Solving Big Cubes by Logic
4.a. Solving the first face centers
This step is relatively straightforward, and the following tips will assist you:
For odd cubes, the color of the central piece determines the color of all other centers. Assemble the remaining centers accordingly.
For even cubes, begin with a face that has the highest number of pieces of the same color. If needed, rotate internal layers to adjust the desired color slightly.
Keep the face you are solving facing upward. By utilizing "go, swap and back" movements, exchange the centers of the up face with the centers of the side faces. Depending on the piece families, some preliminary setups will be required. Refer to the example in Figure 4.1 for clarification.
A setup is performed to align the orange center, which belongs to the same family as the white center on the side, in the corresponding relative position (click the forward button (⧐) in Figure 4.1). This setup not only prepares for the swap but also provides a clearer view of both the desired location and the side piece belonging to the same family.
Next, we execute another setup (click the forward button (⧐) in Figure 4.1) to "get the white center out of the way." This prepares the necessary conditions for performing the "go, swap, and back" movement, which can be seen by clicking play (▷) in Figure 4.1.
Simply repeat this procedure for all the side faces until the centers of the upper face are almost or completely solved. There may be instances where it is possible to solve two or more pieces simultaneously if they are grouped together on one of the faces. With practice, you will become more adept at identifying these possibilities.
If, at the end, some desired centers remain on the opposite face from the one being solved, specifically on the D layer in our example, you can utilize "go, swap and back" movements to position these centers on the lateral faces and solve them as before. Refer to the example in Figure 4.2, which demonstrates the process of taking a white center from the D layer (located underneath the cube) and placing it on the side for later resolution.
Note that it is crucial not to perform the swap move by rotating an inner layer, as doing so would disrupt the arrangement of the white pieces on the back side face. Always execute the swap by rotating the outer layer.
Once the center is positioned on the side face, you can proceed to solve it using the same approach as before. Apply a simple setup, if needed, and perform the "go, swap, and back" movement, as demonstrated in the example depicted in Figure 4.1.
App source: animcubejs.cubing.net/animcubejs.html