You've probably seen the videos. Someone hands a scrambled cube to a "pro," they flick their wrist a few times, and—boom—it's solved. The caption screams about some secret algorithm. Usually, they claim you can learn how to solve a Rubix cube in 4 moves and impress your friends at parties.
It’s a lie. Mostly.
If we’re being honest, the Rubik’s Cube has about 43 quintillion possible configurations. That is a number so large it's hard to wrap your head around. To suggest that any random scramble can be undone in four twists of the wrist is mathematically impossible. However, there is a massive "but" here. While you can't solve a truly scrambled cube that quickly, there are specific tricks, patterns, and "pseudo-solves" that make it look like you’ve mastered the impossible.
Let’s get into the weeds of what’s actually happening when people pull off these four-move miracles.
The Mathematical Reality of the 20-Move Limit
To understand why the four-move solve is usually a prank, you have to look at "God’s Number." Back in 2010, a team of researchers including Morley Davidson and John Tietz used Google’s infrastructure to prove that every single position of a Rubik’s Cube can be solved in 20 moves or fewer.
Twenty. Not four.
If the most optimal path from a chaotic mess back to a solved state requires up to 20 moves, then the idea of a universal four-move fix falls apart. You can't just memorize one sequence. If you could, the World Cube Association (WCA) records would look a lot different. Right now, the world record for a 3x3 single solve is 3.13 seconds, held by Max Park. Even he, with his terrifyingly fast hands, is making dozens of moves per second. He isn't looking for a four-move shortcut because, in a competitive scramble, it simply does not exist.
Why People Think You Can Solve a Rubix Cube in 4 Moves
The internet is built on illusions. Most of those "tutorial" videos rely on a very specific setup. They take a solved cube and perform a four-move sequence to scramble it. Then, they film themselves reversing those exact moves.
It looks like magic. It’s actually just basic physics.
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If you take a solved cube and perform the move sequence Right, Up, Right-Inverted, Up-Inverted (often called the "Sexy Move" in the cubing community), and you do it six times, the cube returns to its original state. If you do it a few times and then stop, the cube looks messy. You then perform the remaining moves to "solve" it. This is the foundation of the 4-move myth.
People also get confused by the "2-move" or "4-move" infinite loops. There’s a popular TikTok trend where people say if you just keep repeating two moves, the cube will eventually solve itself. Technically, this is true for any repeating sequence on a finite puzzle, but "eventually" might mean hundreds of moves. It’s not a solve; it’s a loop.
The "Fake Scramble" Method
This is the most common way to trick people into thinking you know how to solve a Rubix cube in 4 moves. You start with a solved cube and do this:
- Turn the Right face clockwise ($R$)
- Turn the Left face clockwise ($L$)
- Turn the Top face clockwise twice ($U2$)
- Turn the Front face clockwise ($F$)
Now the cube looks sufficiently broken to a non-cuber. To "solve" it, you just do the inverse: $F'$, $U2$, $L'$, $R'$.
It’s fast. It’s flashy. It’s also a total sham.
Real cubing—the kind practiced by guys like Feliks Zemdegs—involves something called CFOP: Cross, F2L (First Two Layers), OLL (Orientation of the Last Layer), and PLL (Permutation of the Last Layer). This method involves about 50 to 60 moves on average. Even the "Roux" method, which is more intuitive, rarely dips below 45 moves for a standard solve.
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The One Scenario Where 4 Moves is Real
Is there ever a time where a cube actually needs only four moves? Yes. During official competitions, the scrambles are generated by a computer to ensure they are sufficiently complex. Usually, these scrambles are 20 moves long.
However, in the world of "Fewest Move Count" (FMC) competitions, mathematicians and enthusiasts look for the shortest possible path. On extremely rare occasions, a random scramble might leave the cube only a few moves away from being solved. This is like winning the lottery.
Statistically, the chances of a cube being 4 moves away from solved after a thorough scramble are roughly 1 in billions. You have a better chance of being struck by lightning while holding a winning powerball ticket.
Misconceptions About the 4-Move Sequence
Many beginners search for a "magic sequence." They think if they memorize $U D L R$ or something similar, it will work every time. This comes from a misunderstanding of how the cube's internal mechanics function. The cube isn't a combination lock where one code opens it. It’s a spatial map.
Every move you make changes the orientation of multiple pieces. One turn of the top layer moves four corners and four edges. It’s a cascade.
How to Actually Get Faster (Since 4 Moves Isn't Real)
If you're disappointed that you can't actually solve the cube in four moves, don't be. The real way to solve it is actually more satisfying once you get the hang of it. You don't need to be a math genius. You just need muscle memory.
Most people start with the "Layer by Layer" method.
First, you make a white cross. Then you finish the white corners. This gives you the first layer. Then you tuck in the edge pieces for the second layer. Finally, you use a few specific algorithms to sort out the yellow top.
It takes practice. Your first solve might take ten minutes. Eventually, you’ll get it down to a minute. Then, if you’re obsessed, you’ll start learning those 50+ CFOP algorithms to get under 20 seconds.
Actionable Steps for Genuine Progress
Forget the 4-move hacks you see on social media. They are dead ends. If you actually want to master the cube, follow this path:
- Buy a "Speed Cube": Don't use that old, stiff branded one from the 80s that's been sitting in your attic. Modern cubes have magnets and rounded internal edges that allow for "corner cutting." Brands like MoYu or GAN make cubes that feel like butter.
- Learn the Notation: You have to know what $R, L, U, D, F,$ and $B$ mean. $R$ is Right face clockwise. $R'$ (R-prime) is counter-clockwise. This is the universal language of cubing.
- Master the "Sexy Move": That $R U R' U'$ sequence is the building block of almost every major algorithm. Practice it until you can do it without thinking.
- Use J Perm’s Tutorials: If you want the gold standard of instructions, Mitch Lane (known as J Perm) has the most logical breakdowns on the internet. He doesn't rely on clickbait; he explains the mechanics.
The allure of the four-move solve is the allure of the shortcut. But the cube is a puzzle designed to resist shortcuts. That’s the whole point of it. The satisfaction doesn't come from the four moves; it comes from the fifty moves you actually understood.
Stop looking for the magic trick. Pick up the cube, learn the white cross, and start the actual process. It’s much more rewarding than a fake TikTok prank.
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Next time you see a video promising a four-move solve, look at the starting position. Notice if the "scramble" looks repetitive. It almost always is. True randomness is messy, and fixing messiness takes work. Get to work.