Rubik's Cube Finger Tricks

General Tips

• Use a loose cube. Struggling with a new, tight, unlubricated cube will only slow you down. Limber up. Stiff fingers are less dexterous any way you look at it, and stretching beforehand is healthier for your tendons and joints.

What Is A Finger Trick?

• In a finger trick, the idea is to save time in turning the cube by not having to re-grip the cube. The fingers used most are the forefingers of each hand, and the cube is held and stabilized by thumb and ring finger. Though solving the cube involves twisting in all directions, keeping a consistent grip is key to speed. You can turn a side, then flick the top around toward you with one finger in an instant. By using two fingers in the same move, you can flick that upper layer around twice in one instant. This, however, is a very difficult maneuver.
  For the upper layer, use your forefingers, flicking toward you, right for counter-clockwise and left for clockwise. For the bottom layer, use your ring finger. The pinkie should be only for stabilizing when necessary. To turn the sides, many people tilt the cube in the appropriate direction to make it nearly an upper layer and use the upper fingers for turning.
  Properly done, finger tricks can make it almost look as if the cube were solving itself.

Getting Even Faster

• Avoid pauses. When solving a cube, think ahead, so each finger will be ready for the next move. As you learn these moves, certain combinations will become easier. Your fingers will be able to move smoothly from one move to the next, like a musician learning scales.
  Be precise. Each move should complete the turn, so the cube ends up properly aligned without needing adjustment or re-gripping.