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Solving a Rubik's Cube: A Beginner's Layer-by-Layer Method

A 3x3 Rubik's Cube looks impossible at first glance, but solving it layer by layer makes the learning curve much gentler than it appears.

  1. First, understand the cube's basic structure

    A 3x3 cube is made of center pieces, edge pieces, and corner pieces. The six center pieces never change position relative to each other β€” they only spin in place β€” which is why solving is usually done by using center colors as your fixed reference points. Edge and corner pieces, by contrast, move around constantly as you turn the cube.

  2. Step 1: Solve a cross on one face

    Pick a starting face (commonly white) and get its four edge pieces into place so their side colors line up with the matching center pieces, forming a "cross" pattern. There is no fixed algorithm for this step β€” it mostly comes down to observation and practice.

  3. Step 2: Place the four corners of the first layer

    With the cross complete, place that layer's four corner pieces one at a time, making sure all three visible colors on each corner match their neighboring centers. Once done, the entire first layer is solved.

  4. Step 3: Place the four middle-layer edges

    Using a couple of set algorithms, pull the middle layer's four edge pieces down from the top layer and insert them in the correct spot. This step usually involves two mirror-image algorithms, depending on whether the edge needs to move left or right.

  5. Step 4: Form a cross on the top face

    At this point the top face's colors will typically show one of a few fixed patterns (a small angle, a line, or already a cross). Repeating the same fixed algorithm gradually turns whatever pattern you have into a cross β€” it does not happen all at once.

  6. Step 5: Get the top layer's corners facing the right way

    Ignoring for now whether the corners are in the correct position, use a fixed algorithm to turn all four top corners so their top face shows the target color. This step often needs repeating two or three times to flip every corner into place.

  7. Step 6: Move the top corners and edges into their final positions

    Finally, use algorithms to swap the top layer's corners and edges into their correct final positions so the whole top face lines up with the other five sides. Once done, the entire cube is solved.

Why the layer-by-layer method is the easiest way to start

Speed-focused solvers often use methods like CFOP, which use fewer overall moves but require memorizing far more algorithms. For a beginner, locking down one layer at a time without disturbing what is already solved is much easier to understand, and lets you learn a small number of algorithms gradually.

Why the centers never need "solving"

On a 3x3 cube, the six center pieces stay in the same position relative to each other no matter how you turn it β€” they only spin in place and never swap positions. That is why the whole method is built around using center colors as a fixed reference for placing edges and corners, rather than worrying about the centers themselves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to memorize a huge number of algorithms to solve a cube?

Not at the beginner level β€” you really only need a handful of core algorithms, mostly concentrated in the last three steps. The earlier steps rely mostly on observation and practice, unlike the large algorithm sets speed-cubers memorize.

Is every scrambled cube actually solvable?

Yes, as long as it was scrambled through normal turning (and not taken apart and reassembled incorrectly) β€” there is always a solution. If you follow the standard steps and still cannot finish, it is worth checking for a mistaken move along the way, or whether the cube itself was ever taken apart.