Solving the cube blindfold holds a special mystique for many people. To do a cube whilst looking seems hard, but to do the cube without looking is akin to magic! Let the bewildered mix the cube up to show you can do it from any starting point and you will demonstrate supernatural powers as far as they are concerned. The reality is that blindfold cubing requires no more than the learning of 5 algorithms and the memorisation skills equivalent to remembering about 40 digits.
Even after the cube had first been solved blindfold many people still thought that the feat was impossible. Admittedly only a handful of people across the world have yet accomplished the task, but the record now stands at 3 cubes simultaneously, and is held by 2 people. The progress of the record is as follows:
| CUBES | WHO and COUNTRY | WHEN |
|---|---|---|
| one | John White (Great Britain) | 1981 |
| two | Geir Ugelstad (Norway) | 18-Jul-1998 |
| three | Geir Ugelstad (Norway) | 14-Dec-1998 |
| three | Ralf Laue (Germany) | 3-Feb-2001 |
| three | Unofficially Richard Carr (Great Britain) | 27-Feb-2002 |
| four | Unofficially Richard Carr (Great Britain) | Unsure |
| five | Unofficially Dave Orser (USA) | 15-Nov-2002 |
Solving the 3x3x3 blindfold takes a considerable amount of mental effort; solving the 2x2x2 is much easier, requiring only 2 different algorithms and the memorisation equivalent of nearer 16 digits, consequentially many people have performed this 'lesser' feat.
It seems remarkable that only 5 different algorithms are required to solve a cube blindfold, but remember that that the Ultimate Solution requires only the use of 2 algorithms for solving the cube. This site will show you what algorithms to use and how to use them.