Timothy Huynh

Rubik’s Cube Artist

Timothy Huynh is a Rubik’s Cube Artist based in Tampa, Florida. Timothy has been solving Rubik's Cubes professionally since 2016 and became a Guinness World Record Holder with advanced Rubik's cube-solving skills. Timothy has a follower base of over 8.6 million YouTube subscribers and 124k followers on Instagram. Internet celebrities including David Dobrik and Simu Liu have sung his praises, and Pixar has deemed his work "incredible."

Professional Achievements

Creator of 2 Rubik’s Cube YouTube channels with over 8 million subscribers

Favorite Piece of Advice

Don’t compare your learning times with others; cubing is all about your personal journey.

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Q&A Comments (11)

What is an odd-numbered Rubik's cube?

In odd-numbered Rubik's cubes, the absence of a fixed center distinguishes them from their even-numbered counterparts. Fixed centers in a Rubik's cube dictate the identity of each face, providing instant clues for solving a scrambled cube. However, in even-number cubes like the 4x4 and 6x6, the centers are not stationary; they shift positions. Consequently, arranging centers incorrectly can render the cube unsolvable. Contrastingly, in a 5x5 cube, a fixed center remains, ensuring that incorrect center placements never occur. The presence of this stable center reference point facilitates solving by providing a reliable guide for aligning colors and solving the cube accurately.

What's the fastest way to solve a Rubik's Cube?

To solve a Rubik's cube faster, top solvers employ advanced techniques and strategies. One key approach is maximizing efficiency during the inspection phase, where solvers have 15 seconds to analyze the cube before starting the timer. Elite solvers aim to identify up to 70% of the solution during this brief period, focusing on planning multiple F2L (First Two Layers) pairs without pause. By prioritizing the completion of one F2L pair or even three pairs in a single sequence, they streamline the solving process. Additionally, solvers utilize techniques like pseudo-slotting, a variation of F2L that optimizes piece placement without interruption. Another crucial method is ZBLL (Zborowski-Bruchem Last Layer), which expands upon the basic OLL (Orientation of the Last Layer) algorithms. By mastering additional algorithms within ZBLL, solvers can bypass the final PLL (Permutation of the Last Layer) step entirely, resulting in faster solves. These advanced strategies, coupled with meticulous inspection and continuous practice, enable top solvers to push the boundaries of Rubik's cube solving to unprecedented speeds.

How do I solve and understand a new puzzle easily?

To solve a new puzzle effectively, break it down into its fundamental components and examine its mechanisms closely. Begin by analyzing the rules and constraints provided, understanding how each element interacts with one another. Look for patterns or relationships between different parts of the puzzle, noting any restrictions or dependencies. Next, start experimenting with the puzzle, testing different combinations or scenarios to observe how they affect the outcome. Play around with the given information, manipulating variables, and observing the results to gain insight into the puzzle's logic. By engaging actively with the puzzle, you'll develop a deeper understanding of its mechanics and uncover potential strategies for solving it. As you continue to explore the puzzle, pay attention to any deductions or inferences you can make based on the information provided. Look for opportunities to make logical deductions or eliminate possibilities based on the rules of the puzzle. By systematically analyzing the puzzle and refining your approach based on your observations, you'll gradually develop a feel for how it works and increase your chances of solving it successfully.

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Co-authored Articles (15)

How to Solve a Rubik's Cube in 20 Moves

Want to become a master of the Rubik’s Cube? This classic puzzle is known for being tough to solve, but it’s entirely possible—in more than one way! If you want to “wow” your friends by cracking this puzzle fas...

How to

Solve a Rubik's Cube

The Rubik's Cube can be frustrating and may seem next to impossible to restore to its original configuration. However, once you know a few algorithms, it is very easy to solve. The method described in this article is the...

Step-by-Step Instructions to Solve a 2x2 Rubik's Cube

Learn the algorithms for solving a Rubik's cube with our guideIf you want a simple start to solving Rubik’s Cubes, a 2x2 or mini cube is the perfect starting point. 2x2 Rubik’s Cubes are a lot easier to solve than th...

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Solve a 4x4x4 Rubik's Cube

Solving a standard Rubik's Cube (3x3x3) can be a daunting task, but solving a Rubik's Revenge cube (4x4x4) can be even more difficult. This article will show you where to begin with solving them and what to do if you get...

The Easiest Way to Solve a 5x5x5 Rubik’s Cube for Beginners

Use the reduction method to master the 5x5x5 professor's cubeThe 98-piece, 5x5x5 Rubik’s cube (also known as the “Professor’s Cube”) is a great challenge if you’ve already solved the regular 3x3x3 cube or the 4...

A Beginner's Guide to the Layer Method Rubik's Cube Equation

Follow this 4-part guide to solve your Rubik’s Cube in no time So you’re looking for a tutorial on how to solve your Rubik’s cube. But every site you come across moves way too fast and uses terms so complicated the...

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Solve Logic Puzzles

Strategies and tips to find solutions to tricky logic puzzlesThis article includes general advice for logical reasoning problems, as well as thorough instructions for solving the most common type of logic puzzle. This ty...

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Solve a 3x3x2 Rubik's Cube

Many people know about the Rubik's Cube, a.k.a. the 3x3x3. Some even know about the 2x2x2, the 4x4x4, etc. Few know about the cuboids—i.e. the 2x2x1, 3x2x1, 3x2x2, etc. This tutorial covers how to solve the 3x3x2 using...

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Solve a Gear Ball

The Gear Ball is a spherical, more complex variation on the classic Rubik’s Cube. When solved, the sphere’s six “faces” will each be their own color—that is, you’ll have a red side, orange side, blue side, ye...

A Guide to the CFOP Speedcubing Method for the 3x3 Rubik’s Cube

Everything you need to know about this popular speedsolving method Do you wish you could solve a Rubik's Cube even half as fast as a champion like Max Park? Well, you've come to the right place. If you want to drasticall...

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Solve a Rubik’s Cube Using F2L

F2L is an advanced way to go about solving the first two layers of the Rubik’s Cube. It’s the most important element of speed solving the Rubik’s Cube. In F2L, the first and second layers are solved in the same ste...

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Play With a Rubik's Cube

Rubik's Cube is one of the most famous and enduring toys for children and adults. Since its creation by professor Ernö Rubik in Budapest almost forty years ago, the Rubik's Cube is considered by many an unsolvable puzzl...

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Make Awesome Rubik's Cube Patterns

Rubik’s cubes are 3-D combination puzzles. The 3x3x3 Rubik’s cubes have nine faces on each side of the square cube, each with one of six solid colors. A traditional way to solve the Rubik’s cube is by returning the...

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Do Two‐Look OLL to Help Solve a Rubik's Cube

Two-look OLL (''Orientation of the Last Layer'') is a part of the CFOP (''Cross, First 2 Layers, Orientation, Permutation'') method used by most speedcubers. ''Two-look'' refers to the technique of doing this maneuver in...

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Create a Cube Pattern Within a Rubik's Cube

Do you want to impress your friends by going a step above simply solving a Rubik's Cube? In this article, we’ll walk you through the precise steps you should take to create a neat square pattern on each side of your cu...