Solving the Rubik's Cube

Solving a Rubik's Cube is usually done layer by layer. Trying to do it face by face would be nigh impossible, as you couldn't do the other faces without screwing up the ones you may have already done.
I will cover three ways of solving the Rubik's Cube: beginner, intermediate and advanced, and I advise you to start with the beginner method. The intermediate method is similar to the beginner, except the last layer is slightly different, allowing for faster times. The advanced method is what is known as the Fridrich method and, with practice, will allow you to achieve times of less than 20 seconds. I myself use a mixture of the intermediate and advanced methods, as I have not yet learnt all of the Fridrich method.
I will try to explain everything in a way where you can understand, as when I first learnt I had to figure stuff out because the tutorial wasn't that good.

If you have comments, feel free to email me here.

Contents

Beginner Method Intermediate Method Advanced Method
Beginner Method - The Cross Intermediate Method - Introduction Advanced Method - Introduction
Beginner Method - The Corners Intermediate Method - OLL Advanced Method - F2L
Beginner Method - The Second Layer Intermediate Method - PLL Corners Advanced Method - OLL
Beginner Method - The Last Layer Cross Intermediate Method - PLL Edges Advanced Method - PLL
Beginner Method - The Last Layer Edges
Beginner Method - The Last Layer Corners A
Beginner Method - The Last Layer Corners B

Notation

There is a notation used in describing the movements you are doing on the cube:
Front layer: F
Back layer: B
Top layer: U
Bottom layer: D
Right layer: R
Left layer: L
In a sequence, each of these letters tells you to move the corresponding face 90 degrees clockwise. A letter with an apostrophe, e.g. U', tells you to move that face anti-clockwise. These would be said 'anti-up'. A letter with a 2, e.g. U2, tells you to move that face twice in either direction, as direction doesn't matter.
It is important to remember that the moves are done if you were looking directly at the face.

These letters are used in sequences known as algorithms, which are sets of instructions that achieve a specific goal. For example, from a solved state the algorithm F2 B2 U2 D2 L2 D2 would achieve a pretty pattern like such:


Other, less common letters for notation include M, E, S, x, y and z.
M: Layer between L and R
E: Layer between U and D
S: Layer between F and B
x: Rotate the cube up
y: Rotate the cube to the left
z: Rotate the cube on its side to the right
We will only be using the standard 6 for the beginner's guide. Also, each individual piece is called a 'cubie'.
If you are still confused, go here.

Beginner Method

Step 1 - The Cross

The first thing to know about the cube is that the middle pieces don't move. Go ahead, try and move them. They rotate, but they never move in relation to each other, which means that each face will always be that face. Also, a common mistake when people first approach an unsolved cube is to think they have to solve 54 stickers. This is wrong, as there are only 20 pieces that actually move around - 8 corner pieces and 12 edge pieces.
The first thing you have to do is to create a cross on the first layer, like so:
Grey cubies show cubies that aren't important at this stage - just ignore them.
There aren't many algorithms to achieve this as it relies mostly on logic, but there are some scenarios you can watch out for:
R F R F R U

It is also important to remember that the edge colours have to be aligned with the centers like this:

and not like this:



Step 2 - The Corners

The next step is to put the corners in, like this:

The corners will most likely be on the bottom layer, and there are three algorithms for each type of situation:
F D F' R' D' R R' D R F D2 F'
(The white sticker on the corner is on the bottom.)

In some cases, the corner will be on the top layer but just needs reorienting or repositioning, for example:
R' D R F D F'
The last three moves are from before - the cubie just had to put in the proper place first.
If the cubie is in the top layer but in the wrong place, it also needs to be taken down to the bottom layer and have one of the earlier three algorithms applied to it. When you can, always try to use one of the first two instead of the third as they are shorter and will save you time.

