The 'Workbench'

A new approach to the Rubik's Cube: slower than layer methods, yet more intuitive.

Visit cubeiteasy.com  for a hands-on experience with a configurable solver

All the 'dialogs' on this page, and more, can be accessed via the left-side menu.

The Sledgehammer

A simple yet powerful algorithms capable to solve any possible configuration. The more you master the 'Sledgehammer' the easiest is to solve the cube! There is a whole Capter dedicated to the 'Sledgehammer and its properties under the menu 'Tutorial'.

The idea

Since the 'Sledgehammer' splits the cube into two indipendent regions:

• The Workbench The 'Y' shaped region of cubies affected by the 'Sledgehammer'.
• The Tripod All the other cubies not affected by the 'Sledgehammer'

The strategy of the 'Workbench' method is simple, it's something we've always done.

First:

• - Define a workspace (the 'Workbench') for tasks without worrying about mess.

Then:

• - Bring the object we want to 'work on' into our workspace.
• - Fix it.
• - Return it to its place.

Talking the language of the Rubik's cube: The 'Workbench' is our workplace

• 1) A 'setup move' brings a cubie (from the 'tripod') into the 'Workbench'
• 2) A 'Sledgehammer' 'fixes' the cubie.
• 3) An 'Undo Move' returns the cubie to its place.

These 3 moves are the 'Jolly move'. And this is a practical example

The solver at cubeiteasy.com applyes the 'Jolly move' in the real cases.

cubeiteasy.com is a configurable solver and uses only the 'Jolly move.'

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Please note: the method and the 'Y' shaped region both are called the 'Workbench'

The 'Trap'

Once completed the 'Tripod', comes the truly challenging part of the solving process: the 'Trap'. The configuration that prevents many from succeeding.

Technically, the 'Trap' is a parity condition involving the swap of the last two edges.

These are some ways to escape the trap

• The Rotation of 5 (A well known algorithm made intuitive!)
• The Rotation of 4 (A less known approach!)
• The 'Sledgehammer version' (The 'Sledgehammer' can tackle any configuration!)

This section also provides a solution for the classic configuration where the last two edges are correctly placed but incorrectly oriented.

• The Orientate edges The 'Sledgehammer approach'.
• The Orientate edges The 'intuitive approach'.
• The Flat orientation Again a 'Sledgehammer approach' this version preserves the position of all the cubies.

One last configuration of the remaining edges is the following:

• The Solid Rotation The 'Sledgehammer approach'.

Corners

Once the trap is escaped, solving the cube become so simple that it turns boring.

All that remains is to position the last 5 corners, which is done in two steps:

• The first three (of the remaining five)
• The last 2