Eli5: How do rubiks cubes work and how do some solve them so quickly while others can’t?

Question

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In: Other

Answer 1

The individual pieces of a Rubik’s Cube are called “cubies”. The center cubie on each face is in a fixed position relative to the other faces: red is opposite orange, blue is opposite green, and white is opposite yellow. These cubies are all attached to a central cross piece that allows only allows them to rotate, but not change position.

Now, all the cubies have a piece on the interior, not visible when the cube is assembled, that forms a piece of a ring. These pieces interlock with each other in such a way that the individual cubies can slide past each other while also keeping them from falling off the cube.