The Basics
In this section we review the basics. The cube has 3 different types of pieces:
Center Piece | Edge Piece | Corner Piece
Center piece has ONE color. It never moves and denotes the color of the face it is on.
Edge piece has TWO colors. It is used for building crosses and the second layer.
Corner piece has THREE colors. It is usually the most versatile piece and is placed last.
The First Layer
The first layer is quite challenging, since it requires the solution of the cross. This is the only part that requires intuition and an understanding of the cube, so once you figure it out, you should be good to go!
The Cross
For the cross we focus on finding the FOUR edge pieces that have GREEN on them
We want to connect them to the green center and the color center as in the image below
The edge piece can be in Top Layer | Middle Layer | Bottom Layer
The key is to get it into the bottom layer but with the right orientation
Top Layer
If the edge is in the top layer it can have 2 orientations
Green Up
Green up, just do a double rotation and put it in the bottom layer, green side down, then move onto the “Bottom Layer” sub-step
Green to the Side
Green side, do one rotation to the side then move onto the “Middle Layer” sub-step
Middle Layer
Bring the edge down so that it is green side down
Move the edge away and fix the mistake you made, if any
Move onto the “Bottom Layer” sub-step
Bottom Layer
If the edge is in the bottom layer it can have 2 orientations:
Green Down
If green down, line the second color with its appropriate center and swing the edge all the way up
Green to the Side
If green to the side, twist it up and move onto the “Middle Layer” sub-step
The cross is complete!
The Corners
Find a corner with green on it. This can be in 3 positions:
Optimal Position
The Optimal Position is the corner in the bottom layer with green on the side
If this is the case, perform the following steps:
- Note the two other colors of the corner
- Turn the bottom layer until the corner is in between its two appropriate centers
- Hold the cube so that you are looking at the face which has the green part of the corner (the green “eye”). Note where this “eye” is, on the right or on the left.
- Turn the bottom layer in the opposite direction of this. So if the “eye” is on the Left, turn the bottom layer Right and if the “eye” is on the Right, turn the bottom layer Left
- Bring down the side the “eye” used to be on
- Return the bottom layer to where it was before
- Lift up the side you brought down
The corner should be in place! Repeat for each additional corner
Top Layer
If the corner is in the Top Layer do the following:
Bring down the side that has the corner. Make sure the green part ends up on the side.
Turn the bottom layer twice
Lift up the side you just brought down
Proceed to the “Optimal Position” section
Top Layer Flipped
If the corner is in the bottom layer with green facing down, do the following:
Find a “hole” in the top layer (a place which doesn’t have a corner yet)
Place the corner you’re working on under this hole
Turn either side of the cube the corner is now on
Turn the bottom layer twice
Lift up the side you just brought down
Proceed to the “Optimal Position” section
All corners should now be in place!
The Second Layer
This layer is very easy! It involves inserting the 4 edge pieces correctly into the second layer.
The Trick
First find a piece in the bottom layer that doesn’t have the color of the bottom layer on it (in the example case, an edge that doesn’t have blue)
If you can’t find one, then see the “Edge Case” section
Line up the side color of the edge with the appropriate center (to create a T-shape)
Find the center with the same color as the bottom color of the edge. It will be to the *right* or *left*
If *right*, move the bottom layer away to the *left*
Bring down the *right* side
Reconnect the T-shape by moving the bottom layer back to the *right*
Notice the misplaced corner. Insert it back in using the steps in the Optimal Position section.
If *left*, move the bottom layer away to the *right*
Bring down the *left* side
Reconnect the T-shape by moving the bottom layer back to the *left*
Notice the misplaced corner. Insert it back in using the steps in the Optimal Position section.
The Edge Case
If all edges have blue on them, that means one edge was inserted into the second layer and was accidentally flipped.
We need to take it out and then put it in correctly. To take it out, take any “bogus” edge with blue on it and pretend like it is going in that slot. Then insert as above.
The Third Layer
This layer is mostly algorithms. There are 4 steps and each requires one algorithm to be memorized.
Build the Cross
First, hold the cube correctly. Hold it so that your bottom color (blue) is facing up. Now for each case:
Dot – hold it however you like
L-shape – hold it with one part of the L pointed to the right and one pointed towards you
Line – hold it horizontally
The algorithm for this is F R U R’ U’ F
In basic terms:
Turn the front clockwise
Lift up the right
Turn the top to the left
Bring down the right
Bring the top back
Turn the front counterclockwise
As you do the steps, look at the cube and see how it gets disassembled and re-assembled. Pay attention to this and it will help you orient yourself should you forget the exact steps.
Align the Cross
Now that we’ve built the bottom cross, we need to align it with its appropriate centers.
Turn the layer until at least *two* of the edges are aligned correctly
Hold the cube so that one of the incorrect edges (if any) is pointed towards you. Have the other incorrect edge pointing either to the right or away from you.
The algorithm for this is R U2 R’ U’ R U’ R’
In basic terms:
Lift up the right
Spin the top twice
Bring down the right
Bring the top back (turn the top to the left)
Lift up the right
Bring the top back again
Bring down the right
Turn the top until all the colors are aligned. If they are not, do the algorithm again (see above to make sure you’re holding the cube correctly)
Notice that this algorithm simply cycles around. Notice that you lift up the right and see a green line. Then you destroy the green line and slowly rebuild it again. Pay attention to this to make sure you’re doing the algorithm right.
Place the Corners
For this step, we want to place the corners into their correct slots. Every corner has 3 colors – Blue, X, and Y (X and Y are two other unknown colors). At the end of this step, every Blue/X/Y corner should be between the Blue, X, and Y centers.
Take a look at the corners of your cube. Either 0, 1, or 4 corners should be correctly placed.
Hold the cube so that the correctly placed corner (if any) is on your bottom right)
The algorithm for this step is L’ U R U’ L U R’
In basic terms:
Lift up the left
Turn the top to the left
Lift up the right
Turn the top to the right
Bring down the left
Turn the top to the left
Bring down the right
Re-align the cross
This algorithm has you lifting up the left and right sides repeatedly, breaking them, and then re-constructing them. Again pay attention to how you break up the first layer as you do this and how you then rebuild it to make sure you’re doing the steps right
Final Step - Rotate Corners
This is the final step, where we rotate the corners and solve the cube.
Hold the cube so that an incorrect corner is on your bottom right.
The algorithm is (R U2 R’ U’ R U’ R’) (L’ U2 L U L’ U L)
In basic terms:
--
Lift up the right
Spin the top twice
Bring down the right
Bring the top back (turn the top to the left)
Lift up the right
Bring the top back again
Bring down the right
--
Lift up the left
Spin the top twice
Bring down the left
Bring the top back (turn the top to the right)
Lift up the left
Bring the top back again
Bring down the left
--
Notice that the first half of this algorithm is the same as step 2. This makes it very easy to remember. The second part is the same thing but on the left side. Make sure you finish both parts before you turn the cube or do anything else.
If corners are still wrong after this algorithm, hold the cube correctly again (as above) and follow the step.
Congratulations! The cube should be solved!