From Scramble to Solved: How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube

r decades. With over 43 quintillion possible configurations, the cube might seem impossible to solve, especially if you’re a beginner. However, the good news is that learning how to solve a rubix cube is far easier than you might think once you understand the correct steps and tricks.

In this guide, we’ll break down the process of solving the cube, starting with beginner-friendly techniques and eventually leading into advanced methods. By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to solve a Rubik’s Cube with confidence and ease.

The Basics of the Rubik’s Cube

Before jumping into solving the cube, it’s essential to understand its structure. The standard Rubik’s Cube has six faces, each with a different color: white, red, blue, green, yellow, and orange. The pieces are divided into:

• Centers: The fixed piece in the center of each face. These dictate the color of the side.
• Edges: The 12 pieces with two colors.
• Corners: The 8 pieces with three colors.

Knowing that the center pieces remain in place is key to solving the cube. Everything else moves around these fixed points.

Step 1: Solve the White Cross

The first step in learning how to solve a Rubik’s Cube is to solve the white cross. This involves getting the four white edge pieces to form a cross on the white face.

1. Find the white edges: Look for pieces with white on them and move them to the top face.
2. Align the colors: Make sure the other color on the edge piece matches the center color of the adjacent face (e.g., if the edge is white and blue, the blue part should align with the blue center).
3. Form the white cross: Keep turning the edges until all white pieces are correctly positioned, forming a cross.

It’s important to ensure that the edge pieces are also aligned with the adjacent centers, not just the white face. This might take some practice, but it’s the foundation for the rest of the solve.

Step 2: Solve the White Corners

Once the white cross is complete, the next goal is to solve the four corners to finish the white face.

1. Find a white corner piece: Look for a corner piece that has white as one of its three colors.
2. Position it below the right spot: Move this corner to the bottom layer, directly below where it needs to go on the top layer.
3. Use the algorithm: To insert the corner, use the algorithm R U R’ U’ until the piece is correctly placed.

Repeat this for all four corners until the white face is fully solved, and the first layer is complete. At this point, the entire top layer should be the same color, and the edges of the sides should match the centers.

Step 3: Solve the Second Layer Edges

With the first layer done, it’s time to focus on the second layer, which involves placing the edge pieces correctly.

1. Find an edge piece without yellow: Yellow is reserved for the last layer, so you’ll want to focus on edge pieces that have two colors other than yellow.
2. Align the edge with its center: Once you find an edge that belongs in the middle layer, align it with the corresponding center.
3. Insert the edge piece: Depending on where the piece needs to go, you’ll use one of two algorithms:
   • If the edge needs to go to the right: Use U R U’ R’ U’ F’ U F.
   • If the edge needs to go to the left: Use U’ L’ U L U F U’ F’.

After this step, the first two layers of the cube should be fully solved, leaving only the top yellow layer.

Step 4: Solve the Yellow Cross

The next challenge is solving the yellow cross. Similar to the white cross, the goal here is to get the yellow edges into place.

1. Form the yellow cross: Use the algorithm F R U R’ U’ F’. Depending on the configuration of the yellow pieces, you may need to repeat this algorithm a few times.
   • If you have no yellow edges aligned, repeat the algorithm twice.
   • If you have an “L” shape, align it to the top left and perform the algorithm once.
   • If you have a line, hold it horizontally and perform the algorithm once.

Once the yellow cross is complete, you’ll move on to positioning the edges.

Step 5: Position the Yellow Edges

With the yellow cross formed, the next step is positioning the yellow edge pieces correctly around the cube.

1. Identify incorrect edges: If one or more edges are already in the right place, use the algorithm U R U’ L’ U R’ U’ L to swap the edges.
2. Repeat if necessary: If none of the edges are correct, perform the algorithm once or twice to cycle the edges into their correct positions.

By now, the yellow cross should be solved, and the edges should be in their correct places.

Step 6: Solve the Yellow Corners

The final step for the yellow layer is positioning the yellow corners. These pieces need to be in the correct spots, though they may not yet be oriented correctly.

1. Position the yellow corners: Hold the cube so that one correctly positioned yellow corner is in the front-right position. Use the algorithm U R U’ L’ U R’ U’ L to cycle the other corners until they’re all in the right places.
2. Repeat as needed: If no corners are correctly positioned, perform the algorithm once to move them into place.

After this step, the yellow corners will be in their correct spots but may still need to be oriented.

Step 7: Orient the Yellow Corners

The last step is orienting the yellow corners so that the entire yellow face is complete.

1. Position the yellow corner: Hold the cube so that a misaligned yellow corner is in the top-right position.
2. Use the algorithm: Apply R U R’ U’ until the corner is correctly oriented. This algorithm won’t disturb the rest of the cube, so you can repeat it as many times as needed.
3. Rotate the top layer: Once a corner is oriented correctly, rotate the top layer to move the next misaligned corner into position.

Repeat this process for all four corners until the yellow face is fully solved. Congratulations, you’ve now solved the Rubik’s Cube!

Advanced Methods for Faster Solving

Once you’ve mastered the beginner method, you might be interested in learning some advanced techniques to solve the cube even faster. One of the most popular advanced methods is CFOP, which stands for Cross, F2L (First Two Layers), OLL (Orientation of the Last Layer), and PLL (Permutation of the Last Layer).

CFOP: The Speedcubing Method

1. Cross: Like the beginner method, CFOP starts with solving the cross on one face, typically white. The trick here is to solve the cross efficiently in 8 moves or fewer.
2. F2L (First Two Layers): Instead of solving one layer at a time, F2L pairs up corner and edge pieces and inserts them into the correct place simultaneously. Learning the algorithms for F2L can significantly reduce your solving time.
3. OLL (Orientation of the Last Layer): Instead of solving the yellow cross first, OLL solves the entire yellow face in one step. There are 57 different OLL cases, but learning the most common ones first can make a big difference.
4. PLL (Permutation of the Last Layer): Once the yellow face is complete, PLL moves the pieces on the top layer into their correct positions. There are 21 different PLL cases, and learning them all will make solving the cube much faster.

While CFOP requires more memorization than the beginner method, it’s the trick to solving the cube quickly. Many world-class speedcubers use CFOP to achieve solve times under 10 seconds.

Tips for Success

• Practice regularly: Muscle memory is key to solving the cube quickly. The more you practice, the more natural the moves will feel.
• Learn finger tricks: Efficient finger movement can shave valuable seconds off your solving time.
• Stay patient: Solving a Rubik’s Cube can be challenging, especially when you’re just starting. Take it one step at a time, and don’t get discouraged if you need to repeat algorithms multiple times.

Conclusion

Learning how to solve a Rubik’s Cube is not as difficult as it seems once you break it down into manageable steps. With the right approach, patience, and practice, you can go from a scrambled cube to a perfectly solved one with ease. Whether you’re using the beginner method or transitioning into advanced techniques like CFOP, there’s always room for improvement and new challenges to conquer. So, pick up your cube, follow this guide, and start solving!