Rubik’s Revenge

Solution Hints Booklet

Revenge - The Ultimate Challenge 2

Meet Your Revenge 3

Twisting Hints 5

General Hints 8

Notation System 12

Revenge Sequences 19

Solving Rubik’s Revenge 28

More Revenge 33

1
Revenge - The Ultimate Challenge Meet Your Revenge

RUBIK’S Revenge is the big brother of the best RUBIK’S Revenge has 6 faces. Each face will be a
selling, original RUBIK’S Cube. Some of the moves single solid colour when the puzzle is solved.
that you might know that work on the original Cube
also work on Rubik’s Revenge - but be warned: the The puzzle has 12 different layers and each can
similarity stops there. be turned independently of the others.

Rubik’s Revenge presents a completely new TOP

challenge. You must mix up the puzzle with a few Mi
To
p
twists and turns and then try to match up the Mi d -T L a y
er
pieces until each face is a single colour. However,
d -B
ot
op
La 
to yer
you are advised to read the first few sections of Bo m
tto L a 
m ye
this booklet first. La
ye
r 
r
Try to solve the puzzle logically, but be careful. Be
very, very careful. Your success will depend on FR

r 
ON HT
e  T RIG
Ba
how well you grapple with the totally unexpected ay
er 
Mi ck
problems you will meet. Le
f tL ay
ye
r 
Mi d -B La
ye
tL Fr d a
on -Fro ck L r
- L ef t La i g h t
d h R tL n a
M i -Rig ay t La yer
With millions more combinations than the original, M i d er ye
r
Cube plus its own special devilry, you should be
wary of Rubik’s Revenge - the Ultimate Challenge.

2 3
Meet Your Revenge Twisting Hints

Revenge is made of 56 smaller cube pieces. There are two kinds of twist that can be given to
24 have a single colour - these are Face Pieces, any layer: a quarter twist and a half twist.
24 have two colours - these are Edge Pieces;
and 8 have three colours - these are Corner A quarter twist rotates one layer of the puzzle 90º
Pieces. clockwise or anticlockwise. A half twist rotates one
layer 180º. (Twisting a layer through three quar-
Corner ters is the same as twisting it one in the opposite
Piece 
direction.)
TOP
`

Face

Piece
Edge
Piece

When the puzzle is solved, the Yellow face is

FR
always opposite the White face; Blue is opposite ON HT Right Layer:
T RIG Quarter twist
Green, and Red is opposite Orange. clockwise
Right Layer:
Quarter twist
Also, when the Yellow face is on top, Blue is at anticlockwise
the front when Red is on the right, as in the dia-
gram above.

Right Layer:
Half twist

4 5
Twisting Hints Twisting Hints

Think of the orientation. For example, moving the Whenever you move a piece, performing the
back right corner piece with a half twist will put it moves you made backwards will return the puzzle
diagonally opposite and upside down. to its original position.
TOP
As an exercise in twisting,
try this: from the solved
position, twist two adjacent
layers at a time (as though
 the cube were 2x2), and try
to get each face with four
 2x2 blocks of four different
FR Right Layer: colours as shown here.
ON HT
T RIG Half twist
Now try to put the puzzle
If the same piece were instead moved by two back into the solved position. This is the same as
quarter twists of two different layers, it would end trying to solve the Mini-Cube or just the corners of
in the same position but in a different orientation. the Revenge.
Bottom Layer:
Quarter twist
anticlockwise Don’t worry if your Revenge gets muddled up,
there are some General Hints in the next section.


Front Layer:
 Quarter twist
anticlockwise

6 7
General Hints General Hints

If you haven’t jumbled your Revenge up, now is Now that you can see which pieces must go where,
the time to start. try to build up on your chosen corner piece. You can
do this in several ways. For example:
Then, try to solve the puzzle logically.
Layer by Layer:
Unlike Rubik’s Cube, the face pieces do not deter-
mine which face is which colour. In fact, there are
four face pieces of each colour. It is best to start
from a corner piece.

