How to Solve a 3×3 Rubik’s Cube: A Beginner’s Guide

Learning how to solve a Rubik’s Cube can seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach, anyone can master this iconic puzzle. This guide will walk you through the beginner-friendly Layer by Layer (LBL) method, breaking down each step to make solving a 3×3 Rubik’s Cube accessible and enjoyable. Whether you’re a complete novice or have been struggling to crack the code, this tutorial will provide clear, step-by-step instructions to get you solving in no time.

Step 1: Completing the First Layer Cross

The first step in solving a Rubik’s Cube using the Layer by Layer method is to create a white cross on the top face. This involves positioning the white edge pieces correctly around the white center piece.

1. White Center on Top: Begin by holding your Rubik’s Cube with the white center face on the top.
2. Green Center in Front: Rotate the cube so that the green center piece is facing you. We’ll start by focusing on the green edge piece that needs to be part of the white cross.
3. Locate the White-Green Edge: Find the white and green edge piece. This piece has only two colors.
4. Position the Edge Piece: Maneuver this white-green edge piece to one of the positions shown in the image below, ensuring the white face remains on top and the green face is in front.
5. Use Algorithms to Place: Based on the orientation of your white-green edge piece, use the simple move sequences illustrated below the image to bring the white-green edge piece into its correct position in the white cross.

Image showing different scenarios and corresponding algorithms to solve the first layer cross on a Rubik’s Cube, step one of a beginner’s tutorial.

Continue this process, rotating the cube to bring each of the other colored center faces (blue, orange, red) to the front, one at a time. For each face, locate the corresponding white edge piece (white-blue, white-orange, white-red) and use the same intuitive approach and move sequences to place them correctly in the white cross.

Image displaying the completed first layer cross on a Rubik’s Cube with white on top and correctly positioned white edge pieces, showing the result of step one.

This step is largely about understanding spatial relationships and developing an intuitive feel for moving the cube. It may take a bit of practice, but focus on moving the white edges into their correct positions without disrupting the pieces you’ve already placed.

Step 2: Completing the First Layer Corners

Once the white cross is complete, the next step is to solve the white corners, finishing the entire first layer.

1. White Cross on Top: Ensure your white cross remains on the top face.
2. Green Center in Front: Keep the green center face facing you.
3. Find the White-Green-Red Corner: Locate the white, green, and red corner piece. Corner pieces have three colors.
4. Position the Corner Piece: Rotate the bottom layer of the Rubik’s Cube only, to bring the white-green-red corner piece to a position underneath where it belongs – between the green and red center pieces. It’s crucial to do this without disturbing the white cross you’ve already created.
5. Algorithms for Corner Placement: Refer to the images below for different scenarios and their corresponding algorithms. These algorithms will help you insert the white-green-red corner piece into its correct position in the top layer, completing that corner of the white face.

Image illustrating algorithms to correctly place the first layer corner pieces of a Rubik’s Cube, step two of a beginner’s guide.

Dealing with Corner Pieces in the Top Layer:

Sometimes, the corner piece you need might already be in the top layer but in the wrong position or orientation. If you find the white-green-red corner piece in the top layer but incorrectly placed, follow these steps to move it down to the bottom layer temporarily:

Solution:

Image showing an algorithm to move a wrongly positioned top layer corner piece to the bottom layer of a Rubik’s Cube, facilitating correct placement.

Perform these moves when the incorrect corner is in the front-right-top position. This will move the corner to the bottom layer, allowing you to then use the standard corner placement algorithms (from the previous image) to correctly position it.

Repeat this entire Step 2 process for the remaining three corners of the white layer (white-green-orange, white-blue-red, white-blue-orange), rotating the cube to bring each face to the front as needed. By the end of this step, your entire white layer should be solved.

Step 3: Completing the Second Layer

With the first layer solved, we now move on to the second layer. This involves inserting the middle edge pieces without disturbing the solved first layer.

1. White Face on Top: Keep the white face solved and on the top.
2. Find a Second Layer Edge Piece: Look for an edge piece in the top layer that belongs in the second layer. These pieces will not have yellow on them (since yellow is the color of the last layer we’ll solve). For example, you might look for the green-red edge piece.
3. Match Edge with Center Color: Rotate the top layer until the color on the side of your chosen edge piece matches the color of the center face it’s above. For instance, if you’re working with the green-red edge, and the green side is facing up, rotate the top until the green side aligns with the green center face.
4. Edge Piece Not in Top Layer? If the edge piece you need is already in the second layer but in the wrong position or orientation, we’ll address that in step C below.
5. Algorithms for Edge Placement: Depending on whether the edge piece needs to go to the right or the left side of the face you are working on, choose the corresponding algorithm from the image below.

A/B

Image showing algorithms A and B to insert second layer edge pieces to the left or right on a Rubik’s Cube, step three of a beginner’s tutorial.

Algorithm A is used when the edge piece needs to go to the right, and Algorithm B is for when it needs to go to the left.

C – Possible Problem: Edge Piece in Wrong Position in Second Layer

If the edge piece you want to place is already in the second layer but in the wrong spot or incorrectly oriented, use one of the algorithms (A or B from above) to temporarily move it down into the top layer.

