Speedcubing is easy to achieve if you persevere, work hard and follow the right algorithms, you will successfully master it!!

- Aadarsh Upadhyay, Age 11

This blog post is a guide about how I (Aadarsh) achieved solving the Rubik's cube in 15 seconds. I started my journey of cube solving at the age of 8 with nothing but a 3X3 Rubik's with immense willpower and determination to first be well versed with the algorithm. I scrambled the cube just after I had received it and It had taken me a week to solve the cube without any algorithm. At that time I had no idea that I need to learn algorithms to solve the cube. This is the time when my journey of speedcubing began!

I took help from my friends who were already best at solving the Rubik's cube, and they were kind enough to suggested some online links which I used to solve the 3X3 cube.

Below is the best official link I can share if you are a beginner to solve the Rubik's cube:

https://assets.ctfassets.net/r3qu44etwf9a/6kAQCoLmbXXu29TTuArrk1/404118e1f9bfb6f9997157a284bbc572/Rubiks_Solution-Guide_3x3.pdf

I continued my learning of new sequences of moves until I completed my first solve with help of algorithms. My personal best at the time was 56 seconds when I was 8.5 years old.

I was initially unable to beat my own record of 56 seconds for several months however kept on practicing.

In the meanwhile also learned 2x2 and the centers of 5x5 which I was able to solve through algorithms in decent time. After seeing my friends becoming faster, It motivated me to challenge myself.

I got my first speedcube after finally getting a 52-second personal best at the age of 9. I received a QIYI warriors 3x3 and after the sudden change from cubes, I started getting new personal best and received appreciation from my friends.

I got 35-second personal best after a whole year of practice. I also started learning a new method called CFOP (Cross, First two layers, Orientation of last layer and Permutation of the last layer).

I started learning Ortega and F2L(First Two Layer). My hard work continued until my 11th birthday. I saw from many cube ads that there was a brand named GAN. I was awestruck marveling at people solving the cube so quickly. I was searching for good cubes and suddenly stopped in my tracks. The cheapest cube went around for Rs. 2000. I had to convince myself that I was doing the right thing. I searched for a GAN budget cube until I stumbled upon the Gan 356 M, a magnetic cube.

Here is a short guide to CFOP((Cross, First two layers, Orientation of last layer and Permutation of the last layer):

CFOP(Cross, f2l,oll, and pll) has a lot of algorithms. If you want to get sub-15 I recommend learning 4-look-last layer and beginner F2l along with Jperm’s cross videos. Here are some images that I used along with like to Learn F2l and 4lll:

F2L:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar_Zit1VLG0

www.cubeskills.com/uploads/pdf/tutorials/f2l.pdf

2-look OLL

2-Look PLL

(Photo credit: cubeskills.com)

After a long wait of months, I finally got my personal best of 15 second at the age of 11 years and learned advanced cross and 4-look-last layer from cubeskills.com. I use to practice for about 30 minutes to 45 minutes every day without fail.

Here is a short guide to CFOP.

CFOP (Cross, F2L, OLL, and PLL) has a lot of algorithms. If you want to get sub 15  I recommend learning 4-look-last layer and beginner F2L along with Jperm’s cross videos(Search on Youtube).

I hope you enjoyed this blog and will continue reading my blogs on FirstToyz.com.

Author:
Aadarsh Upadhyay, Age 11
Grade 6, Birla Open Minds International School, Hyderabad