How To: Trick Your Friends into Thinking You Can Actually Solve a Rubik's Cube

The Rubik's Cube is probably one of the most well-known puzzles, but if the number of articles about how to solve them is any indication, it's also one of the least understood. How many people do you know who actually know how to solve one?

Then, there are those few people who are so good at solving them that you're embarrassed to even try. This guy can even do it blindfolded.

Most of us will never be that skilled in the art of the Rubik's Cube, but it's always fun to pretend. That's why Matt Parker created this video showing how you can cheat your way to making it look like you're a Rubik's Cube master.

Turns out, if you repeat any sequence of moves over and over, you'll eventually end up solving it. The trick is to make it look as mixed up as possible, and always remember where you left off. That way, you can wait until someone comes over and pick it up all nonchalant, then amaze them with how fast you're able to solve it.

Just make sure you don't let anyone else mix it up or you're screwed.

The hardest part to this trick is that you have to start with a cube that's already solved. Luckily, Matt's also got you covered there. His four-part series teaches you how to solve a Rubik's Cube in 7 steps (8, if you count the "Step 0" primer).

Solving the Top Layer

This video starts with a brief explanation of the face colors, permutations, and orientation, then proceeds to solve the entire top layer (cross and corners) of the cube.

Solving the Middle Layer

This one shows you how to get all of the edge pieces on the middle layer in their correct placement.

Solving the Last Layer: Orient Edges and Permute Corners

Now the tricky part. These two steps talk about solving the bottom layer's cross (orienting the edges) and then permuting the corner pieces, which means just getting them situated right, but not necessarily in the correct orientation.

Solving the Last Layer: Orient Corners and Permute Edges

The final two steps will show you how to orient the corners correctly and then spin the edges to finish the cube off.

Too much work for you? Well, you can always just build a robot to solve it for you.