride in the feat achieved. While learning to solve the Rubik's cube the mind multi-tasks.
What is a good 2x2 time? ›A beginners method takes about 50 turns. To solve it in 50 seconds would be a good time. If you have an advanced method, such as Varasano, you only need about 20 turns. Then 20 seconds would be a good time.
Who can solve rubiks cube in 1 second? ›Software engineers Jay Flatland and Paul Rose have built a machine that can solve Rubik's Cubes ridiculously fast. Their robot takes just over one second to complete the task. Video Player is loading.
What is the minimum possible moves to solve Rubik's cube? ›
All were proved solvable in 29 moves, with most solvable in 26. Those that could not initially be solved in 26 moves were then solved explicitly, and shown that they too could be solved in 26 moves. Tomas Rokicki reported in a 2008 computational proof that all unsolved cubes could be solved in 25 moves or fewer.
What is R in Rubik's cube? ›In order to write down sequences of movements on the cube, we use a notation of six main letters: U for Up. D for Down. L for Left. R for Right.
What does F mean in Rubik's cube algorithms? ›Notation: -------- F = Front side of cube (facing you) U = Upper side L = Left side R = Right side D = Down side green side = side with green in center white side = side with white in center etc... center piece = piece in center of a side corner piece = pieces at the corners edge piece = not center or corner pieces.
What are the fastest cube solving methods? ›The Fridrich method or the CFOP method (cross, F2L, OLL, PLL) is a fast method for solving the Rubik's Cube created by Jessica Fridrich. It consists of four steps: Cross, F2L (First Two Layers), OLL (Orient Last Layer), and PLL (Permute Last Layer).
Is Rubik's cube hard or easy? ›But it's not just me — solving a Rubik's cube is actually really hard. According to mathematicians, solving a cube is considered NP complete. In simple terms, this means Rubik's cubes are extremely difficult to solve mathematically. It even took Erno Rubik, the inventor of the cube, a month to solve his own cube.
What cube should a beginner buy? ›Buying Options
The MoYu RS3M Maglev is great for beginners who want to explore the world of speed cubing, whether their goal is to compete against others or simply find a quality, affordable fidget toy.
The Pentamix may be the hardest take on Ernő Rubik's Cube
It is considered one of the hardest Rubik's Cubes to solve. For many, the traditional cube is hard enough, but this take on Ernő Rubik's classic is enough to scare even the most tempered Rubik's Cube enthusiast.
They all say 43 quintillions. But how many know what the exact number is? Well, that might be not relevant, yes, but how many know how or why are there 43 quintillion possibilities for a simple puzzle like a Rubik's Cube.
What is a 2x2x2 Rubik's cube called? ›The Pocket Cube (also known as the 2×2×2 Rubik's Cube or Mini Cube) is a 2×2×2 version of the Rubik's Cube.
How many Rubik's cube combinations are there 43252003274489856000? ›How many Rubik's cube combinations are there exactly? The original 3x3x3 Rubik's cube has 43 252 003 274 489 856 000 combinations, or 43 quintillion. Again, as pointed out on this website's main page, this is a manageably imaginable number. It's a little less than the square of the earth's population, for example.
Is there a 100 by 100 Rubik's cube? ›
The 100x100x100 Rubik's Cube is a theoretical Rubik's Cube with 100 layers, unlike the normal Rubik's Cube, with only 3. The pure immensity of this Rubik's Cube assembled requires you to assemble 58,808 (fifty-eight thousand eight hundred and eight) parts, which are only the visible parts.
What is this number 43252003274489856000? ›43,252,003,274,489,856,000 represents the number of possible configurations for a single Rubik's Cube. Mind-blowing, isn't it? Like it or not, the Rubik's Cube has mesmerized millions of people around the world, and has spawned a whole breed of niche clubs, obscure competitions, and even me-too products.
What is the 1x1 Rubik's cube world record? ›However, the world record average Sqaure-1 time is 5.02 seconds, claimed by Max Siauw (USA) on 29 May 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Is 4x4 harder than 5x5? ›A big misconception regarding these puzzles is that the higher order you go, the more difficult it becomes. After learning the 4x4 and 5x5 cubes; this is effectively not true because although more pieces must be solved, the process in which you solve them is the exact same as a 4x4 or 5x5.
Is there a 21x21 Rubik's cube? ›MoYu 21x21 Cube is currently the largest mass produced mega cube in the world! This iis a challenge for the best of the best cubers, and it will definitely test your solving skills in a way, you've never experienced before. The cube is well produced and turns amazingly in spite of it's size.
What is the gods number? ›The term "God's number" is sometimes given to the graph diameter of Rubik's graph, which is the minimum number of turns required to solve a Rubik's cube from an arbitrary starting position (i.e., in the worst case). Rokicki et al. (2010) showed that this number equals 20.
Is there a 22x22 Rubik's cube? ›After a number of failed attempts it was finally completed in late 2015 / early 2016. The previous record was held by Oskar van Deventer's 17x17x17 Over The Top puzzle. The 2691 parts for the 22x22 were printed on a Prusa I3 and the project took around 8 months.
How many possible combinations are there in a 10x10x10 Rubik's cube? ›Assuming that the cube has six colors, there should six options for each square on a face. There are a 100 squares per face. That means there are 6100 permutations per face. Multiplied by the six faces of the cube gives an upper bound of 6600 possibilities.
Is there a 12 sided Rubik's Cube? ›The Megaminx is made in the shape of a dodecahedron, and has 12 faces and center pieces, 20 corner pieces, and 30 edge pieces. The face centers each have a single color, which identifies the color of that face in the solved state. The edge pieces have two colors, and the corner pieces have three.
Is there an unsolvable Rubik's Cube? ›In images and illustrations of the Rubik's cubes, common mistakes can occur where multiples of the same color appear incorrectly. These include two of the same color on a single edge or corner piece, or more than one center color on the cube, as each center has its own color. This is unsolvable.
Is there a 19x19 Rubik's Cube? ›
The Shengshou 19x19 speed cube is a high-performance puzzle that is perfect for experienced cubers looking for a new challenge.