4x4 Speedcubing

Hello, welcome to the 4x4 speedcubing section of this site! In the section you will learn how to solve the 4x4 with reasonable speed, and with practice/persistance, perhaps lightning speed!

Introduction:

Before we get started i'd like to mention that you should be able to solve a 3x3 (If you don't, head over to the "3x3 Speedcubing" section). Also check out the "Notation" section, due to the fact that their are "slice moves" , which are essential in big-cube solving.

The most common method of solving a 4x4 is "reduction" which involves reducing the 4x4 cube into a bigger 3x3. This is done by making 2x2 center blocks on each side whilst keeping a constant colour scheme. The second step is to form "dedges" by slicing the centers back and forth to retain their solid colour. You can come across two types of parity, and when i discuss them im assuming you know a method that uses OLL and PLL. Have fun!

1. Centers - Making 2x2 center blocks on each side whilst keeping a constant colour scheme.
2. Edges - Forming "Big edges" by slicing the cube horizontally and replacing in the U/D faces.
3. 3x3 Stage - Solving the reduced cube like a 3x3.
4. Parity - Occurs at about a 50-50 chance. Their are two algorithms.

Now that you know the method that i will be explaining, i will put forward a video and written tutorial.

Step 1: Centers:

So the first step of solving a 4x4 is the "Centers". That is making a 2x2 block in the center of each face. Since a cube has 6 sides, it is required that you make 6 centers. Also note that since their are an even number of layers on a 4x4, each side of the cube can take up any colour (Of coarse with the same colour scheme) because their are no actual center pieces. So when making your centers be sure to make the colour scheme of the solved cube. For Rubik's brand 4x4's (Not Japanese Rubik's) it's known as the BOY colour scheme. Which is Blue, Orange and Yellow in a clockwise direction. With their opposites which are Blue-Green, Orange-Red and Yellow-White. On an Eastsheen 4x4, the colour scheme is the same as a Rubik's brand BUT purple replaces orange.

NOTE: If you are confused by the whole colour scheme and central movement ordeal, it's in the video, so don't fret!

VIDEO COMING SOON TO AN AUS-SPEEDCUBING NEAR YOU!

Step 2: Edges:

The second step to solving a 4x4 cube is the edges. This consists of slicing the centers to match up two identical coloured edges to form what is commonly as a "dedge", as in double-edge. There are a total of 24 edges so you have to form 12 dedges. Their are numerous ways of forming edges, some commonly known as "chain solving" where you would set up two edges to come together, then slice one half of the cube to form the dedge, replace the dedge with a "trash edge" in the U or D layer which contains a piece to form another dedge, so when you slice back you mend the sliced centers.

NOTE:  It may all sound very complicated but it's hard to explain literally over the internet. So refer to the video for easy understanding.

VIDEO COMING SOON TO AN AUS-SPEEDCUBING NEAR YOU!

Step 3: 3x3 Stage

This is the last step of the 4x4. The cube should now look like a scrambled 3x3. At the beginning you were notified that you should be able to solve a 3x3 before attempting the 4x4, this is because you have to solve the reduced 4x4 like a 3x3. If you don't know how this is done; the dedges on a 4x4 represent edges on a 3x3, the 2x2 block centers on a 4x4 represent center pieces on a 3x3, and the corners on a 4x4 represent corners on a 3x3. I hope you have fun completing your 4x4 puzzle.

Step 4: Parity

OLL Parity: Whilst solving the reduced 4x4, you may notice that when your up to OLL that there's a case that you have never seen before. This is because you have OLL parity which must be fixed with a somewhat long algorithm. You know you have OLL Parity when you see either 1 or 3 edges oriented when your at the OLL stage of solving the 3x3 stage. The algorithm for OLL Parity is r ² B ² U ² l U ² r ' U ² r U ² F ² r F ² l ' B ² r ² . The notation in parethesis means those moves can be executed together. You execute the algorithm with you OLL on the U layer.

PLL Parity: When you reach the PLL stage of solving the reduced 4x4, you may notice that there's a PLL case you don't know (Assuming you know all PLL cases that is). If you don't know all PLL cases, PLL parity can be identified (When at the PLL stage) if you see 2 edges that arn't permuted OR two adjacent/diagonal corners that arn't permuted. This is because you have what is known as "PLL Parity". There is an algorithm for this, which is quite shorter then the OLL Parity algorithm and easy to remember, this algorithm goes as follows: r ² U ² r ² U ² u ² r ² u ²'  You execute the algorithm with you PLL on the U layer.

Double Parity: This is where you have both OLL and PLL parity. You recognize this when you reach the OLL stage. You do your OLL algorithm regradless of the flipped edge, then when your at PLL you can tell if you have have PLL parity by what is mentioned in the "PLL Parity" section. If you PLL parity as well as the ignored OLL parity, you can execute the Double Parity algorithm which is: Rw2 B2 R'w U2 Rw' R U2 B2 Rw' R B2 Rw R' B2 Rw' R B2 Rw2 R' B2 R2. If you don't have PLL Parity you can do your OLL parity and finish the cube as you normally would.

You can either do OLL parity after F2L, but if you also have PLL parity you could have saved numerous amount of moves by executing the double parity alg after OLL. So you can do either of these parity "methods". That is:

1. Execute OP algorithm after F2L, and the PP algorithm after OLL if you have that case.
2. Double parity alg after OLL if you have OP and PP, or just execute the OP algotithm after OLL if you have just OP.

NOTE: These two extra cases occur at exactly a fifty-fifty chance for each one. Also don't be surprised if your cube has a combination of both of these extra cases, with two edges switched and one of them is flipped and the rest of the cube is normal. If you don't understand what Parity is, and find this explanation too complicated and/or can't execute the algorithm properly, watch the Parity video. Another problem people might face is the notatioon of the Parity cases. Refer to the "Notation" section of the website to make sure your executing the algorithm properlly. Thank you.

VIDEO COMING SOON TO AN AUS-DPEEDCUBING NEAR YOU!

After Notes:

Hopefully you can solve the 4x4 cube now! If so i encourage you to time yourself (For timers check out our "Links" section). This method, along with practice and perisitance, can get you down to times around 1 minute! If your still not feeling the method re-watch the videos and something that seemed hard at first might be easier the second time around. You can also google "4x4 Rubik's Cube Methods" if your still out of luck. If this tutorial assisted you in solving the puzzle, please e-mail us as it would be greatly appreciated.

For more information on the 4x4 cube visit Chris Hardwick's corner on www.speedcubing.com

Thanks for Reading!


Created by Levi.R