Step 3 - The Second Layer

The next step is to put the four second layer pieces in the right place, like this:

The first thing to do is to turn the cube upside-down, so you have this:

Then find the piece that you need to put in the correct place - in this case the blue and red edge piece. You need to get to one of two situations:
or

To put the piece in the correct place, you need one of two algorithms, and one is the inverse of the other. These are the longest algorithms you'll need to learn.
U R U' R' U' F' U F U' L' U L U F U' F'

Sometimes, you may meet this situation:
R U' R' U F' U2 F U F' U2 F

There will be times where there is a piece where another piece needs to go, like this:

Don't be tempted to remove this piece in order to put it in the right place, as that takes time. Instead, put the red and blue piece there like normal and this will displace (push out) the foreign piece. This way, the algorithm only needs to be done once and not twice. The foreign piece can then be put in it's correct place like normal.

Step 4 - The Last Layer Cross

As the name suggests, this stage comprises of creating a cross on the last layer, like this:

This can't be done in the same way as the first cross, so there are two small algorithms to learn.
There are four combinations you may have on the last layer to begin with and the two algorithms will cycle through these combinations in the order given.
→ → →

The two algorithms will cycle through these combinations in the order given. However, one of these algorithms will move one step in the cycle and the other will move two. These algorithms are:
F R U R' U' F' for one step
and
F U R U' R' F' for two steps.
As you can see, they are quite similar and small so they are quite easy to remember. Remember, when you get to the L shape it must be held in the top left of the face and the line must be held horizontally (as shown in the pictures).
For your ease, I have provided a table to show which algorithm to use at each situation:
Use both, in either order.
F U R U' R' F'
F R U R' U' F'

Step 5 - The Last Layer Edges

This step will change the orientation of the egdes of the cross you just created to lign up with the centers, like such:

There is one algorithm to achieve this:
R U R' U R U2 R' U
It is quite easy to remember, as it only uses the right and up face, and the up face only moves clockwise. However, the cube must be held in a specific way before the algorithm is applied. Firstly, twist the top face until two of the edges are correct. There will always be two that are correct, whether they be adjacent or opposite each other.
If they are adjacent, hold one correct one away from you and one in your right hand, like this:

If they are opposite each other, hold one correct one away from you and the other towards you, like this:

If they are opposite each other, applying the algorithm will change it so they are adjacent to each other. You then apply the algorithm again (holding it correctly) and they will all be correct.

Step 6a - The Last Layer Corners A

This step alters the corners so they are all in the right place, but not necessarily in the right orientation, like this:
This is just an example - your corners may be in a different orientation once you've done this.

First thing to do is to examine your cube and see if there are any corners that are already in the right place, e.g. the red, blue and yellow one in the picture above. It's in the right place, just not the right way around. If there are, make sure you hold it in the bottom right corner of the top face when you apply the algorithm - but don't move the top layer, move the whole cube to put it there. If there aren't any correct, you can apply the algorithm when the cube is held in any way (yellow face on top of course).
The algorithm is this:
U R U' L' U R' U' L
Some people (including myself) prefer to think of this as the top face, the right side away, the top face back again, the left side away, top side back again, right side towards, top side back again, left side towards. After the algorithm, the corner cubies (except the one in the bottom right - your possibly correct one) will have changed around. If they still aren't all correct, keep applying the algorithm until it is. If you started with one correct, you'll only have to do this algorithm twice. If you didn't, it may take more.

Step 6b - The Last Layer Corners B

This is the last step, so will result in the completed cube:

There is only one algorithm for this:
R' D' R D
You should have at least one incorrectly oriented cubie for this. If you don't, congratulations! You've solved the rubik's cube. But if you do, read on. You must hold an incorrect cubie in the bottom right of the up face. Then apply the algorithm either twice or four times (basically until the yellow is in top). Once the algorithms are completed, twist the top face until another incorrect cubie is in the bottom right of the top face and do the algorithms again. If there are no more incorrect cubies, congratulations! You're one turn away from completing the rubik's cube.
Do the algorithm twice.
Do the algorithm four times.

Once these algorithms are complete, you are one twist away from completing the rubik's cube.
CONGRATULATIONS!

Top of page