Are you trying to solve the Rubik’s cube? Are you tired of spending countless hours aligning all 6 colors? Well then…You have come to the correct place. Prepare to enhance your brain cells and, along with them, your spatial and problem-solving abilities, because here we are going to teach you some of the simplest steps of solving the 3×3 Rubik’s cube. Once you learn the simplest way of solving the Rubiks cube, you will never hesitate before shuffling a solved cube ever again! Technically, there are around 43,000,000,000,000,000,000 ways to solve the cube but here we are going to show you one of the simplest methods consisting of 7 easy steps.
Before you begin solving the Rubik’s cube you should know that:-
- In the traditional Rubik’s cube there are 6 colors ( White, yellow, green, blue, orange and red)
- In the traditional Rubik’s cube the white side’s opposite side is yellow, the green side’s opposite side is blue, and the orange side’s opposite side is red and vice-versa.
- Each face of the Rubik’s cube has 9 cells:-
The triple colored pieces at the top left, top right, lower left and lower right are called the “corner pieces” of the cube. A 3×3 Rubik’s cube has 8 corners.
- The double colored pieces located in the middle of the corners are called the “edge pieces” of the cube. The 3×3 Rubik’s cube has 12 edges.
- And last but not the least are the single colored pieces that are located at the centre of the faces of the cube. These pieces are called the “center pieces” of the Rubik’s cube. There are 6 center pieces of the Rubik’s cube.
- There are 3 main segments of the Rubik’s cube. The first layer, the second layer and the third layer.
- There are various notations for turning segments of the cube in particular directions. These notations are used a lot in algorithms in solving the third layer. These notations are-
1. The first layer
The first layer is the layer that you have to solve in the beginning. There are 2 main steps in solving the first layer:-
- Finding edge pieces (To make a cross)
- Finding corner pieces (To make the first color and layer)
Remember– The ideal way to start solving the Rubik’s cube is to start with the white side.
2. Making a cross
Making the cross is a vital step for solving the first layer of the cube. As mentioned before, there are many methods for doing so… Here are the two easiest methods-
- To make the white cross you need to align all the white edge pieces to the white center piece. You also need to align the second color of the edge with its respective colored center also.
This is how the cross should look like when done. (It should also be aligned with the green and orange centers too).
To make the cross
As mentioned before, yellow is the opposite of the white side. This is the first method for the cross which is influenced by this principle.
- Join all the white edge pieces to the yellow center piece (you don’t need to join the second color with its respective color now).
- Join the second color of the white edge piece to its respective color center piece.
- Connect the aligned edge piece to the white center by turning the side with the aligned edge and center twice in the clockwise direction.
Repeat the same with the rest of the edge pieces and then you will have a completely aligned white cross.
The second method is slightly harder than the first. You can skip this method if you want to.
- Find a white edge piece and align its second color to its respective center.
- Join the aligned edge to the white center.
- Do the same for all the edge pieces. But be careful not to break the alignment of the already joined edges.
3. Solve for the first color
In this step, we need to find all of the white corners join their second and third color to their respectively colored edge pieces (that we have already joined to the centers while making the cross) and then connect them to the white cross.
There are different cases that can be faced while solving the first layer:-
Case One- When the corner is connected to the white cross and is fit between its respectively colored edges and diagonally connected to its center. No solving is required for this case.
The corner fit here is an example of case one
Case Two-When the corner is connected to the white cross and is in between its respectively colored edges and diagonally connected to its center diagonally but is flipped. You have to-
- Bring the white corner down to the bottom layer and then connect any other color (which is not white) in the corner to its matching colored center piece. Remember to displace the corner to the right and then rejoin the cross. Displacing means to move the corner from the range of the cross. The white color of the corner should not be at the bottom of the cube. If this is the case, skip to case 5 directly.
- With the connected color of the corner facing you, do this algorithm.
Di, Fi, D, F
Take reference from the notation picture.
This picture is an example of case two (The corner at the top).
Case 3- When the corner is connected to the white cross but is flipped and when only one or neither of the colors is in between its respectively colored edges and is not connected to its center, you have to do this-
- Bring the corner to the bottom layer. Displace the corner to the right and rejoin the cross.
- Turn the layer with the corner in it until one of the colors becomes connected to its matching color center.
- Repeat the algorithm in case two.
(Apologies for the blurred image.)
The corner at the top is an example of case three.
Case 4- When the corner is at the bottom layer and one of its colors is connected to its center. You have to do this-
- Do the algorithm- Di, Fi, D, F
Case 5- When the white color of the corner is at the bottom of the cube and is facing the ground, you do this-
- With the corner at your left do the algorithm- Di, Fi, D, F
- You will now see that the case is like it was in case 2 or in case 3. Solve the corner from that case onward.
