How to Solve Rubik's Cube: September 2018

There are many approaches on how to solve the Rubik's Cube. All these methods have different levels of difficulties, for speed cubers or beginners, even for solving the cube blindfolded. People usually get stuck solving the cube after completing the first face, after that they need some help. In the following article I'm going to show you the easiest way to solve the cube using the beginner's method.

The method presented here divides the cube into layers and you can solve each layer applying a given algorithm not messing up the pieces already in place. You can find a separate page for each one of the seven stages if the description on this page needs further explanation and examples.

To get started I recommend you to read the basic cubing terminology and you will need to know the Rubik's Cube notation ie what the letters mean in the algorithms:

F: front, R: right, U: up, L: left, B: back, D: down.

1. White cross

Let's begin with the white face. First we have to make a white cross paying attention to the color of the side center pieces. This step is quite intuitive because there are no solved pieces to watch out for. You can do this for sure with a little practice. Just move the white edges to their places not messing up the ones already fixed.

If you have difficulties, you can get a little help with animated algorithms about solving the white cross on the Rubik's Cube clicking here.

Good white cross

Sides not matching

2. White corners

In this step we have to arrange all the white corner pieces to finish the first face. This step is still intuitive, you can do it without learning a single algorithm. If you don't have patience I'll give you some clue.

Twist the bottom layer so that one of the white corners is directly under the spot where it's supposed to go on the top layer. Now, do one of the three algorithms according to the orientation of the piece, aka. in which direction the white sticker is facing. If the white corner piece is where it belongs but turned wrong then first you have to pop it out.

R' D' R F D F'

3. Second layer

Until this point the procedure was pretty straight forward but from now on we have to use algorithms. We can forget the completed white face so let's turn the cube upside down to focus on the unsolved side.

In this step we are completing the first two layers (F2L). There are two symmetric algorithms we have to use in this step. They're called the Right and Left algorithms. These algorithms insert the Up-Front edge piece from the top layer to the middle layer while not messing up the solved white face.
If none of the pieces in the top layer are already lined up like in the images below, then turn the top layer until one of the edge pieces in the top layer matches one of the images below. Then follow the matching algorithm for that orientation.

Left:

formula

Right:

formula

If an edge piece is on its place in the second layer orienting wrong then we have to apply the algorithm twice. First we must pop it out inserting another one in its place.

4. Yellow cross

Yellow cross on the top

Sart solving the last layer making a yellow cross on the top of the cube. It doesn't matter if the pieces are not on their final places so we don't have to pay attention to the colors of the sides.

We can get three possible patterns on the top. Use this algorithm to go from one state to the other:

formula

When you see a dot you have to apply the algorithm three times. If you have a yellow "L" shape then onlye twice, holding the cube in your hands as seen on the image below.
In case of a horizontal line you just have to execute the permutation once.

5. Yellow edges

After making the yellow cross on the top of the cube you have to put the yellow edge pieces on their final places to match the colors of the side center pieces. Switch the front and left yellow edges with the following algorithm