Mechanical & physical puzzles
Rubik's Cube — rules and where to play
RUBIK'S CUBE · Magic cube / Speed cube
A scrambled cube must be solved face by face. Looks spatial, but is muscle memory of layered algorithms.
- Origin
- 1974 · Hungary
- Difficulty
- ★★★★★ 3–5 / 5
- Time
- 30–120 min
- Grid
- 3×3
- Sites
- 1
Rules
- A 3×3 cube, six faces one color each, turned in layers to scramble or solve.
- Goal: each face a single color.
- Solved by notated algorithms step by step, not by flailing.
How to start
Start with the bottom cross
Most methods begin with a white cross as the first-layer anchor.
Layer by layer is safest
Bottom → middle → top, fixing each so one move does not undo another.
Learn algorithms, not luck
Top permutations and orientations have standard moves; memorise them.
Where players get stuck
- Turning without algorithms and getting worse.
- Moving the top before the bottom is set, re-scrambling solved layers.
Play Rubik's Cube
1 siteRelated puzzles
About this page
- Last updated 2026-09-22
- Source Curated compilation of established puzzle rules and listed third-party play sites
- Audience Players learning Rubik's Cube rules or looking for online sites to play
- Covers Rules summary, how to start, common pitfalls, and the dedicated play sites listed on this page
- Does not cover Hosted puzzles, worked solutions, official contest rankings, third-party uptime or pricing guarantees
- Not advice This page is puzzle reference content only. It does not constitute financial, legal, medical or other professional advice.
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