Rubik's Cube Solving Guide – Key Points

Objective

To help you not just solve a Rubik's Cube once, but master it for good using logic, visuals, and easy memorization tricks—broken into 7 steps, each to be practiced and mastered one day at a time.

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Structure of the Cube: The Basics

1. Middle Pieces Define Face Color

   • Each center (middle) piece stays in place and sets the face color.

2. Piece Types

   • Corners: 3 colors each.
   • Edges: 2 colors each.

3. How to Hold the Cube

   • Default: White face down, yellow face up.
   • Doesn’t matter which side faces you.

4. How to Move the Pieces

   • Mainly manipulating sides and top.
   • Hold on the sides, use index fingers for top layer moves.
   • Keep cube oriented: white bottom, yellow top, don’t twist the cube during moves.

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Seven Steps to Solve the Cube

Step 1: Make the White Cross

• Goal: Form a white cross on the bottom—the white center.
• Rule: The second color of each edge should match the adjacent face.
• Tips:
  • Bring all white edge pieces to the top (ignore second color for now).
  • For misaligned or flipped edges, use the “daisy” method: arrange all white edges around the yellow center, then align second color on the sides and bring them down to form the cross.

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Step 2: Complete the White Face (Corners)

• Goal: Insert white corners into their correct spots.
• Process:
  • Focus on top layer corners with white on the side (ignore white on top for now).
  • Move the corner piece above its intended spot (check adjacent two colors).
  • Insert by moving the top layer away, bringing the destination layer up, moving the top back, then bringing the layer down.
• Special Cases:
  • If the white corner is on top (not side), move it above an unsolved corner; rotate the side up and move the piece away to flip white to the side.
  • If all corners are on the bottom but incorrect, "kick them out" to the top then re-insert correctly.

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Step 3: Solve the Second Layer (Edges)

• Goal: Fill in the middle layer edges.
• Process:
  • Find an edge piece in the top layer without yellow.
  • Align its main color with the matching center.
  • Depending on the adjacent color, move the piece either left or right by “moving away” from the destination, lifting the target layer, and restoring the top and side.
  • Repeat as needed.
• If only yellow edges remain: Insert a yellow edge into the middle to kick out a non-yellow, then solve as above.

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Step 4: Make the Yellow Cross

• Goal: Form a yellow cross on the top.
• Patterns to Look For:
  • "9:00" shape (L-shape) or horizontal yellow line.
• Algorithm:
  • Position cube as per existing pattern.
  • Apply this move:
    1. F (front) clockwise
    2. R (right) up
    3. U (top) clockwise
    4. R down
    5. U back
    6. F back
  • Repeat for each pattern change until a cross forms.

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Step 5: Solve the Yellow Edges (Top Layer Edges)

• Goal: Align all top edges’ side colors with their centers.
• Finding Matches:
  • At least two sides will match upon rotating the top.
• If two adjacent match: Hold them at left and back, apply sequence to swap the other two.
• If two opposite match: Repeat the move twice.
• Algorithm:
  1. R down
  2. U right
  3. R down
  4. U left
  5. R down
  6. U right (repeat as needed, then realign)

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Step 6: Place Top Corners (Correct Positioning)

• Goal: Get all corner blocks into the right place (color combination).
• Process:
  • Find a correctly placed corner (colors match adjacent faces).
  • If none, execute the move from any position.
  • If one, hold it at top-left and perform the move (repeats may be needed).

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Step 7: Orient Top Corners (Twist Correctly)

• Goal: Flip the top corners so all yellows face up (cube becomes solved).
• How-To:
  • Hold cube with white face up, yellow down.
  • Work one unsolved corner at a time, perform the “corner twist” algorithm 2 or 4 times.
  • Do NOT rotate the whole cube—just move the unsolved corner to bottom-right and repeat.
  • Align bottom layer after all corners are flipped.

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Practice & Tips

• Practice a day per step—repeat previous steps daily for retention.
• Speed cubes are recommended for easier and smoother practice.
• A cheat-sheet summary is available (refer to the original source for details).
• Can be an enjoyable family/group activity!

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Closing

Once you complete all 7 steps, you can solve the cube anytime—even after taking a break! Let practice make the patterns stick so you can do this "without thinking."