Rubik’s Cube Magic Tricks
Typical Rubik’s Cube magic involves tricks that magically solve a Cube, such as throwing a scrambled Cube in the air and having it instantaneously solved when it lands. We’ve even seen a performer solve a Cube inside of a bag on America’s Got Talent!
What is Rubik’s Cube magic?
As magicians and mentalists continuously evolve and add to their arsenal, the list of tricks involving Rubik’s Cubes continues to grow. But let’s take a look at some classic and often-performed Rubik’s Cube magic tricks that still wow audiences today.
Instant Solve: This is the most common Rubik’s cub magic trick. The magician or mentalist instantly solves a mixed-up cube behind their back or in plain sight. But in my opinion, this often leads the spectator to believe it’s a fake, mechanical cube and is less impressive if not examined before.
Matching Routine: Two cubes are mixed up by two separate spectators, and somehow the cubes match.
Vanishing or Appearing: The classic “Now you see it, now you don’t!”
Impossible Location: Similar to the Ship-in-a-Bottle spectacle, the magician makes the Cube appear inside an object that is impossible to conceive.
Metamorphosis: Making the cube change into another object, such as a shower of candy M&Ms.
Whether used for its intended purpose or involved in magic, the Rubik’s Cube continues to entertain and amaze people of all ages. I love including sleight-of-hand and illusions with the Cube during my performances.
What are the odds?
You might wonder how many starting combinations there are for mixing up a Rubik’sCube. While there are a few differing opinions on the exact number, it’s a lot! Search engines will claim there are 43 quintillion different ways to mix a standard cube. That’s 43 billion-billion! However, that’s not accurate as it is based on the 9 to the 9th factorial equation assuming all nine colors on each of the six sides move. In reality, the center cubes on each of the six sides do not move.
According to one computer scientist, there are more unique patterns of a Rubik’s Cube than there are grains of sand on all the Earth’s beaches.
Don’t be intimidated, as it’s not as hard as you might think! The Cube is designed to work with algorithms. An algorithm is defined as “a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations.” That’s good news! This means there’s a series of moves that, if done correctly, will have you well on your way to solving a cube. The basic cube-solving method requires you to understand four basic algorithms.
Behind only Hot Wheels, the Rubik’s Cube is the second-most sold toy in history. One could argue that solving a Rubik’s Cube is a magic trick on its own! But thanks to its popularity and endless shelf life, magicians worldwide have involved the Cube in their performances for decades.
Lately, access to video content on the internet, through streaming services, and on our phones has multiplied. You almost can’t avoid it! With videos spotlighting essentially every topic, there has been a renewal of interest in numerous products including vintage toys and games. This is evidenced by the abundance of Rubik’s Cube videos posted and shared in recent years showcasing magicians and competitors.
Whether you can solve a Rubik’s Cube in a few minutes, or you’ve never experienced the satisfaction of conquering the Cube, we can all agree that the challenge of the product itself is captivating and interesting.
Thanks to helpful tips, hints, and tutorials available through YouTube, more and more people are navigating their way to solving the timeless mystery cube. But wait, isn’t that cheating? That’s a debate for another day! All I know is that when I was a kid, there wasn’t a streaming service I could utilize to help me solve a Cube in a couple of hours. I had to figure it out myself, which added immensely to the challenge and the satisfaction of solving it!
