What You Need to Know First

The beginner layer-by-layer (LBL) method is the most taught approach for first-time solvers. You solve one layer at a time from bottom to top. The key insight: once a piece is in its correct position, you move it using sequences (algorithms) that do not disturb the already-solved layers. Average solve time for beginners with this method: 2–5 minutes. World record is under 4 seconds, but that uses a completely different approach.

Basic Notation

Cube moves are described with letters: R = right face clockwise, L = left face clockwise, U = top face clockwise, D = bottom face clockwise, F = front face clockwise. A letter with an apostrophe (') means anticlockwise: R' = right face anticlockwise.

Step 1: White Cross

Hold the cube with white face on top. Find the four white edge pieces (the ones with white on one side) and move them to form a cross on the white face. The colour on the other side of each edge piece must match its centre colour. This step is intuitive — work it out by trial and observation. Watch one YouTube video for this step if you get stuck.

Step 2: White Corners

Find the white corner pieces and insert them into the correct position in the white layer. The algorithm for inserting a corner: with the corner above where it needs to go (in the top-right position), repeat R U R' U' until it slots in correctly (up to 6 times). Rotate the top layer to bring each corner into position before applying the algorithm.

Step 3: Middle Layer Edges

Flip the cube so white is on the bottom. Find edge pieces in the top layer that do not have yellow on them — these need to go into the middle layer. Two algorithms handle left and right insertion: Right: U R U' R' U' F' U F. Left: U' L' U L U F U' F'.

Step 4: Yellow Cross

Make a cross on the yellow face (top). Apply F R U R' U' F' until you have a cross. You may need to apply it 1–3 times.

Step 5: Solve Yellow Corners Position

Apply U R U' L' U R' U' L to cycle yellow corners into their correct positions (they may still be facing the wrong way).

Step 6: Orient Yellow Corners

Hold the cube so an unsolved corner is in the front-right-top position. Apply R' D' R D repeatedly until that corner is oriented correctly. Then rotate only the top layer (U move) to bring the next unsolved corner into position and repeat. Do not rotate the whole cube between corners — only the top layer.

Best way to learnWatch one YouTube video for each step while following along with your cube. J Perm and CubeSkills have excellent free beginner tutorials. Reading algorithms and actually doing them with a cube in your hands are very different — hands-on learning works much better for this skill.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most people can learn the beginner method in 2–4 hours of practice spread over a few days. Solving it reliably from memory (without referring to algorithms) typically takes another week of regular practice. Getting below 2 minutes requires learning a more advanced method like CFOP.
If you pulled a piece out and put it back in the wrong orientation, the cube is in an unsolvable state. The only fix is to take the cube apart (pop a corner piece out with a flat tool) and reassemble it correctly, or reset it by taking all pieces out and reassembling in the solved position.