Turn the puzzle so that your TOP

chosen corner is on the top

layer. In the example here,
the Red/Yellow/Blue piece Step 1 Step 2
has been used. This piece
shows what colour the faces
must be. Remember, Blue is
opposite Green; Red is
opposite Orange; and FR
ON HT
Yellow is opposite White. T RIG

Step 3 Step 4

8 9
General Hints General Hints

Edges; Corners, and Faces: Experiment with different sequences of twists to

find out what they do. Try to find some that move
pieces you have already positioned to one side
and then put them back in place. You will often
find that other pieces yet to be placed have either
moved about or been reorientated. You should
make a note of any effects that look useful so that
you can repeat them to achieve a desired result.
Step 1 Step 2 However, to do this you must use a system to
record your moves and the effects. Also, you will
need to put numbered or lettered stickers onto
your puzzle to differentiate between identical
pieces. (For example, Blue face pieces could be
numbered 1 to 4 and Blue/Red edge pieces
tagged A and B. This makes it easier to see what
has moved where.

Step 3 Step 4 A system for recording your sequences is given in

the next section.
Some methods will prove more difficult than oth-
ers, so try different ways. (There is one that
avoids the problems the others may encounter.)
Whichever approach you use, you will need
different sequences: some which just affect face
pieces; some that just affect edge pieces; and
some that just affect corner pieces.

10 11
Notation System Notation System

The layers of Rubik’s Revenge are as labelled Remember to look for sequences that do not
here. disturb pieces already positioned: those pieces
should end up where they started. Only record
TOP
sequences that do this.
To
Mi p
Mi d -T L a y
d -B op er
 Movement of a layer is recorded by the layer’s
ot La
to yer name and an arrow. The arrow gives the direction
Bo m
tto L a  that the front or top edge of that layer is moved
m ye
La
ye
r  one quarter turn. Thus, for example:
r 
Notation Indicates:
HT

FR
r  Front
Front layer one quarter twist to left.
ON
RIG
M Bac
r 
T
ye

ye r 
t La

Mid id-Ba Laye
k Back Back layer one quarter twist to right.
L ef
t L a
ye  Fr - c r Top
Top layer one quarter twist to left.
- L ef t La i g h t on Fro k
La
d h R tL nt Bottom
Bottom layer one quarter twist to left.
M i -Rig ay L ye
i d er aye r
M r Left Left layer one quarter twist down.
Right Right layer one quarter twist up.
The front face is the one that is facing you when Mid-Left Mid-Left layer one quarter twist down.
you start the sequence. Keep that face towards Mid-Back
Mid-Back layer a quarter twist to left.
you throughout the sequence.

12 13
Notation System Notation System

Remember, the direction relates to the visible To note the start and finish positions, so that you
edge of that layer at the top or front. can see what has happened after a sequence of
moves, copy and use the diagrams below.
With a half-twist, direction is irrelevant, so this is
shown by replacing the arrow with a 2. So, Front2 This is the one used in this booklet. It represents
means that the front layer is rotated a half-twist. the view of the bottom layer (and a false perspec-
tive of the sides) you would have if you tilt the
You may want to twist two layers together. This puzzle away from you.
should be recorded as, say:
Start Position End Position
Bottom+Mid-Bottom

You may find it tricky to twist a middle layer. In
practice, it’s easier to twist it with the adjacent face
layer and then turn the face layer back.

There is a reason for the way the puzzle is

viewed. This enables you to see how the pieces
already positioned are moved out of the way and
where they go to. If you can see this clearly, you
will find it much easier to remember the sequence.
SEQUENCE:

14 15
Notation System Notation System

Just record the effect that is relevant. For example, For each sequence that you find, there will also be
suppose you find a sequence that moves one edge a Reverse, a Mirror, and a Reverse Mirror.
piece from the bottom layer to the mid-top layer
while leaving the pieces in the top layer and the Suppose you have found a sequence that reads:
other edge pieces in the mid-top layer unchanged.
This is the only important effect. You do not need to Mid-Left; Bottom
; Mid-Left; Bottom2;
note what happens to the other pieces on the Mid-Left; Bottom
; Mid-Left.
bottom and mid-bottom layers. All you need to
know is the start position of the piece that ended in The Reverse is the sequence in reverse order with
the mid-top layer. the direction of arrows also reversed, as here:

