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How to solve a 3x3 Rubik’s Cube 

 
 
 
 
Table of Contents 
 
Title and Table of Contents - Page 1 
 
Starting Off - Page 2 
 
Notation - Page 2 
 
Piece Types - Page 3 
 
Steps - Page 3 
 
● White Cross - Page 3 
● White Side - Page 4  
● First Two Layers - Page 4 
● Yellow Cross - Page 5 
● Yellow Side - 6 
● Last Layer Corners -  
● Last Layer Edges -    
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Starting Off 
 
You will need a Rubik’s Cube. Most Rubik’s Cubes will be fine, but if you ever want to get 
into speedsolving, you may want to get a semi decent cube. For your first cube, you don’t 
need to buy a $30 speed cube. A cheap $4 cube that is well made will be good enough. 
 
 
Piece Types 
 
There are three types of pieces on the Rubik’s Cube. 
 
● Corner Pieces 
● Edge Pieces 
● Center Pieces 
 
 
   
 
Corner  Edge  Center  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Notation
 
Throughout these instructions, you will see a specific notation used for the algorithms that 
you will need to memorize. Algorithms are the move sets that you will need to memorize in 
order to solve the cube on your own.  
 
This is the notation and what it means: 
 
● A single letter means rotate the corresponding face 90° CLOCKWISE 
 
U - ​Up or “Top” C (Clockwise) Example of a ​U ​move: 
D - ​Down or “Bottom” C 
F - ​Front C    
B - ​Back C 
R - ​Right C 
L - ​Left C 
 
 
● If there is an apostrophe after the letter, turn the face 90° COUNTER-CLOCKWISE 
 
U’ - ​Up CC (Counter-clockwise) Example of a ​U’ m
​ ove:   
D’ - ​Down CC 
F’ - ​Front CC 
B’ - ​Back CC 
R’ - ​Right CC 
L’ - ​Left CC 
 
● If there is a number 2 after the letter, turn the face 180° 
 
U2 - ​Up 180° Example of a ​U2 ​move: 
D2 - ​Down 180° 
F2 - ​Front 180° 
B2 - ​Back 180° 
R2 - ​Right 180° 
L2 - ​Left 180° 
 
● Parenthesis​ ()​ denote algorithm subsets or commonly used move sequences. 
 
Example: ​(RUR’U’) ​Is a commonly used move sequences. 
 
 
 
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Steps
 
 
 
 
 
Solving White Cross -  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
● Start with the white center on the bottom 
 
● Find a white edge piece. - Ex. The White-Red edge shown below. 
 
● Move it above the correct colored center.  
 
● Perform the following algorithms depending on the orientation. 
 
 
 
 
Oriented  Oriented 
Correctly Incorrectly 
 
 
 
​F2 U’R’FR 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Solving White Side -  
 
 
 
 
 
 
● Find a white corner piece with two other adjacent colors. 
 
● Move the corner piece above the slot where it needs to be inserted. 
 
● Repeat the algorithm below until is is solved. (1-5 times) 
 
● Repeat for each corner 
 
 
 
 
Corner  
Above  
Slot 
 
 
 
(RUR’U’) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Solving First Two Layers -  
 
 
 
 
 
 
● Find the edge piece that corresponds to a solved corner.  
 
● Position it so that the color that is facing toward you matches the center.  
 
● Depending on which side of the slot the edge is on, perform the following algorithm.  
 
● Repeat for each edge. 
 
 
 
 
Right  Left  
  Side Side 
 
 
 
 
U’L’UL(F’LFL’) URU’R’(FRF’R’) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Solving Yellow Cross -  
 
 
 
 
 
 
● Orientation of yellow corners during this step does not matter. 
 
● Look at the cases below and find which one you have. It may already be solved. 
 
● Perform the algorithm according to which case you have. 
 
 
 
 
 
Dot Line  Arrow  
 
 
 
 
(FURU’R’F’)U(FRUR’U’F’) F(RUR’U’)F’ F(URU’R’)F’ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Solving Yellow Side -  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
● You will have 0-2 corners oriented (Face up).  
 
● Depending on the number of oriented corners you will face the cube as shown 
below and perform the algorithm ​(RUR’)U(RU2R’)​. 
 
● Repeat this 1-3 times as necessary. 
 
 
 
 
0 Corners   1 Corner   
Oriented   Oriented 
 
 
 
  ​ Face bottom left yellow Put the oriented yellow sticker   
  sticker to the left. in the bottom left. 
 
 
 
2 Corners 
  Oriented   
 
 
 
​Face the bottom left yellow  
sticker forward. 
 
 
 
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Solving Last Layer Corners -  
 
 
 
 
 
 
● Look at the cases below and find which one you have. They may already be solved. 
 
● Perform the algorithm according to which case you have. 
 
● * Note *​ For the Adjacent Corners Solved algorithm, start with the solved corners at 
the back of the cube. 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjacent  Opposite 
Corners  Corners 
  Solved Solved 
 
 
 
(R’FR’B2RF’R’B2R2) (R’FR’B2RF’R’B2R2)U(R’FR’B2RF’R’B2R2) 
   
<-​ This algorithm twice with a​ U​ in between. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10 

 
 
 
 
 
Solving Last Layer Edges -  
 
 
 
 
 
 
● You will have one of two different situations, all of the edges are mismatched, or 
only 3 are. 
 
● If you have 3 mismatched edges, place the solved one at the back and perform the 
following algorithm depending on the direction the edges need to be cycled. 
 
● If all edges are mismatched, do either algorithm once and then repeat the first 
option. 
 
 
   
   
 
 
  Clockwise Counter-Clockwise 
Cycle Cycle 
 
 
 
F2ULR’F2L’RUF2 F2U’LR’F2L’RU’F2 
 
 
 
 
 
Congratulations! You have solved the Rubik’s Cube.  
Skye Campbell