How to solve a 3x3 Rubik’s cube (Beginners method)

Photo by Olav Ahrens Røtne on Unsplash

Rubik’s cube is one of the most fascinating things which people find nowadays. And we always want to solve it by ourselves. But when we start solving a Rubik’s cube, sometimes we are able to solve one color completely but when we go for the next, we start feeling complicated and at last, we mess up everything. This happens because we never try to understand how a Rubik’s cube actually behaves. We cannot solve a Rubik’s cube color-wise. If we are thinking we will solve one color, then second, then third and so on. This is not actually how a Rubik’s cube is solved. Today we will see how to solve it layer-wise. So let’s start.

Notations used to represent an algorithm
There are 12 notations that we use to represent a step.

Here U represents rotating upper layer clockwise and U’ which is called as U prime represents rotating upper layer counterclockwise. The same will be the case for others also, D is for down, R for right, L for left, F for front and B for back.

Note: The color of the middle piece on each face represents which color will come on that side. So if you are holding a Rubik’s cube such that middle white piece is on top and the middle green piece is facing you, then blue will on the backside, red on right, orange on left and yellow on the bottom always. This is because we cannot change the middle piece and it actually anchors everything.

Now we are all set to start solving the Rubik’s cube.

1. Making cross in the top layer

As you can see you need to first make a cross in the upper layer. Make sure the piece you pick for a particular edge, the color should match which middle piece also. For example, if an edge is having white and green color, it should come on the side where green is in the middle, it should not go to the side where red is there. There is no specific algorithm for this, take this as your task and try to do it. It’s very easy and this will help you in getting comfortable with Rubik’s cube.

2. Solving the corners in the top layer

You need to check first which corner piece will come on which side. All three colors of the corner piece should match with the middle piece color of each of the three sides making that corner. You need to bring that corner piece on the bottom right corner as you can see in the image then apply the algorithm. If the corner piece is already there but with the wrong orientation, remove the piece from there bring it to the right bottom and repeat the step.

Three cases can arise will solving the corners.

Algorithm for each are:

• The first case (White is on front side): D’ R’ D R
• The second case (White is on the right side): D F D’ F’
• The third case (White is on the bottom side): F L D2 L’ F’

After solving the upper layer your cube will look something like this.

3. Solving the middle layer

Rotate the cube upside down. Now your solved upper layer will be at the bottom. It will look something like this.

Now you need to decide which edge piece will come on which edge. Bring that edge piece on the top layer. The face color of the edge towards you should match with the middle piece color as shown in the figure. Remember your previously solved layer is at the bottom now. If the edge piece is already in the right position but with the wrong orientation, then remove the edge from there, bring it to the top and then apply the algorithm.

Two cases can arise in this situation.

• Color on the top side of the edge piece matches the color of the middle piece on the right side. Algorithm: U R U’ R’ U’ F’ U F
• Color on the top side of the edge piece matches the color of the middle piece on the right side. Algorithm: U’ L’ U L U F U’ F’

After solving the middle layer too, your cube will look something like this.

4. Making cross on the top layer

When you look at the top layer four possibilities can come. Either you are having no edge color matching with the middle piece color, two matchings which will basically make an L shape or a straight line and last all four are matching. This will get more clear if you see the below image.

How to hold the cube in each situation?

• First situation: You can hold the cube as you want, there is no restriction in this.
• Second situation (L shape): Hold the cube such that the front and right side in the top layer doesn’t have a matching edge piece.
• Third situation (Straight line): Hold the cube such that the unmatching side of the top layer is facing towards you.
• Fourth situation (Already solved): No need to do anything 😅. It’s already solved.

If you are in any of the first three situations, apply the below algorithm multiple times until you reach the fourth situation. After applying the algorithm each time make sure you check in what situation you are in and hold the cube according to it.
Algorithm: F R U R’ U’ F’

5. Correcting mismatch edges

After making a cross on the top layer, you can see the edge color doesn’t match with the middle piece of other sides. So now rotate the upper layer clockwise and see in which situation maximum possible solved edges will come up.

Three situations can arise now.

• First: Two are in the correct position opposite to each other, then hold the cube in such a way that, one solved edge piece is facing you and the other one is on the back and apply the below algorithm.
• Second: Two are in the correct position adjacent to each other, then hold the cube in such a way that, one solved edge piece is on the right side and the other one is on the backside and apply the below algorithm.
• Third: All are in the correct position😅. No need to do anything.

Algorithm: R U R’ U R U2 R’ U

Note: U2 means you have to rotate the upper layer clockwise two times.

After this step, your cube will look something like this.

6. Solving the corners

Now you are just one step away solving Rubik’s cube for the first time. After making the cross and placing them in the right position, you can see corners of the top are not in the correct position.

Now what you have to do, see the upper try to find if there is any solved corner in it. If it is there don’t do anything to it. Hold the cube in such a way that the unsolved piece is on the top right corner. Apply the below algorithm once.

Algorithm: R’ D’ R D

You will think the whole cube is now messed up but don’t worry everything will get solved automatically just stick to the instructions.

After applying the algorithm once, the unsolved corner piece is now on the bottom right corner.

Now follow these steps:

• Rotate the upper layer clockwise and try to find that corner place in which this unsolved corner piece will fit and bring it to the top right corner.
• Now repeat the same algorithm until the corner place is solved. Now you will have a new unsolved corner piece in the bottom right corner.
• Again rotate the upper layer clockwise and try to find out the corner place in which this unsolved corner piece will fit, bring it to the top right corner and repeat the previous steps again. You have to do this until all the corners are solved.

Note: While solving the corners don’t change the way you are handling the cube.

Congratulations!!! you have just solved the Rubik’s cube.🥳

Do you want to know one amazing thing?

You can use the same steps to solve the mirror cube also. In this, you have to look for size and shape instead of color.

What's next from here?

Once you get comfortable with this method, you can also look for advanced methods that will help you in solving Rubik’s cube in lesser time. The advanced methods will teach you how to solve more than one piece in a single move. Even you can learn to solve Rubik’s cube blindfolded and trust me solving Rubik’s cube blindfolded is also very easy, you just need to practice.

Hope this article was helpful for you. If you liked this article sharing and a few claps 👏🏻 will be highly appreciable. Thank you!!!