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6x6

Two kinds of edge pieces and both kinds of parity. Gross.

Expert
WCA event
6x6x6 Cube
Positions
1.6 × 10¹¹⁶
Method
Reduction
Parity
OLL and PLL

Overview

The 6x6 cube combines the worst aspects of the 4x4 and 5x5. Similar to the 4x4 it has no fixed centers, so you place them in the right color order yourself. Each edge has four pieces, two outer ones next to the corners, and two inner ones.

Solve by reduction. Centers are 4x4 blocks, built from bars of pieces. Edges are paired in two halves, then joined up.

Both kinds of 4x4 parity can happen, separate for the outer and inner edge pieces. The algorithms are the 4x4 ones with a different inner slice.

Notation

A number in front says which layer: 2R is the second layer from the right, 3R the third. With w it means that many layers together.

RRight face clockwise (as if you were looking at it)
R'Right face counter-clockwise. A ' always means the reverse turn
R2Right face twice. Direction doesn't matter
RwRight two layers together. Also written r
2ROnly the second layer from the right
UwTop two layers together. Also written u
xTurn the whole cube like R
3RwRight three layers together. Also written 3r
3ROnly the third layer from the right

Reduction

Beginner

Turn the 6x6 into a big 3x3: solve the centers, pair up the edges, then solve it like a 3x3. The 3x3 part uses only outer turns.

  1. 1. Centers

    Each center is a 4x4 block. Solve two opposite centers first (white, then yellow), then the four side centers one at a time.

    Build a bar of center pieces, then move it next to the finished part with a wide turn, put the bar in, and undo the wide turn. Use Rw and Uw moves so you don't break centers you've already done.

    With no fixed centers, you have to place the side centers in the right order yourself, which can be annoying. On a standard color scheme green is opposite blue (cool colors), red is opposite orange (warm colors). If yellow is on top (white on bottom) and blue is in front, then red goes on the right. You can reference a solved 3x3 if you forget, and if your color scheme is not standard none of this applies so good luck :)

    Tip: Get the last two centers right before moving on. it's easy to finish with two centers swapped.

    All six centers solved

  2. 2. Edges

    Each edge is 4 pieces that need to line up. Find pieces that belong together and bring them to the front left and front right edges, lined up so one slice turn would join them. The algorithm pairs both edges without breaking the centers.

    Pair the inner pieces of each edge first, then the outer pieces, so you're really pairing edges twice.

    Centers solved, every edge paired

    Pair two edges

    Dw R F' U R' F Dw'

    Pairs the front left and front right edges without breaking the centers

  3. 3. Solve it like a 3x3

    This is the fun part. Using only outer turns (R, U, F, etc.,) you can basically solve the cube like it's a regular 3x3 using whatever method you already know. Treat each center block as one center and each paired edge as one edge.

    Even cubes can end in two positions a 3x3 never can, called parity. If you see one, use the parity algorithms below.

Parity

Beginner

The 4x4 parities, but they can affect the outer or the inner pieces of an edge. Pick the algorithm by which pieces are wrong.

  1. OLL parity

    Hold the broken edge at the front of the top layer. Use 2R for the outer pieces (next to the corners) or 3R for the inner ones.

    OLL parity, outer pieces

    2R2 B2 U2 2L U2 2R' U2 2R U2 F2 2R F2 2L' B2 2R2

    OLL parity, inner pieces

    3R2 B2 U2 3L U2 3R' U2 3R U2 F2 3R F2 3L' B2 3R2

  2. PLL parity

    Swaps the front and back edge pieces of one kind: again 2R for the outer pieces, 3R for the inner ones. Finish with U2 to line the top back up.

    PLL parity, outer pieces

    2R2 U2 2R2 3Uw2 2R2 3Uw2

    PLL parity, inner pieces

    3R2 U2 3R2 3Uw2 3R2 3Uw2

Tips

  • ★Most of your time goes into centers and edges. Practice those on their own until you can do them without stopping to look.
  • ★Look for the next piece while you're placing the current one. On a 6x6 there's always something to look for.
  • ★Use the same 3x3 method you already know for the last step, or use steps from the beginner method if you're uncomfortable with turning the big cube sides.
  • ★Learn to spot parity during OLL and PLL so you don't waste time on a case that can't be solved.

Resources

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