For example, your start and end position should Mid-Left; Bottom; MId-Left; Bottom2;
simply be noted as here (along with your sequence Mid-Left; Bottom; Mid-Left.
of moves).
End Position
The start position of the Reverse is the end posi-
Start Position
tion of the original sequence, and the Reverse
* * ends with the start position of the original. So, if
you perform a sequence and then wish to put the
puzzle back as it was, simply do the Reverse of
the one you did to restore the original position.

* * * *
(Asterisked pieces remain unmoved.)

16 17
Notation System Revenge Sequences

A MIrror sequence is a left-right reflection of the This section contains some general sequences to
original. This swaps left and right without changing cover many situations. (There are other more
the arrows and reverses all other arrows The specific sequences for you to find.) The system of
Mirror of the previous sequence would be: notation is as described in the previous section.

Mid-Right; Bottom; Mid-Right; Bottom2; The start and end positions show the bottom
Mid-Right; Bottom; Mid-Right. face. (That is, the view you would have if you tilt
the puzzle away from you.) Start and end positions
Start and end positions are reflections of those for for the Reverse and Mirror versions have been
the original sequence. For example, the diagrams omitted for reasons of space.
here are the reflections of those on page 16.
Always hold the puzzle so that the piece you wish
Start Position End Position
to move is in the appropriate start position.
* *
Asterisked pieces remain unmoved as do all the
other pieces of the puzzle.

The relevant pieces to be moved are hatched to

avoid confusion with the colours you might be
placing.

* * * *
Whenever you find a useful sequence, make sure
you also record these other versions. If you have
trouble finding your own sequences, some useful
ones are given in the next section.

18 19
Revenge Sequences Revenge Sequences

Three-Corner Shuttle Three-Corner Flipper

This shuttles a triangle of corner pieces one place This flips three corner pieces on the bottom layer
clockwise around the bottom layer. without changing their position.
Left; Bottom; Left; Front
; Bottom; Right; Bottom
; Right; Bottom
; Right;
Front; Left; Bottom
; Left; Bottom
. Bottom2; Right; Bottom2.
Start Position End Position Start Position End Position
1234567
123
123
1234567 123
123 123
1234567
123
1234567 1234567
1234567 123
123 12345678
123
12345678
123
123
1234567
123 123
123 1234567
123 12345
1234567
12345 12345
12345123
123
123456
12345678
123
123456
123
123 123 123 12345 12345
12345123 123456
123
123 123 123 12345 123 123456
123
123
123 * * 123
123 123 * * 12345
12345 * 12345
12345123
123 * 123456
123
123456
123

* * * * * *
123
* * 12345
123
123
12345
123
* * *
1234
1234 123 *
123
123
123
123
12345
123 1234 123 123
* 12345
123
123
123 * 12345678
12345678
12345678
1234 12345678
12345678
12345678
123
123
123
123
123

Reverse Reverse
Bottom; Left; Bottom; Left; Front
; Bottom2; Right; Bottom2; Right; Bottom;
Bottom
; Front; Left; Bottom
; Left. Right; Bottom; Right.

Mirror Mirror
Right; Bottom
; Right; Front; Bottom
; Left; Bottom; Left; Bottom; Left;
Front
; Right; Bottom; Right; Bottom. Bottom2; Left; Bottom2.

Reverse Mirror Reverse MIrror

Bottom
; Right; Bottom
; Right; Front; Bottom2; Left; Bottom2; Left; Bottom
;
Bottom; Front
; Right; Bottom; Right. Left; Bottom
; Left.

