How to solve the Rubik's Cube?
There are many approaches on how to solve the
Rubik's Cube. All these methods have different levels of difficulties, for
speedcubers or beginners, even for solving the cube blindfolded. People usually
get stuck solving the cube after completing the first face, after that they
need some help. In the following article, I'm going to show you the easiest way
to solve the cube using the beginner's method.
The method presented here divides
the cube into layers and you can solve each layer applying a given algorithm
not messing up the pieces already in place. You can find a separate page for
each one of the seven stages if the description on this page needs further
explanation and examples
The 7 steps
• 1.White
cross
• 2.White
corners
• 3.Second
layer
• 4.Yellow
cross
• 5.Yellow
edges
• 6.Yellow
corners
• 7.Orient
yellow corners
To get started I recommend you to
read the basic cubing terminology and you will need to know the Rubik's Cube
notation ie what the letters mean in the algorithms:
F: front, R: right, U: up, L: left,
D: down. B: Back
Fi: Front Invert Ri: Right Invert, Ui: Up Invert Di: Down inward
Clockwise rotations: F R U L D
Counterclockwise rotations are
marked with an apostrophe ('):
If you get stuck or you don't
understand something, the online Rubik's Cube solver program will help you
quickly fix your puzzle. All you have to do is input your scramble and the
program will calculate the steps leading to the solution.
To keep a record of your solution
times try the online Rubik's Cube Timer with many useful features or generate
random shuffles for your practice with the scramble generator.
Video Tutorial Click Here
White Cross 
White Corners 
Second Layer 
Yellow
Cross
Yellow Edges 
Permute Corners 
Orient Corners
Only the last layer corners are left
unsolved. First, we have to get them to the right spot, so don't worry about the
orientation in this step.
White Cross White Corners Second Layer Yellow
Cross
Yellow Edges Permute Corners Orient Corners
1. White cross
Let's begin with the white face.
First, we have to make a white cross paying attention to the color of the side
centerpieces. This step is quite intuitive because there are no solved pieces
to watch out for. You can do this for sure with a little practice. Just move
the white edges to their places not messing up the ones already fixed.
If you have difficulties, you can
get a little help with animated algorithms about solving the white cross on the
Rubik's Cube clicking here.
Good white cross
Sides not matching
2. White corners
In this step, we have to arrange all
the white corner pieces to finish the first face. This step is still intuitive,
you can do it without learning a single algorithm. If you don't have patience
I'll give you some clue.
Twist the bottom layer so that one
of the white corners is directly under the spot where it's supposed to go on
the top layer. Now, do one of the three algorithms according to the orientation
of the piece, aka. in which direction the white sticker is facing. If the white
corner piece is where it belongs but turned wrong then first you have to pop it
out.
Find more details about the solution
of the white corners here.
R' D' R
F D F'
F L D2 L' F'
Whiteface solved
3. Second layer
Until this point, the procedure was
pretty straight forward but from now on we have to use algorithms. We can
forget the completed white face so let's turn the cube upside down to focus on
the unsolved side.
In this step, we are completing the
first two layers (F2L). There are two symmetric algorithms we have to use in
this step. They're called the Right and Left algorithms. These algorithms
insert the Up-Front edge piece from the top layer to the middle layer while not
messing up the solved white face.
Related Article
If none of the pieces in the top
layer are already lined up like in the images below, then turn the top layer
until one of the edge pieces in the top layer matches one of the images below.
Then follow the matching algorithm for that orientation.
Left: U' L' U L U F U' F'
Right:
Wrong orientation: Do it twice
F2L solved
If an edge piece is in its place in
the second layer orienting wrong then we have to apply the algorithm twice.
First, we must pop it out inserting another one in its place.
4. Yellow cross
Sart solving the last layer by making a
yellow cross on the top of the cube. It doesn't matter if the pieces are not in
their final places so we don't have to pay attention to the colors of the
sides.
We can get three possible patterns
on the top. Use this algorithm to go from one state to the other:
F R U R' U' F'
1. When you see a dot you have to apply
the algorithm three times. If you have a yellow "L" shape then only
twice, holding the cube in your hands as seen on the image below.
2. In case of a horizontal line you
just have to execute the permutation once.
5. Yellow edges
After making the yellow cross on the
top of the cube you have to put the yellow edge pieces in their final places to
match the colors of the side centerpieces. Switch the front and left yellow
edges with the following algorithm:
R U R' U R U2 R' U
Switch
the edges.
Yellow
edges done
You might face a situation when you
have to apply this algorithm more than once.
6. Yellow corners on their places
Only the last layer corners are left
unsolved. First, we have to get them to the right spot, so don't worry about the
orientation in this step.
Find a piece that is already on the
right place, move it to the right-front-top corner then apply the following
algorithm to switch (cycle) the three wrong pieces marked on the image.
Switch three corner pieces
U R U' L' U R' U' L
Do this twice to do an inverse
rotation of the pieces. If none of the yellow corners is in the right place
then execute the algorithm once to get a good piece.
7. Orient Yellow Corners
All pieces are in their right places
you just have to orient the yellow corners to finish the puzzle. This proved to
be the most confusing step so read the instructions and follow the steps
carefully.
The corners are on their final
position
but they need to be oriented
The cube is solved
Hold the cube in your hand with an
unsolved corner on the front-right-top corner, then do the algorithm below
twice or four times until that specific piece is oriented well:
R' D' R D
It will look like you've messed up
the whole cube but don't worry, it will be all right when all the corner pieces
are oriented.
Turn the top layer only to move
another unsolved yellow piece to the front-right-top corner of the cube and do
the same R' D' R D again until this specific piece is ok. Be careful not to
move the two bottom layers between the algorithms and never rotate the whole
cube!
You are so close to the end so be
careful because this is the step in this tutorial where most people get lost.
If this description doesn't make sense,
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