Introduction
There are many different methods for solving the Rubik’s cube. They can be divided into two broad categories: layer methods and corners first methods (and there are sub-categories within these broad categories). The method I use for speedsolving is a layer based method.
Terminology
When describing the solution for the 2nd and 3rd layers, standard cube notation will be used. Here’s what you need to know to read it:
F = front face, B = back face, R = right face, L = left face, U = up face, D = down face
In addition to a letter, each move may be accompanied by an apostrophe or the number two:
-A letter by itself means turn that face 90 degrees clockwise (eg. F).
-A letter followed by an apostrophe means turn that face 90 degrees anti-clockwise (eg. F’).
-A letter followed by the number 2 means turn that face 180 degrees (direction is irrelevant), (eg. F2).
So R U’ L2 is shorthand for “turn the right face 90 degrees clockwise, then turn the up face 90 degrees anti-clockwise, then turn the left face 180 degrees”. When thinking whether to turn clockwise/anti-clockwise, imagine that you are looking directly at the particular face you are turning.
Step 1: First Layer
The cube is assumed to be scrambled. The first thing to do is to choose a color, say white (it tends to stand out from the other colors on the cube). It’s also a very good idea to always do a specific color first, since you will remember which colors are adjacent, which speeds things up considerably.
The first step is to form a cross on the top face of the cube. Orient the cube so that the white center piece is on top.There should now be a white cross formed on the top of the cube.
The first layer is solved in two stages:
1.Form the cross
2.Insert the 4 first layer corners (each corner is inserted individually)
I believe that the first layer should be done intuitively. You need to understand it and solve it without learning algorithms.
stage 1 stage 2
For flipping two pieces apply F′U L′ U′
Step 2: Middle edge pieces
After the first step turn the top layer of the cube to match a “before” picture below. This will make an upside down “T” with one color. We will move that top middle piece to the correct spot on the middle row in this step. There are two ways to do this depending on which side the “T” is on when you’re looking at the cube. Make sure to find the correct starting picture before doing this step. Repeat this step with all four
fig 1 fig 2
for fig 1 simply apply U′ LULUFU′ F′R
for fig 2 simply apply URU′ R′ U′ F′U
Step 3:Solving the Top Cross
In this step, the goal is to get the top face of the cube to have a cross.This pattern may need to be applied up to at most four times
stage 1 stage 2 stage 3 stage 4
stage 4 is obtained by applying FRUR′ U′ F′ repeatedly.
Step 4:Solving the Top, Middle Pieces
Once you have the cross at the top, the next step is to get all of the top middle pieces to be on the correct sides. This step, like the previous step, will most likely need to be repeated several times. A useful tip is that, when you have two adjacent sides in the correct place, rotate the cube in your hands so that those two sides are in the back right and front right positions, then repeat this move once more. After doing this, the top pieces will all be in the correct order but will need to be rotated around the cube until they are on their correct sides. (HINT:Apply RUR′ URUUR′ repeatedly)
Step 5:Last Layer
The first layer is solved in two stages:
1.Permute the corners. At this step, our goal is to place the corners of the last layer in their correct position, regardless of their orientation((HINT:Apply URU′ L′UUR′U′L repeatedly)
2.Orient the corners:do the sequence R′ D′RD to get to the original configuration
Congratulations, your cube should now be solved!
