How to Solve a Rubik's Cube by Tom Crosbie

This is a slightly different review because it’s not directly magic-related, but it was made by a magician for magicians. The title kind of explains it all. Tom Crosbie (certified magic nerd) teaches how to solve a Rubik’s Cube legitimately in an hour-long video.

Funny enough, I first learned how to solve a Rubik’s Cube from a magician back in 2010 or 2011. Rubik’s Remembered by Mark Elsdon taught how to legitimately solve a cube and then taught a few effects with a cube. I’ve been using that method off and on ever since. I can do his method comfortably and consistently in 2 minutes. 

Tom’s method is completely different. It’s what is often described as the “beginner method” on YouTube. I’m not enough of a Rubik’s Cube person to know the technical name for this type of solve, but it starts with making the daisy, then white cross, white corners, 2nd layer, orienting yellow edges, orienting yellow corners, moving the yellow corners, and finally moving the yellow edges. 

While you can go and watch a YouTube video that teaches this method, Tom’s teaching is superior. It’s the best explanation for a Rubik’s Cube solve that I’ve seen. He uses a cube that ONLY contains the pieces he’s working with, which makes it very easy to track and follow. You don’t have to have any knowledge of the cube before watching this video. He covers everything, including how the cube works and the notation used. During each step, he flashes the notation on the screen so that you can “read” along as you watch. None of the algorithms are too difficult, and even though the method was completely new to me, I had it memorized and down to about two and a half minutes after a day of work. At the end of the video, Tom walks you through a full solve, explaining each step, then he solves it in real time as he explains his thoughts. His solve is just over a minute, which is super impressive speed for it being such a “beginner-friendly” method. 

I wish Tom had added a section at the end explaining how to get faster at the solve. I would have liked to see some recommendations for “finger tricks” to make the moves a little more fluid and fast, but I understand that could have been too much for the beginner. 

Overall, this is a really great Rubik’s Cube tutorial for the beginner. Don’t buy it expecting any magic to be taught. If you already know how to solve a Rubik’s Cube, I’m not sure if this is of much value because he doesn’t really explain the next steps to make the solve any faster, but if you don’t know how to solve a cube and you’ve always wanted to know, then this is perfect and the teaching is great without being overwhelming with too much information.