Format for a Cube Debate
There are a few items required to conduct a cube debate apart from the keen intellect of the two debaters. A pen and paper to write down each participant's topic. a coin to toss to see who goes first, a stopwatch and of course a Rubik's Cube.
The participants must remain quiet unless it is their turn to speak, interjections are not permitted. Both participants write down the topic they have chosen for the debate but do not yet reveal what that topic is. A coin is then tossed to decide who will go first. Only then are the topics revealed to each other. The time a participant may talk is limited to the time it takes their counterpart to complete the Rubik's Cube to a solved state, as pictured below.
 
The Debate
Scrambling is the first step, both participants remain quiet for this. The first participant uses the stopwatch while their counterpart scrambles the cube. They have a 30 second time limit.
Stopwatch and cube are then exchanged. The first participant may then speak on their topic as written until their counterpart has returned the cube to a solved state at which time they must cease speaking. They have a 10 minute time limit to solve the cube.
The roles are then reversed.
Example of a scrambled cube is shown below.
 
The Rebuttal
Patterning of the cube is used for the rebuttal portion of the debate. Both participants are again to remain silent during paterning. The first participant uses the stopwatch while their counterpart puts the cube into a pattern. It is considered to be a pattern if all sides are either in a solved state or have only two colours showing. There is a 1 minute time limit to create a pattern.
Stopwatch and cube are again exchanged. Now the first participant speaks on the topic that their counterpart has selected again until the cube is returned to a solved state at which time they must cease speaking. They have a 5 minute time limit to solve the cube.
The roles are again reversed.
Examples of a patterned cube are shown below.
   
   
This is an example of an illegal pattern as there are three colours shown on some sides.
 
Forfeit
The debate is considered forfeit if the participant interjects while solving the cube while it is their counterpart's turn to speak. It is also considered forfeit if they fail to solve the cube in the allotted time or present as a pattern a cube showing more than two colours on any side.
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