Blindfold Cubing

I solved a Rubik's Cube blindfolded for the first time on December 8, 2002, at age 11, with a time of 19 minutes and 31 seconds using the 4-step 3-cycle method (often called 3OP) from stiff_hands's site. As one of the first to compete officially in blindfold cubing, I held the world record in 2004 and 2005.

Motivated by the recent reconds set using methods other than pure 3OP, I am currently in the process of switching to M2 for the edges. I will continue to use 3OP for corners. The pages below explain both 3OP and M2. For now, this is all you really need to become a world-class blindfold cuber. Plus a lot of practice and, I'm guessing, a fair amount of talent.

Learning to solve a Rubik's Cube blindfolded is easy. I learned 3OP in two nights and had my first successful solve on the third when my speedcubing average was over 30 seconds. I believe that anyone with an average memory can learn to solve a Rubik's Cube blindfolded. That said, 3OP/M2 might not be the easiest blindfold method to learn. If you just want to learn blindfold cubing with any method, as little effort as possible, I recommend Stefan Pochmann's original method. Good luck!

3OP guide

(PDF version)

Also called the 4-step 3-cycle method, this was the smethod of choice for top blindfold cubers until 2006. Although M2 has begun to replace 3OP edges, 3OP corners is still widly used by top cubers. Read this guide to learn the central concept of cycle-based blindfold solving methods, which can be used to solve a number of other twisty puzzles.

M2 guide

Invented by Pochmann, M2 is the new method of choice for edges. This page describes the version I devised, which almost entirely circumvents the nasty M-layer algorithms. At the same timee, it keeps the thinking to a minimum. For example, no exchange of UF/FU with DB/BD is necessary in the second sticker in a pair, and it is possible to directly go from the letter pairs to moves without first converting the letters to sticker positions, even if the pair involves an M-layer sticker.

Miscellaneous Techniques

This page lists some advanced techniques for cycle-based methods in general and for 3OP and M2. Especially of note is the 2-step corner orientation approach.

Other

This is where I dump anything that doesn't fit into the other pages. Look for rough sketches of blindfold solving approaches to other twisty puzzles.

Links

Since 2003, many new and interesting ideas have appeared for blindfold cubing. Once you learn the pure orientation/permutation 3-cycle method, you can explore other methods:

Original Pochmann method: Joel van Noort's guide
M2/R2: Stefan's guide. This is very good improvement of the Pochmann method, so be sure you understand the original Pochmann method first.
M2 improvements: forum posts by Stefan and others

TuRBo: corners and edges.

It's possible to combine M2 with 3-cycle corners: Kai Jiptner's explanation

If you're already comfortable with commutators from big cubes, you can also try Chris Hardwick's free-cycling.

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