Solution: Position the wrongly placed edge in the front-right edge slot of the second layer. Then, perform either Algorithm A or B. This will replace the incorrect edge with a top layer edge, effectively bringing the piece you want to place into the top layer. Now you can return to Step 3 and correctly place the edge piece using Algorithm A or B as needed.

Continue these steps, rotating the cube and using Algorithms A and B for each of the four second-layer edge pieces (green-red, green-orange, blue-red, blue-orange) until the entire second layer is solved.

Step 4: Completing the Third Layer Cross (Yellow Cross)

Now we flip the cube over so that the solved white layer is on the bottom, and the unsolved yellow layer is on top. Our goal in this step is to create a yellow cross on the top face, similar to how we started with the white cross.

1. White Face on Bottom, Yellow on Top: Turn the cube upside down. The yellow center should now be on the top.
2. Number of Yellow Edges: Observe the yellow edges on the top face. You will see either 0, 2, or 4 yellow edge pieces already oriented correctly (yellow side facing up). Don’t worry about the corner pieces at this stage.
3. Algorithm for Yellow Cross: Use the algorithm shown below to orient the yellow edges and create the yellow cross. Ensure you hold the cube in the orientation shown in the image before performing the algorithm.

Image showing the algorithm to create the yellow cross on the last layer of a Rubik’s Cube, step four in solving the puzzle.

Repeat this algorithm until you have formed a yellow cross on the top face. It might take one, two, or even three repetitions depending on the initial state of the yellow edges.

Permuting the Yellow Edges (Positioning Correctly):

Once you have the yellow cross, the yellow edges might not be in their correct positions relative to the center colors. We need to swap them around to match the center colors.

1. Match Edges with Centers: Rotate the top layer to see if you can match at least two yellow edge pieces with their corresponding center colors. Ideally, you’ll be able to match two or even all four.
2. Correct Edges at Back and Right: Hold the cube so that the edges that are already in the correct positions are at the back and right faces. If you only have two opposite edges correct, orient them to the back and front.
3. Algorithm for Edge Permutation: Use the algorithm below to cycle the remaining edges into their correct positions.

Possible Problem: Opposite Edges Correct: Sometimes, you might find that two correctly positioned edges are opposite each other (e.g., front and back), instead of adjacent.

Solution: If you have opposite edges correct, perform the edge permutation algorithm once. This will likely result in having at least two adjacent edges correctly positioned. Then, re-orient the cube so the correctly positioned edges are at the back and right, and perform the algorithm again to correctly position all yellow edges.

Step 5: Completing the Third Layer Corners (Yellow Corners)

The final step is to solve the yellow corners. This involves two sub-steps: first, positioning the corners correctly, and then orienting them so that the yellow face is complete and the entire Rubik’s Cube is solved.

(A) Positioning the Corners (Permutation):

1. Correct Corner Position: Examine the yellow corners. You might find that 0, 1, or all 4 corners are already in their correct positions. A corner is in the correct position if its colors match the colors of the three faces it sits between (ignoring orientation).
2. Correct Corner at Front-Top-Right: If one corner is in the correct position, rotate the top layer so that this correct corner is in the front-top-right position.
3. Algorithm for Corner Permutation: Use the algorithm shown below to cycle the other three corners into their correct positions.

(A)

Image showing algorithm A to permute the last layer corners of a Rubik’s Cube, positioning them correctly in step five of the solution.

Repeat this algorithm until all the corner pieces are in their correct positions. Don’t worry if they are not oriented correctly yet (yellow side not on top).

Possible Problem: No Corners Correctly Positioned: If none of the corners are in the correct position to begin with.

Solution: Perform the corner permutation algorithm (A) once with any side facing you (yellow face on top). After one execution, at least one corner will be in the correct position. Then proceed with step (A) as described above, placing the correctly positioned corner at the front-top-right.

(B) Orienting the Corners (Twisting):

Now that all corners are in the correct positions, we need to orient them so that the yellow side of each corner faces upwards, completing the yellow face and solving the Rubik’s Cube!

Important Note: This step might seem like it’s messing up the rest of the cube, but don’t worry! Keep the same face facing you throughout this sub-step. The cube will only be solved once the last corner is oriented.

1. Corner to Orient at Top-Right-Front: Position the cube so that a corner you need to orient (a corner with yellow not facing up) is in the top-right-front position.
2. Corner Orientation Algorithm: Perform the following sequence of moves repeatedly until the yellow side of this corner is facing up: (R’ D’ R D). This sequence might need to be repeated 1-2 times per corner.
3. Rotate Top Layer Only: Once the yellow side of the corner you were working on is facing up, rotate the TOP LAYER ONLY (U move) to bring the next misoriented corner into the top-right-front position.
4. Repeat Orientation Algorithm: Repeat the (R’ D’ R D) sequence for this new corner until its yellow side is also facing up.
5. Continue Until Solved: Continue rotating the top layer only and applying the (R’ D’ R D) sequence to each misoriented corner until all yellow corners are oriented upwards.

Once you’ve oriented the last corner, congratulations! You have successfully solved the 3×3 Rubik’s Cube!

For a visual walkthrough, you can also watch full video tutorials online that complement these written instructions. With practice and patience, you’ll be solving the Rubik’s Cube quickly and efficiently. Happy cubing!