I got complaints from some people who wanted to solve the cube, but they did not want to read about how the moves work. So this solution does not require that much reading. Just use the algorithms that come with each step. You may have to use some algorithms repeatedly to reach your goal. In speedcubing, pattern recognition is important. To use the algorithms, it's very imporant to carefully study the pattern on the applets, and compare it with the pattern on your cube. The colours that I chose for the applets are rather arbitrary, so the colours on your cube don't have to match exactly: The pattern should match!
If you get stuck during one of the steps, you can click on 'show' for additional tips. However, you should first try to complete every step without looking at those additional tips. The algorithms are not magical tricks that will imediately solve the problem. Play the applets a couple of times (the images are clickable, an applet will pop-up when you click them) to see how every algorithm effects the pieces, and think of ways to use that to reach the goal. If you don't manage to finish a step after doing that, then read the additional tips.
Notation of moves
Before
Move
..After
U
D
F
B
L
R
There are six faces: Upper (U), Down (D), Left (L), Right (R), Front (F) and Back (B). The symbol U denotes a clockwise turn of the U face. The U' denotes an anticlockwise turn of the U face. U2 denotes a 180-degree turn of the U face. The same notation is used on all six faces. These letters are also used to refer to positions of pieces: The ULF corner is the corner that has one sticker in the U face, one in the L face, and another one in the F face.
It's also important to understand that B denotes a clockwise turn of the B face. That means: clockwise for someone who is looking at that face. From the perspective of the person who is solving the cube, the move basically looks like an anticlockwise move! It may take some time to get used to this.
The system of notation presented here is is the most common notation that most cubers use. The standard notation actually contains a lot more symbols, but I chose to only give you these, because these symbols are sufficient to explain this beginners method. For more information about notations, visit the notation page.
Step 1: Solving the white cross on the bottom
Goal
Algorithms and hints
You should be able to do this step intuitively. It might take some practice, though. Note that the centre pieces can't move, so the 4 edge pieces should be in the correct positions relative to those centre pieces.
Making the cross on the bottom can be tough if you are holding a cube for the first time. I hope the following hints will you out:
The centre pieces can't move. They are always in the same position relative to each other. This means that, for example, the white-green edge piece should end up between the white and green centre pieces.
To solve the first of all 4 edge pieces, choose one edge piece that has one bottom layer colour (white, in this example). Try to align the white edge sticker with the white centre. This can always be done in 1 or 2 moves. Then rotate the white face, until the edge is in the correct position.
For the other edge pieces, find another edge with a bottom layer colour. Suppose you find the white-red edge piece. Then try to align the red sticker with the red centre. After that, rotate the red face, until the edge is between the red and white centre pieces. Sometimes you have to temporarely remove another solved edge piece from the bottom in order to solve the next one.
On the applets below, you can find a few examples. In some cases, you will have the same kind of situation, but a mirrored version. In those cases, you can still use the same logic to solve the problem.
Every algorithm moves a corner piece from the U layer to the D layer.
All four bottom layer corners have their own unique position where they should end up.
Look in the U layer for a corner with a bottom layer sticker (white, in this example), and rotate the U face until that corner is above the position where it should end up. Then use one of these algorithms to solve that corner.
If there is no corner with a bottom layer sticker in the U layer, you can use one of these algorithms to insert a dummy corner in the bottom layer (in a position that is not solved yet!). This will bring a corner with a bottom layer sticker in the U layer.
This is also called 'digging', because you are digging in the bottom layer to find a piece you can work with.
Every algorithm moves an edge piece from the U layer to the middle layer.
All four middle layer edge pieces have their own unique position where they should end up.
Look in the U layer for a middle layer edge piece. Suppose you find the orange-blue edge piece. Then rotate the U face until that edge piece is ligned up correctly with the orage or blue centre. This means: If the orange sticker is on the U face, then align the edge piece with the blue centre piece. If the blue sticker is on the U face, then align the edge piece with the orange centre piece.
Now rotate the whole cube so the bottom remains at the bottom, and the edge piece you are solving is in the UR position. If the edge piece you want to solve has to go to the FR position, use the first algorithm. If the edge piece you want to solve has to go to the FB position, use the second algorithm.
If there is no middle layer edge piece in the middle layer, you can use one of these algorithms to insert a dummy edge in the middle layer (in a position that is not solved yet!), to bring a middle layer edge piece in the U layer.
