TwistlyHow to solve a 3x3 cube, step by step
The beginner method solves the cube in 7 phases, layer by layer, with just 6 short algorithms. This guide explains every phase, how to check you got it right and what to do in each case.
Rather see it move? In Twistly every turn is animated in 3D and the app tells you if your cube is on track.
Get it free on Google PlayThe cube’s letters
Algorithms are written with letters. Hold the cube facing you: each letter is a face that turns.
R L U D F BRight, Left, Up, Down, Front and Back.ROn its own: a quarter turn clockwise, as if you were looking straight at that face.R'With an apostrophe (“R prime”): the same turn, the other way.R2With a 2: a half turn.Each letter is a face, the apostrophe reverses the turn and 2 is a half turn. With this you can read every algorithm in the app.
Phase 1: white cross
Make a white cross on top. Each white edge must match the color of the center on its side.
Cases
- White edge on top, but white facing the front. Put it over its center and do F2 (or the matching face, half turn).
- White edge in the middle layer. Turn the face on that side until the edge rises into the cross, without pushing out the ones already placed.
- White edge on the bottom. Turn the bottom layer until it sits below its spot and do a half turn of that face.
When you finish, it should look like this: There is a white cross on top and, on each side, the edge color matches the center. Corners do not matter yet.
Phase 2: white corners
Complete the white face by placing each corner below its spot and repeating the formula until it comes up correctly.
R' D' R DCases
- The white corner is on the bottom, right below its spot. With that corner at the bottom-front-right, repeat R' D' R D until it comes up with white on top (2, 4 or 6 times).
- The white corner is on top but wrong. Do R' D' R D once to bring it down, then go back to the previous case.
- The bottom corner is not below its spot. Turn only the bottom layer (D) until its colors sit between the two matching centers.
When you finish, it should look like this: The white face is complete and the first row of every side matches its center.
Phase 3: second layer
Flip the cube: white down, yellow up. Insert the edges without yellow into the middle layer.
U R U' R' U' F' U FU' L' U L U F U' F'Cases
- The edge goes right (the top color matches the right center). Put its front color over the front center and do U R U' R' U' F' U F.
- The edge goes left. Put its front color over the front center and do U' L' U L U F U' F'.
- An edge is in the middle layer but wrong. Do either formula with that slot at the front-right to push it out to the top, then insert it correctly.
When you finish, it should look like this: Two complete layers: every side has its two bottom rows in the center color. The white face stays intact.
Phase 4: yellow cross
One formula for every case: F R U R' U' F'. Dot → L → line → cross.
F R U R' U' F'Cases
- Only the yellow center dot. Do the formula. You get an L.
- An L (two neighboring yellow edges). Put the L at the back and left, do the formula. You get a line.
- A line. Make it horizontal (left to right), do the formula. You get the cross.
When you finish, it should look like this: Yellow cross on top. The side colors of the cross may not match yet.
Phase 5: align the cross
Each yellow edge over the center of its color.
R U R' U R U2 R' UCases
- Two neighboring edges match. Turn the whole cube (not the layers) so they sit at the back and right. Do the formula.
- Two opposite edges match. Do the formula once, turn the top layer until two neighbors match, then the previous case.
- None match. Turn only the top layer (U) until two match; it is always possible.
When you finish, it should look like this: Yellow cross aligned: all four edges match their centers. The top corners are still mixed.
Phase 6: corners in place
Each top corner between its three colors, even if twisted.
U R U' L' U R' U' LCases
- What is "in place"?. The corner has the same three colors as the three centers it touches (yellow plus the two sides), in any order. Twisted still counts.
- One corner is already in place. Put it at top-front-right (black box) and do the formula; if needed, repeat without moving the cube.
- None is in place. Do the formula once in any position: one will land in place. Then the previous case.
When you finish, it should look like this: All four top corners carry the colors of the faces they touch, even if yellow is not on top.
Phase 7: twist the corners
One 4-move formula: R' D' R D. Repeat it in groups of 4 until the corner in the black box has yellow on top. Then bring the next corner with U.
R' D' R DCases
- How many repetitions?. Do not calculate: do R' D' R D, look at the corner, repeat until yellow is on top. It will be 2 or 4 times.
- When do I turn the whole cube?. Never in this phase. Only the top layer (U) to switch corners.
- The cube looks broken. That is normal until you finish the last corner. It fixes itself.
When you finish, it should look like this: Cube solved.
Stuck? Take a photo of each face and Twistly tells you which phase you're in and your next move.
Get it free on Google PlayTry it in your browserWhat it looks like in the app
FAQ
How many algorithms do I need to solve a 3x3 cube?
With this method, six: R' D' R D (corners), two for the second layer, F R U R' U' F' (yellow cross), R U R' U R U2 R' U (aligning the cross) and U R U' L' U R' U' L (placing corners). Phase 7 reuses R' D' R D.
How long does it take to learn?
It depends on the person and how much you practise. The usual path is one phase at a time: white cross and white face first, then the second layer, and the yellow layer last.
What do R, U, F and the apostrophe mean?
Each letter is a face: R right, L left, U up, D down, F front and B back. On its own it's a clockwise quarter turn; with an apostrophe (R') it's the other way; with a 2 it's a half turn.
I scrambled my cube halfway through. Do I have to start over?
No. In Twistly you can photograph the six faces: the app reads the colors, tells you which phase you're in and shows your next move.
What comes after the beginner method?
The next step is CFOP, the method speedcubers use: cross, F2L (41 cases), OLL (57) and PLL (21). Twistly has all 125 cases animated in Pro mode.
Phases 1 to 4 are free. Get Twistly and solve your first cube today.
Get it free on Google Play