How To Solve a 2x2 Rubik's Cube using Algorithms

How to solve a 2x2 rubik's cube algorithms - If we already know how to solve a 3x3 rubik's cube, solving the 2x2 cube will be a breeze.

We have to remember hardly 3-algorithms. If we know how to solve 3x3 rubik's cube, then we may manage to solve 2x2 cube at we own.

As 2x2 cube don’t have unmovable center piece, we can’t determine color of each face, so we have to remember the color orientation of standard cube.

white opposite yellow
Red opposite orange
Blue opposite green

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2x2 Rubik's Cube Patterns

In fact, there's no pattern we can use that’ll take more than a few hundred repetitions to return to the start.

Here’s how to see it:

Any pattern will do 4-things:

It will permute the edges. There are 12-edges to permute.
It will permute the corners. There are 8-corners to permute.
It will flip some edges. Each edge can be flipped 2-ways
It will twist some corners. Each corner can be twisted 3-ways.

Repeating an algorithm will take us through a total of only 1260 permutations of the cube, a bit shy of the 4+ quintillion permutations of the whole cube.

We discovered that the simple pattern of R’Y’ has a cycle time of 1260 repetitions. After 60-repetitions, all the corners are in place, but 3 (three) are twisted.

All the edges are oriented correctly and 5 (five) are solved, but the other 7 (seven) form a cycle. To it takes 60*3*7 = 1260 repetitions of that simple pattern to solve.

And this is a video that trying to make cool patterns on a 2x2 rubik's cube.

How to make cool patterns on a 2x2 Rubik's cube

If you tired of solving your 3x3 Rubik´s Cube always the same way and you're looking for a new challenge, try these pretty patterns with algorithms, preview images, and a small animation on how to form them.

You can find out how to make the famous Superflip, the snake patterns, the cross, the checkerboard, the cube in a cube and many other nice motives here: Pretty 3x3 Rubik's Cube patterns with algorithms.

Online 2x2 Rubik's Cube Solver

Always wondered how to solve a 2x2 Rubik's Mini Cube using a solver program?

This Pocket Rubik's Cube 2x2 solver will find the SHORTEST solution for us. It's perfect for finding algorithms and nice patterns.

Calculate the solution of our scrambled 2x2 Rubix Cube with this online solver.

Set up the stickers and let the program find the solution or generate a random shuffle and try to figure out the solution ourself rotating the faces!

Try it here: 2x2 Rubik's Cube Online Solver

What is the Algorithm for a Rubix Cube?

Someone who can consistently solve the puzzle is obviously running such an algorithm in his head. So, if we can learn to solve the puzzle, we have learned such an algorithm.

A Rubix Cube algorithm is an operation on the puzzle which reorients its pieces in a certain way.

Mathematically the Rubix Cube is a permutation group: an ordered list, with 54 fields with 6x9 values (colours) on which we can apply operations (basic face rotations, cube turns and the combinations of these) which reorient the permutation group according to a pattern.

To describe operations on the Rubix Cube we use the notation: we mark every face of the puzzle with a letter F (Front), U (Up), R (Right), B (Back), L (Left), D (Down).

A letter by itself means a 90° clockwise-rotation of the face. A letter followed by an apostrophe is a counterclockwise-turn.

How to Solve a 2x2 Rubiks Cube with only 2 Algorithms

There's one trick only we believe for a 2x2 rubik's cube. But it requires us to know how to solve a 3x3 rubix cube at the first place.

In case we know how to solve a 3x3 cube the trick is to look at it like it’s edges are already solved so we can understand that algorithems that only naturally move the edges, have no effect on the cube.

And if you do not know yet how to solve a 3x3 rubik's cube we suggest you learn it first here: How To Solve Rubik's Cube 3x3 Step By Step

After that you can go through to the next step. It's much easier to solve a 2x2 Rubix cube than it's to solve a 3x3 Rubix cube.

This Rubix Cube video tutorial will show us how to solve a 2x2 Rubik's Cube using only 2-algorithms!

How to solve a 2x2x2 (2x2) Rubik's cube using only 2-algorithms (Part 1)

How to solve a 2x2x2 (2x2) Rubik's cube using only 2-algorithms (Part 2)

Helps to solve yellow-side: R U R' U R U2 R'

1st algorithm to permute top-layer: R' F R' B2 R F' R' B2 R2
2nd algorithm for permuting top-layer: L' U' R' U L' U2 R U' R' U2 R L2

Also, try this one for permuting the last-layer (set up our cube the same as we would for the above algorithm) : R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'

We now see 4-algorithms instead of 2, but we only need the first one and one of the other three to choose.