The first algorithm flips two opposite edges (the FU and BU edges). The second algorithm flips two adjacent edges (the FU and RU edges). Only look at the orientation of the top layer edges during this step. You can ignore their positions. Also ignore the corners.
First, count the number of edge pieces in the U layer that have the wrong orientation. This can be 0, 2 or 4. In this situation, an edge piece has the wrong orientation if the yellow sticker is not directly next to the yellow centre piece.
If 0 edges have the wrong orientation, move on to step 5.
If 2 edges in opposite positions have the wrong orientation, rotate the U face until they are in FU and BU position. Then use the first algorithm to solve their orientation.
If 2 edges in adjacent positions have the wrong orientation, rotate the U face until they are in FU and RU position. Then use the second algorithm to solve their orientation.
If 4 edges have the wrong orientation, use the first algorithms to flip two edges. Then do U2 and use the second algorithm to flip the other two edges.
If 1 or 3 edges have the wrong orientation, while the First Two Layers are solved, it's impossible to solve your cube without disassembling it. You can find instructions to disassembe your cube on this page. Do this carefully, and on your own risk!
This step requires only two algorithms, denoted with [1] and [2]. The first algorithm twists three corners clockwise. The second algorithm twists three corners anticlockwise. If 2 or 4 corners are not oriented correctly, try to use one of these algorithms to end up with one 'good' corner, and three 'bad' corners. If you do this the right way, you can always complete this step in two 'looks'. Ignore the positions of the corners in this step, only look at the way they are twisted. Also ignore the edges.
If you run into one of the cases with 2 or 4 corner twisted, it's not always easy to see how to complete this step by using the two algorithms. There are five possible patterns that can occor. You will see in the diagrams and applets below. In the applets, basically ignore all colors, and look at the patterns of the yellow stickers. All algorithms start with [1]. If you know how to solve the 2 basic patterns, just memorizing the 5 patterns, and the angle to start from will do the job.
Tip on memorisation: The algorithm used in this step basically brings two pieces (a corner and an edge) in the U layer in the first three moves. During the fourth move, those two pieces are repositioned. The last three moves solve those pieces again. If you look at the algorithms as a way to break up and solve the F2L (First Two Layers), it's easier to remember them.
If none of all 7 orientation patterns match with the orientation pattern on your cube, while the First Two Layers are solved, it's impossible to solve your cube without disassembling it. You can find instructions to disassembe your cube on this page. Do this carefully, and on your own risk!
The algorithm swaps the corners in ULF and ULB positions (the two corners on the left in the U layer). You may have to use this algorithm twice to solve all 4 corners. The move x means a cube rotation, as shown by the applet. (In case the applet does not work: the move x means you have to rotate the whole cube so the F face becomes the U face. In this example, the cube must be rotated with the red face on top).
Look for two corners that have the same (non top) colour stickers. Try to move these two corners in their correct positions. If that's not possible, you have to use the algorithm to swap them (in the applet above, the two corners that both have a blue sticker have to be swapped. We can't solve both of them at the same time by only moving the U face). In order to do that, rotate the cube until those corners are in ULF and ULB position. Then execute the algorithm. If all four corners are not solved after that, you'll have to swap the other two corners. In case you still don't understand the x move:
These two algorithms cycle three edges around. Use them wisely :). Memorising just one algorithm is sufficient, but it will take you slightly longer to solve the edges if you only know one algorithm.
First, count the number of solved edge pieces; the number of edge pieces that are in correct postition.
If 0 edges are in the correct position, just execute one of these algorithms (the angle from which you execute this algorithm does not matter now). You will end up having a three cycle. See the next tip to solve that three cycle.
If 1 edge is in the correct position, rotate the whole cube to get that edge in the UB position. The other edges form a so called 3-cycle. If the direction of the cycle is clockwise, use the first algorithm. If the direction of the cycle is anticlockwise, use the second algorithm.
If 2 edges are in the wrong position, while the First Two Layers are solved (in other words: you only have to swap two edge pieces to solve your cube), then it's impossible to solve your cube without disassembling it. You can find instructions to disassembe your cube on this page. Do this carefully, and on your own risk!
Two example videos
Here you can download two example videos, where I solve the cube using this method. I am solving extra slowly, and pointing every piece I am solving before executing the algorithms.
So.. What do you think?
If you used this tutorial, please leave a message, to tell me what you think about it. Comments from beginners usually lead to adjustments. Please help me to improve the quality of these tutorials!
