How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube

Before You Begin

• The cube has 6 faces, defined by the center pieces. These never move.
• White is opposite yellow, red is opposite orange, blue is opposite green.
• Corner pieces have 3 stickers, edge pieces have 2.
• You are moving pieces, not stickers. Stickers don’t jump positions.

Cube Notation (Moves)

• R – Right face clockwise
• R’ – Right face counterclockwise
• R2 – Right face 180° turn
• Same for L, U, D, F, B (Left, Up, Down, Front, Back)

Step 1: Make the Daisy 🌼

Goal: Surround the yellow center with 4 white edge pieces.

1. Find white edge pieces and move them next to the yellow center.
2. Ignore corner pieces for now.
3. You can rotate the top face freely to help reposition white edges.

Step 2: Turn the Daisy into a White Cross ✝️

Goal: Move each white petal down to its correct side to form a cross.

1. Rotate the top layer to align the side color of a white edge with its matching center.
2. Turn that face 180° to move the white piece to the bottom.
3. Repeat for all four white edge pieces.

Step 3: Solve the First Layer Corners 🧩

Goal: Insert white corner pieces between matching side colors.

• Right Trigger: R U R’
• Left Trigger: L’ U’ L

1. Find white corner pieces in the top layer.
2. Rotate top until the side sticker of that corner matches a center color.
3. If it’s on the right: use Right Trigger. On the left: use Left Trigger.

Step 4: Solve the Middle Layer ↔️

Goal: Insert non-yellow edge pieces between correct centers.

• If it matches the right center: U → R U R’ U’ F’ U F
• If left: U’ → L’ U’ L U F U’ F’

1. Find edge pieces on the top that don't have yellow.
2. Match the side sticker with its center color.
3. Check top color:

Step 5: Make the Yellow Cross ✝️

Use this algorithm repeatedly:

• No yellow edges: do the algorithm once.
• Yellow line: rotate the line vertically, then perform it.
• Yellow L shape: place L at 9 and 12 o’clock, then perform it.

Step 6: Solve the Yellow Face ☀️

Algorithm:

1. If 0 or 2 corners are yellow: hold cube with yellow corner at top-right of left face.
2. If 1 yellow corner: looks like a “fish” – rotate fish to point bottom-left.
3. Repeat until top face is fully yellow.

Step 7: Position Yellow Corners 🔄

Algorithm:

1. This swaps corners — run until all corners are in the correct location (colors may still be twisted).
2. Reorient and repeat as needed.

Step 8: Position Yellow Edges 🚀

Choose an algorithm:

• If one side is solved: face it away from you and run the correct algorithm.
• If all are wrong: do counterclockwise once, rotate, then repeat.