20 21
Revenge Sequences Revenge Sequences

Low-Edge Shuttle High-Edge Shuttle

By shuttling a triangle of edge pieces clockwise By shuttling a triangle of edge pieces clockwise
around the front layer, this moves an edge piece around the front layer, this moves an edge piece
from the mid-bottom layer into the bottom layer. from the mid-top layer into the bottom layer,

Left; Bottom
; Left; Mid-Bottom
; Left; Bottom
; Left; Mid-Top
;

Left; Bottom; Left; Mid-Bottom. Left; Bottom; Left; Mid-Top.
123456789
123456789 1234567890
1234567890 12 123
123
12345678 12345678
Start Position
12345678 12345678
123
123 End Position 123
123 123456789
123456789 Start Position1234567890
1234567890
12
12 End Position 123
123
12345
12345678
12345
12345678 123
123
1234567
1234567 123
123 12
12 1234567
123
123
123
123
1234567 123
123
123
123
* 12345
12345
* 12
12
* 1234567
1234567 * 123
123
123
123
123 123 12345
* * * * * * * *12345
* * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Reverse Reverse
Mid-Bottom
; Left; Bottom
; Left; Mid-Top
; Left; Bottom
; Left;
Mid-Bottom; Left; Bottom; Left. Mid-Top; Left; Bottom; Left.

Mirror Mirror
Right; Bottom; Right; Mid-Bottom; Right; Bottom; Right; Mid-Top;
Right; Bottom
; Right; Mid-Bottom
. Right; Bottom
; Right; Mid-Top
.

Reverse Mirror Reverse Mirror

Mid-Bottom; Right; Bottom; Right; Mid-Top; Right; Bottom; Right;
Mid-Bottom
; Right; Bottom
; Right. Mid-Top
; Right; Bottom
; Right.

22 23
Revenge Sequences Revenge Sequences

Face-Lifter Mid-Swapper
This shuttles three face pieces. This swaps two adjacent edge pieces in the front
middle layers.
Mid-Left+Mid-Right; Bottom
; Mid-Right;
Bottom; Mid-Left; Bottom
; Mid-Right;
Front2; Mid-Bottom
; Front2; Mid-Bottom2;
Bottom; MId-Right.
12345678 123456
Front2; Mid-Bottom; Front2.
12345678 Start Position
12345678 End Position 123456
1234567
Start Position 1234567890
Start Position 1234
12
1234567 1234567890
1234
123
1234567890
1234
* * * * * * * * 12345678
12345678 12 123
1234567890
1234
1234
12345678 12 123
1234
123
1234
* * 1234
* * * 123456
* * * 12 123
1234
1234
1234
1234
123456
123456 12 123
123
1234
1234
* 1234 *
123456
123456
* 123456 * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * *
Reverse * * * * * * * *
Mid-Right; Bottom
; Mid-Right; Bottom;
Mid-Left; Bottom
; Mid-Right; Bottom; *
Mid-Left+MId-Right. Mirror
Mirror Front2; Mid-Bottom; Front2; Mid-Bottom2;
Mid-Left+Mid-Right; Bottom; Mid-Left; Front2; Mid-Bottom
; Front2.
Bottom
; Mid-Right; Bottom; Mid-Left;
Bottom
; MId-Left. In both cases the reverse is the same as the
sequence.
Reverse Mirror
Mid-Left; Bottom; Mid-Left; Bottom
;
Mid-Right; Bottom; Mid-Left; Bottom
;
Mid-Left+MId-Right.

