Pocket Cube facts for kids
The Pocket Cube is a smaller version of the famous Rubik's Cube. It's a 2x2x2 puzzle, which means it has two layers on each side. Unlike the classic 3x3 Rubik's Cube, the Pocket Cube only has 8 corner pieces. Your goal is to twist its sides until each face shows a single, solid color.
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Amazing Records
People who solve these puzzles very quickly are called "speedcubers." They compete to see who can solve them the fastest! The world record for solving a Pocket Cube in a single try is an incredible 0.49 seconds. This amazing feat was achieved by Maciej Czapiewski at a competition in Poland called Grudziądz Open 2016.
Another record is for the "average of 5" solves. This means they solve the cube five times, throw out the fastest and slowest times, and then average the middle three. Lucas Etter holds this record, which he set at the Music City Speedsolving 2015 competition.
Different Kinds of Pocket Cubes
Many companies make their own versions of the Pocket Cube. Here are a few:
- Junior Cube: This special Pocket Cube only has pink and green colors. It also has a fun monkey face on one side!
- Eastsheen Cube: The Eastsheen company makes a Pocket Cube that is much bigger than usual. Each side is about 5 centimeters larger.
- Rubik's Ice Cube: This one is cool because it has stickers that you can partly see through. The plastic underneath is a light blue color.
- V-Cube 2: Made by Verdes Innovations, the V-Cube 2 is a popular Pocket Cube. There's also a V-Cube 2b, which has a unique "pillow" shape, making it feel different to hold.
- Dayan 2x2: Dayan created this Pocket Cube. Many speedcubers think it feels similar to their famous Dayan Zhanchi 3x3 cube.
- MoYu LingPo: MoYu made this cube, and it's known for being very fast and smooth to turn.
- Other Brands: Companies like Fangshi/Funs and Shengshou also make their own versions of the Pocket Cube.
As you can see, there are lots of different Pocket Cubes out there!
How to Solve a Pocket Cube
There isn't just one way to solve a Pocket Cube. People use different methods, which are like sets of steps or algorithms. The two most common methods are called Guimond and Ortega.
Another popular way is called "Layer by Layer." This method is very similar to how you would solve a 3x3 Rubik's Cube. If you know how to solve a 3x3, you might find this method easy to learn for the Pocket Cube.
With practice, some people can solve a Pocket Cube in less than 5 seconds! For those who want to be super fast, there are advanced methods that involve learning many more moves. Some of these advanced methods include Stern-Sun (SS), Erik-Gunnar (EG), and CLL.
Related pages
Images for kids
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A scrambled Pocket Cube
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Pocket cube with one layer tilted
See also
In Spanish: Cubo de bolsillo para niños