Sorry about the blurred images. Above is an example of case 5.
4. Solve the second layer
After you solve the first layer, you should master it entirely and practice before you go on to learn the second layer. The second layer is the middle layer of the 3×3 Rubik’s cube. It’s the second last layer you have to solve. Without going into too many details, here’s how you solve it-
There are 2 parts of solving the second layer-
- Aligning the edges
- Fitting the edges
Aligning the edges
- Before you align the edges you have to make sure that the edge piece doesn’t have yellow as its second color. All of the edges have to be in the bottom layer of the cube. When you align an edge, you have to make sure that you have aligned it properly.
- To align an edge you have to match the color of the edge piece with its respectively colored center. Once that is done, you will see that the color at the bottom of the edge has its respectively colored center either on the left or right.
5. Fit the edges
On the basis of the situation, you have to do the following algorithms-
On the left-
D, L, Di, Li, Di, Fi, D, F
On the right-
Di, Ri, D, R, D, F, Di, Fi
If there is an edge that is flipped or if there is a yellow piece that is accidently fit or is already there, do the same algorithm to displace them. If the piece is on the left, do the algorithm for the left case, and if the piece is on the right, do the algorithm for the right. And refit the edge piece with the same algorithm.
Do the same for all the edges and then practice before you proceed to the third layer.
6. Solve the third layer
The next and final layer that you need to learn how to solve is the third layer. The third layer uses lots of algorithms that you need to learn. So make sure that you are clear with the movement codes (F, R, U, Fi, Ri, Ui, etc).
The main parts of solving the third layer are-
- Making the yellow cross
- Solving the yellow color
- Making headlights
- Solving according to cases
The yellow cross-
To make the yellow cross, there are some cases.
On the basis of these cases you have different algorithms to do to solve the yellow cross.
DOT- If you see a yellow center piece with no other edge piece connected to it, you have to do the following algorithm-
F, R, U, Ri, Ui, Fi
Then you will get the “L” case
“L”- If you see an “L” kind of shape at the third layer, make sure that you’re holding it such that one of the edges points in the northwards direction and that the other points at the east ward direction. Then you have to do the following algorithm- (Refer to image above)
F, U, R, Ui, Ri, Fi
And then you’ll get the yellow cross.
LINE- If you see a line on the third layer, make sure that you’re holding it horizontally and then do the following algorithm- (Refer to image above)
CROSS- No solving required.
The yellow side
You have to solve the yellow side after you solve the yellow cross. To solve the yellow side there is one simple algorithm. You might have to repeat this algorithm a few times to solve the yellow side, or you can search for different algorithms for solving the yellow side (OLLs) on the internet.
The algorithm is – R, U, Ri, U, R, U, U, Ri
Making headlights
After solving the yellow side you have to make a pattern called a “headlight”.
This image is an example of a “headlight”.
You will usually find that there is such a pattern formed after you solve the yellow side. If there isn’t, do the following algorithm-
Ri, F, Ri, B, B, R, Fi, Ri, B, B, R, R
After this you will find that a headlight is formed. Now, to make headlight’s throughout the third layer, do the same algorithm but with the formed headlight at the back side of the cube.
You will now find that the entire third layer is filled with headlights.
7. Putting it all together
There are 4 cases when finally solving the cube from here.
Case 1- With one solved side and three unsolved headlights (Right CASE)
Put the solved side at the back of the cube. Observe the face in front of you. You will see that the topmost edge piece is not matching with the entire cube. But that very edge gets connected with its respectively colored center piece when it is turned to the right. To solve this case do the following algorithm-
F, F, Ui, L, Ri, F, F, Li, R, Ui, F, F
And then you’ll find that the cube is solved.
Case 2- With one solved side and three unsolved headlights (Left CASE)
Pretty much the same case except that the unmatched edge gets connected with its respectively colored centre piece when it’s turned to the left. So with the solved side at the back of the cube do the following algorithm-
F, F, U, Ri, L, F, F, R, Li, U, F, F
And the cube is solved
Case 3- With all unsolved headlights having their topmost edge exchanged with the opposite topmost edge.
Do the following algorithm- Move the middle layer up twice (M, M), U, M, M, U, U, M, M, U, M, M
And the cube is solved
Case 3- With all unsolved headlights with topmost edge piece exchanged with either one of the faces next to it.
Make sure that the exchanged edge is at your left and do the following algorithm-
M, M, Ui, M, M, Ui, M, M, Ui, Ui, F, F, Ri, Ri, L, L, B, B
And you’ll find that the cube is solved
If you liked the method given here make sure to practice with it and you’ll find solving the cube to be simple. If you want more help in solving the cube, watch the video down below.
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