24 25
 Revenge Sequences Revenge Sequences

Mid-Shuttle Mirror
This shuttles a triangle of edge pieces clockwise Back; Bottom2;
around the mid-bottom layer. Right; Bottom; Right; Mid-Bottom;
Right; Bottom
; Right; Mid-Bottom
;
Back
; Bottom2;
Bottom2; Back
.
Left; Bottom
; Left; Mid-Bottom
;
Left; Bottom; Left; Mid-Bottom; Reverse Mirror
Bottom2; Back. Back; Bottom2;
123
123456789
Start Position
123456789
123 123
123 12
12345678
12
12345678
End Position
123456789
123
123456789
123 Mid-Bottom; Right; Bottom; Right;
123456789
123 123 12345678
12 123456789
123
123
123
123
123
* * 123
123
12
12
* * 123
123
123
123
Mid-Bottom
; Right; Bottom
; Right;
123
123 123 12 123
123
Bottom2; Back
.
* * * * * * * *
* * * With this sequence (as with any that shuttles three
* * * * * * * * * pieces), performing it twice has the same effect
* * *
123
123
* * * * * *
12
12
* * * as doing the Reverse once.
123
123 * * * * 12
12 * * * *
123
123456
123 12
123456
123
123 12 You should try and solve the puzzle for yourself
* * * * * * using the sequences provided. They are all you
Reverse need - plus a little imagination. If you are still
Back
; Bottom2; having trouble, a full solution guide is given in the
Mid-Bottom
; Left; Bottom
; Left; next section.
Mid-Bottom; Left; Bottom; Left;
Bottom2; Back.

26 27
Solving RUBIK’S Revenge Solving Rubik’s Revenge

Once you start twisting, it’s easy to get Rubik’s 3. Position all edge and cor- TOP
Revenge completely muddled. Don’t worry - it can ner pieces of the top face.
always be put right from any state. The following If you have trouble, use the
steps will help you solve the puzzle. sequences. (The Three-
TOP Corner, High-Edge, and
1. Select any corner piece as Low-Edge Shuttles can all
your starting corner. Turn be used if you turn the
the puzzle so that this piece puzzle so that your top face
is in the top face. It is auto- becomes the relevant face FR
ON HT
matically in the correct in the sequence diagrams.) T RIG
position. (In our example, TOP
Yellow is the top face and 4. Position the face pieces of
Blue is the front.) FR
the top layer by using the
ON HT Face-Lifter.
T RIG
2. Find a second piece that’s NB - When using the Face-
a side-by-side match and twist it into place. Lifter, you may first need to
twist faces to align the
NB - Of two identically coloured edge pieces, pieces to be moved. Note
only one can be placed in a particular position these so you can reverse FR
ON HT
with the colours correctly orientated. T RIG
them afterwards.

28 29
Solving Rubik’s Revenge Solving Rubik’s Revenge

5. Next, and most importantly, complete the 8. Use the Low-Edge and/or TOP
bottom face. High-Edge Shuttles to
drop the edge pieces into
6. Start by using the Three-Corner Shuttle to their correct positions on
correctly position the corner pieces. If two the bottom face. If a piece
seem to be correctly placed, turn the layer so you want is already in the
one of the other two is correctly placed. The bottom face, use one of
Three-Corner Shuttle will then position the the shuttles to remove it.
other three. If the two that need to be swapped FR
ON HT
are diagonally oppo- 9. Complete the bottom face T RIG

site, you will need to TOP by using the Face-Lifter. TOP

use the Three-Corner
Shuttle twice. 10. Use the Mid-Swapper to
correctly position the
7. Once the corner edge pieces of the mid-
pieces are in the right top layer. If a piece you
positions, use the want is already in that
Three-Corner Flipper layer, use the swapper to
to orientate them FR remove it.) FR
ON HT ON HT
correctly. T RIG T RIG

30 31
Solving Rubik’s Revenge More Revenge

11. Turn the mid-bottom TOP Once you’ve mastered the puzzle, there is more
layer so that only one fun to be had.
edge piece is correctly
positioned. Then use Try solving the puzzle layer by
the Mid-Shuttle to layer from the top down.
correclty position the There’s a fifty-fifty chance
other three. If two you’ll either solve it or reach
diagonally opposite the position shown here.
edge pieces need to be FR
ON HT From this position, see if you
swapped, you will need T RIG
can find the shortest se-
to use the shuttle twice. TOP quence that will solve the
puzzle.
12. Finally, complete the
centre faces by using Other patterns can be made.
the Face Lifter. For example, is it possible to
make all the faces a checker-
board pattern?

FR Rubik’s Revenge isn’t over

ON HT
T RIG yet.

32 33