How to Solve a 3x3
Before you get started, there is some memorization involved and may take a couple days before you can do it without looking at algorithms.
Notation: Before you start solving, you need to know notation. There are nine letters that you need to know; U represents the top face, D represents the bottom face, F represents the front face, B represents the back face, L represents the left face, R represents the right face, M represents the middle layer that is between the left and right faces, E is the layer between the top and bottom faces, and S is the layer between the front and back faces. A letter by it self means you need to turn it 90 degrees clockwise (i.e. R means you turn the right face 90 degrees clockwise). A letter with an apostrophe (') means you turn the face 90 degrees counterclockwise (i.e. R' means you turn the right face 90 degrees counter-clockwise). If a letter has a 2 in front of it, you turn that face 180 degrees (i.e. 2R means you turn the right face 180 degrees). Now, if I gave you an algorithm, you should be able to preform it.
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Step 1: Solve the white side
It can be any side. I like to start with white so I will use that in my instructions.
There are two steps involved to solve a side...
1A: Solve the cross
This step is pretty intuitive and very easy. To do this, you have to put an edge onto the white face but it also has to line up with one of the centers on the side (i.e. the white and red edge has to go on the white face but also line up with the red center). Repeat until all four white edges are in place.
1B: Insert corners
You need to put the four corners in their respective places. To do this, you put the corner above where it needs to do and do this algorithm until it goes in: (with the white face in front) R, U, R', U
Repeat until all four corners are in place.
It can be any side. I like to start with white so I will use that in my instructions.
There are two steps involved to solve a side...
1A: Solve the cross
This step is pretty intuitive and very easy. To do this, you have to put an edge onto the white face but it also has to line up with one of the centers on the side (i.e. the white and red edge has to go on the white face but also line up with the red center). Repeat until all four white edges are in place.
1B: Insert corners
You need to put the four corners in their respective places. To do this, you put the corner above where it needs to do and do this algorithm until it goes in: (with the white face in front) R, U, R', U
Repeat until all four corners are in place.
Step 2: Solve Middle Layer
You now need to put your completed white side (or whatever side you solved first) on the bottom face. You now need to find edges that go in the middle layer. To do this, you need to find an edge that needs to go in somewhere (let's say between the green and red centers), find that edge, (let's say that the red part of the edge is on top), and line the edge up with the same color center. If the edge needs to go to the left, do U', L', U, L, U, F, U', F'. If the edge needs to go to the right, do U, R, U', R', U', F', U, F. If you need to pull an edge out of a spot, just do one of the algorithms above. Repeat until all the edges are in.
You now need to put your completed white side (or whatever side you solved first) on the bottom face. You now need to find edges that go in the middle layer. To do this, you need to find an edge that needs to go in somewhere (let's say between the green and red centers), find that edge, (let's say that the red part of the edge is on top), and line the edge up with the same color center. If the edge needs to go to the left, do U', L', U, L, U, F, U', F'. If the edge needs to go to the right, do U, R, U', R', U', F', U, F. If you need to pull an edge out of a spot, just do one of the algorithms above. Repeat until all the edges are in.
Step 3: Solve the Yellow (opposite) Side
There are two steps...
3A: Solve Yellow Cross
There can be three cases to this...
You can have three cases...
There are two steps...
3A: Solve Yellow Cross
There can be three cases to this...
- Hook (Yellow edge on top and on the left). To solve, do this algorithm: F, U, R, U', R', F'.
- Line (Yellow edge on left and right). To solve, do this algorithm, F, R, U, R', U', F'
- Dot (Just the Yellow Center). To solve do one of the above algorithms, then the other.
You can have three cases...
- No Corners on top. To solve, put two un-oriented corners on the left face and do the algorithm below.
- One Corner on top. To solve, put the corner on top in the bottom-left corner and do the algorithm below.
- Two Corners on top. To solve, either put one un-oriented corner on the left face or two un-oriented corners on the left face and do the algorithm below.
Step 4: Permute Yellow Side
In case you're wondering, permute means move around. In this step, we are going to move around the yellow pieces. Two steps...
4A: Permute Corners
Three cases...
4B: Permute Edges
Four Cases...
In case you're wondering, permute means move around. In this step, we are going to move around the yellow pieces. Two steps...
4A: Permute Corners
Three cases...
- All corners are in their correct locations. Move on to the next step.
- No corners are in their correct locations. Do the algorithm below and then go to next case.
- Two corners are in their correct locations. Put the two corners in the back and do the algorithm below.
4B: Permute Edges
Four Cases...
- All edges permuted. You have solved it!
- Green and blue are opposite, red and orange are opposite. Do this algorithm: 2M, U, 2M, 2U, 2M, U, 2M.
- Green and orange are switched, blue and red are switched, do this algorithm: 2M, U, 2M, U, M, 2U, 2M, 2U, M, 2U
- One edge in it's correct place. Put that in the back and do this algorithm: 2F, U/U', L, R', 2F, L', R, U/U', 2F. The U/U' means that you do one or the other depending on the color of the center on the front face. If the green center is in front and the green edge is on the left face, you would do a U' move so that the green edge lines up with the green center and then continue with the algorithm. If you did U', in the beginning, you do it in the end, too.