How to solve a 3x3x3
(in five simple steps)

Important considerations

This guide explains how to solve a standard 3×3×3 Rubik’s cube. This guide is designed for complete beginners, so no prior experience is required. If you can already solve the first two layers then you can skip to step 4.

While this guide can be used for any 3×3 cube with 6 distinct different coloured faces, I would recommend you get a modern speedcube. Speedcubes are designed to turn fast and will allow you to solve your cube fast straight away without the frustration of the cube locking up.

A huge range of modern speedcubes are available at speedcubing.org.

Step 1: Solve the cross

Most guides will demand that this cross is white. For my guide I will be using white to demonstrate everything, however, I would encourage you to try starting with other colours as soon as you can confidently solve the cube.

To solve the cross you first need to find edges of your chosen colour, there should be 4 of these. You need to put the edges next to the opposite colour centre firstly, in this case, this is yellow.

Once you have put all 4 edges next to the yellow centre cap, you can begin moving the edges down after matching them up to the centre. The cross is only correctly solved if the edge colour matches the centre next to it, so in this example, we move the green edge down by turning the right layer twice, however, we have to turn the top layer to match the other edges up before moving them down to the white centre.

Once you have solved the cross, you can position it on the bottom for the rest of the solving process.

Step 2: Solve the first layer

Find a corner with white on it and turn it to the position on top of where it needs to go. In the example here, we need to find the corner with white, red and green on it and then turn the top layer so that it is positioned directly on top of the corner slot between the two white edges. You can then do this algorithm (you may need to repeat it up to 5 times before the corner goes in the right way, if it is twisted but in the right slot then keep doing the algorithm):

[Insert first-layer corner algorithm diagram or notation here]

You can repeat this for the other 4 corners. If there are no white corners on the top layer but the first layer is not solved then you may need to take a corner out with the same algorithm above.

Step 3: Solve the 2nd layer

The next step is to solve the 2nd layer edges. There should be 8 remaining edges, you can ignore the 4 yellow edges for now and insert the other 4 edges in the 2nd layer.

Place the edge on top of the same colour centre, as shown. In this case we have the red/green edge and since green is on the right of the red, we need to do the following algorithm to insert it to the right slot:

[Insert “right insertion” 2nd layer algorithm diagram or notation here]

Similarly, in this case the blue/orange edge is positioned on top of the blue centre and needs to be inserted on the left, you need to do this algorithm here:

[Insert “left insertion” 2nd layer algorithm diagram or notation here]

If you have an edge in the slot but the wrong way round then you need to hold it in the front right position (as shown) and do the first algorithm before reinserting it the right way round.

Step 4: Orientate the last layer

4a) Make a cross on the last layer

Firstly, you need to solve a cross on the last layer. To do this you use this algorithm (ignore any last layer corners for now):

[Insert last-layer cross algorithm diagram or notation here]

There are 3 possible cases you can have:

• If you have a line then do the algorithm once from here.
• If you have a triangle then repeat it twice from here.
• If you have a dot then you need to do the algorithm once first, you will then have a triangle.

4b) Orientate the corners

Secondly, you need to orientate the corners, you do this with this algorithm:

[Insert last-layer corner orientation algorithm diagram or notation here]

If you have one corner solved, then hold it in the front left as shown.

If you have two corners solved then hold them on the right as shown (if the two corners are not next to each other then just do the algorithm anyway so you get a different case).

If you have no corners solved then there will be two corners that you can hold facing to the left as shown, do the algorithm from this position.

Repeat this stuff until you solve the layer.

Step 5: Permute the last layer

This is the exciting final stage to solving the cube. Firstly, you need to permute the corners, you do this with the following algorithm:

[Insert last-layer corner permutation algorithm diagram or notation here]

If you have two corners solved next to each other (as shown) then move the top layer so that they are at the back and do the algorithm once.

If you do not have two corners solved next to each other (as shown) then just do the algorithm once anyway and you will do.

Secondly, you need to permute the edges, this is done with the following algorithm:

[Insert last-layer edge permutation algorithm diagram or notation here]

This algorithm cycles 3 edges so if you have one edge already solved (as shown) then you need to turn the top layer so that it is at the back, you can then repeat the algorithm once or twice and the cube will solve.

If you don’t have any of the 4 edges already solved then just do the algorithm once anyway and you will then have one solved.

Congratulations!

Congratulations on solving the 3×3 cube, you may be very happy that you were able to solve it for the first time but the fun doesn’t stop there!

How fast can you solve it? The joy of speedcubing comes from seeing your times go down. There is a worldwide community of speedcubers trying to solve cubes as fast as possible, the World Cube Association hosts competitions all around the world.

The 3×3 cube is definitely the most famous twisty puzzle out there but there are many others to try. If you are looking for a harder challenge then why not try a bigger cube or some other shape:

• 4×4×4
• 5×5×5
• Megaminx

Or why not try an easier twisty puzzle? The World Cube Association has competitions for all these events too:

• 2×2×2
• Pyraminx
• Skewb

You can buy all these puzzles directly from speedcubing.org in the UK and get them shipped to you quickly all around the country.