Beginner's Guide: How to Solve a Rubik's Cube
Ready to turn that scrambled block into a solved masterpiece? This interactive tutorial teaches the classic Beginner Method. Expect about 10 minutes of reading, then it's practice time!
What You'll Learn
- The 7 simple stages of the Beginner Method.
- Essential Rubik's Cube algorithms.
- Finger-trick tips to speed up your solves.
- A printable cheatsheet and interactive demos.
The 7-Step Roadmap
Follow these steps. Click each one to see it happen live on the interactive cube!
The cube has 6 faces and 3 layers. For notation, you'll see letters like R (right) or U (up). A prime (') means counter-clockwise. Think of R' like turning a book page backward.
Show Interactive Cube (Click to Explore)
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Goal: Make a plus sign on the white face with matching side colors. No algorithms yet — just intuitive edge-piece moves. If an edge is flipped, place it on the bottom layer and spin F R' D to realign.
Show Interactive Cube (Click to Explore)
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Insert the four white corners to finish the first layer. Find a white corner piece on the bottom layer directly below its target slot. Use the algorithm below. If the corner is in the top layer but twisted or in the wrong spot, use R U R' to drop it to the bottom layer first.
Show Interactive Example: Insert Corner
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Solve the middle layer edges. Find an edge piece on the top layer that belongs in the middle layer (it won't have yellow on it). Position it above its matching center color. Then, use one of the algorithms below depending on whether it needs to go left or right.
Show Interactive Example: Insert Edge to Right
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Show Interactive Example: Insert Edge to Left
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Form a yellow cross on the top face. Hold the cube so the L is in the top-left corner or the line is horizontal, then apply F R U R' U' F'.
Show Interactive Example: Forming the Yellow Cross
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Make the entire top face yellow. Position an incorrectly oriented corner at front-right-top and apply R U R' U R U U R'.
Show Interactive Example: Orienting Corners
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Position the yellow pieces correctly using corner and edge permutations to finish the solve.
Corner Cycle (A-perm)
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Finally, permute the edges with a U-perm to complete the cube.
U-perm ↻
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U-perm ↺
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And boom — cube solved! 🎉
Complete Beginner Method Algorithms
| Step | Goal / Action | Algorithm / Key Moves | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meet the Cube 🧊 | Understand Faces & Notation | R L U D F B | Basic face turns (clockwise) and their primes. |
| White Cross ⚪ | Form White Cross on Top | (Intuitive) | Match edge colors to side centers. Use F R' D to flip edges if needed. |
| White Corners 🏁 | Insert White Corners | R U R' / R U U R' | Use based on corner position/orientation. |
| Middle Layer Edges ➗ | Edge to Right | U R U' R' U' F' U F | Moves edge from top to middle right. |
| Edge to Left | U' L' U L U F U' F' | Moves edge from top to middle left. | |
| Yellow Cross ✨ | Form Yellow Cross on Top | F R U R' U' F' | Repeat until cross appears. |
| Orient Yellow Corners (OLL) 🎯 | Make Top Face Yellow (OLL) | R U R' U R U U R' | Repeat until all corners oriented. |
| Permute Last Layer (PLL) 🏆 | Position Yellow Corners (A-perm) | R' F R' B B R F' R' B B R R U U | Cycles three corners. |
| Position Yellow Edges (U-perm) | R R U R U R' U' R' U' R' U R' / R U' R U R U R U' R' U' R R | Cycles three edges. |
FAQs & Pro Tips
🚀 Next Moves
Resources
- World Cube Association (WCA)– Official competition rules, results, and upcoming events.
- SpeedSolving.com Wiki & Forum– A vast resource for methods, algorithms, hardware, and community discussion.
- SpeedCubeShop– Popular online store for speedcubes, lubricants, and accessories.
- TheCubicle– Another major online retailer for all things cubing.