How to Solve a Rubik's Cube Blindfolded - Complete Guide

A comprehensive beginner's guide to blindfolded cubing

What is Blindfolded Cubing?

Blindfolded cubing (often called "BLD" for "Blindfolded") is the advanced technique of solving a Rubik's cube without looking at it during the solving process. It's one of the most impressive and challenging disciplines in speedcubing.

🧠 The Mental Challenge:

Think of it like memorizing a complex sequence of moves for a dance routine, then performing it perfectly without being able to see your feet. You must rely entirely on your memory and spatial awareness to execute the solution correctly.

The Process (How It Works)

1 Inspection Phase 👀
You have 15 minutes to study the scrambled cube and memorize the positions of all pieces. This is where you create your mental map of what needs to be moved where.
2 Blindfold Application 🎭
Once you've memorized the cube state, you put on the blindfold. From this point forward, you cannot see the cube and must rely entirely on your memory.
3 Execution Phase ⚡
You execute the memorized sequence of moves to solve the cube. This typically involves solving corners first, then edges, using specific algorithms for each piece.

The Memory System: Letter Pairs

The key to blindfolded cubing is an efficient memory system. Most cubers use letter pairs combined with visual imagery to encode and recall piece positions.

🧠 Memory Palace Technique:

Instead of trying to remember raw positions like "corner A → position B," cubers create memorable associations:

  • AB might become "Apple Banana" 🍎🍌
  • CD might become "Cat Dog" 🐱🐶
  • EF might become "Elephant Fish" 🐘🐠

These pairs are then linked into a story or journey: "An Apple and Banana are playing with a Cat and Dog, while an Elephant and Fish watch!" The more vivid and memorable the imagery, the easier it is to recall during execution.

Learning Progression

1 Master Regular Solving 🧩
You need to be proficient at solving a Rubik's cube sighted first. This means being comfortable with basic algorithms and understanding cube mechanics.
2 Learn Letter Notation 🔤
Study the Speffz lettering system to understand how each piece position is assigned a letter. This is your foundation for creating letter pairs.
3 Practice Memory Techniques 🧠
Start with 2-3 letter pairs and develop your own imagery system. Practice until you can consistently recall these pairs.
4 Build Up Complexity 📈
Gradually increase to 5-10 pairs, then work toward the full 20+ pairs needed for a complete solve.
5 Execute Your First BLD Solve 🏆
Once you can memorize and recall 20+ letter pairs, attempt your first full blindfolded solve!

Comprehensive Learning Resource

For hands-on learning, there's an excellent YouTube tutorial series that provides detailed, step-by-step instruction for blindfolded cubing.

🎥 Watch the Complete Tutorial Series on YouTube

What you'll learn in the videos:

Why Learn Blindfolded Cubing?

Blindfolded cubing offers significant cognitive benefits and represents the pinnacle of cubing skill development.

💪 Cognitive Training Benefits:

Blindfolded cubing develops several key mental faculties:

  • 🎯 Sustained Attention - Extended focus during inspection and execution
  • 🧠 Working Memory - Holding and manipulating complex spatial information
  • ⚡ Processing Speed - Rapid pattern recognition and decision making
  • 🎨 Creative Visualization - Developing unique memory associations
  • 🏆 Mental Discipline - Building confidence through challenging practice

Ready to Begin Your Training?

Every expert blindfolded cuber started as a beginner. Success requires systematic practice and patience. Here's how to approach your training:

1 Start with Fundamentals 🌱
Begin with 2-3 letter pairs and master the basics before progressing. Quality over quantity.
2 Consistent Practice 📅
Regular, focused practice sessions are more effective than sporadic long sessions.
3 Develop Your System 🎨
Create vivid, memorable imagery that works for you. Personal associations are most effective.
4 Track Your Progress 📊
Monitor your improvement and adjust your training accordingly. Data-driven practice leads to better results.

Start Your BLD Training Journey

Now that you understand the basics of blindfold cubing, it's time to start practicing. Our training application provides structured drills to help you develop the skills you need.

1 Try the Interactive Tutorial 🎯
New to our training app? Start with our interactive onboarding tutorial to learn how to use each drill effectively.
2 Begin with Flash Pairs ⚡
Start with the Flash Pairs drill to practice individual letter pair visualization. This builds your foundational speed and clarity.
3 Progress to Notation Drills 🔤
Once comfortable with pairs, practice Edge and Corner Notation drills to improve your Speffz notation recognition speed.
4 Track Your Progress 📊
Use our progress dashboard to monitor your improvement over time. Track accuracy, speed, and visualization quality.

Continue Learning

Explore more resources to improve your blindfold cubing skills: