Continuing with this series of tutorials, we will see now How To Solve A 3x3x3 Rubiks Cube.

To learn how to solve a 3x3x3 Rubiks Cube it's not more difficult than to learn how to solve a 2x2x2 Rubiks Cube.

In this tutorial you will find all the necessary information to solve the Standard Cube.

However it's advisable to read how to solve the Junior Cube firt, since the techniques applied to the resolution of the Junior Cube will be of great help to solve the Standard Cube.

All the learned movements for the resolution of the Junior Cube will be used in the resolution of the Standard Cube and a few more will be added, achieving in this way a gradual learning curve.

If you have followed the steps of How To Solve A 2x2x2 Rubiks Cube, the practice will be useful.

 • How to solve a 3x3x3 Rubiks Cube

 • Pieces and Layers

 • Description Of The Algorithm

  • Step 1, Bottom Layer Edges

  • Step 2, Bottom Layer Corners

  • Step 3, Middle Layer Edges

  • Step 4, Last Layer Edges

  • Step 5, Permute The Top Layer Edges

  • Step 6, Orient The Top Layer Corners

  • Step 7, Permute The Top Layer Corners

 • Solve A 3x3x3 Rubiks Cube

  • Step 1, Bottom Layer Edges

    • Down Face color on the Upper Face

    • Down Face color Around the Edges 

    • Edge Piece in the Middle Layer

    • Edge Piece in the Bottom Layer

  • Step 2, Bottom Layer Corners

    • Down Face color on Front Face

    • Down Face color on Right Face

    • Down Face color on Upper Face

    • Corner Piece in the Bottom Layer

  • Step 3, Middle Layer Edges

    • Edge Piece to the Right

    • Edge Piece to the Left

  • Step 4, Last Layer Edges

    • The Line

    • The L

    • The Dot

  • Step 5, Permute the Top Layer Edges

    • Permute Three Edges Counter-Clockwise

    • Permute Three Edges Clockwise 

  • Step 6, Orient the Top Layer Corners

    • Upper Face color on the Right Face

    • Upper Face color on the Back Face

  • Step 7, Permute the Top Layer Corners

    • Permute Three Corners Counter-Clockwise

    • Permute Three Corners Clockwise

In order to understand How To Solve A 3x3x3 Rubiks Cube, you need to be familiar with the notation. If you don't know it, please read 'How to solve a Rubiks Cube' before continuing.

First a description of the algorithm will be shown, and then the movements.

For the purposes of the following tutorial, a series of colors will be chosen for the faces, you can choose others.

Keep in mind that the color of the Centre Piece determines the colour of the Face.

• Corner .. - a physical corner piece. Has three sides. There are eight corners.
• Edge .... - a physical edge piece. Has two sides. There are twelve edges.
• Face ..... - one of the sides of the cube.
• Layer .... - the cube consists of three layers (Top/Middle/Bottom).

The algorithm is divided in seven steps. In each step a series of moves are executed to solve a cubie. The series repeats (non resolved cubies) until completing the step.

The first stept is to make a Cross on the Bottom layer.

Making sure the second color on each edge piece matches the color of the center cubie on each side face.

Place the corner pieces in position on the Bottom layer.

When all the corners are in position, the Bottom layer is solved.

Place the edge pieces in position on the Middle layer.

When all the edges are in position, the Middle layer is solved.

At this point, the Bottom Layer and the Middle Layer are complete, this is known as F2L (First 2 Layers)

The first step towards solving the Last Layer, is to make a Cross on the Top Face, without caring about the other colors around the side.

If the edge pieces are not in their solved positions, the next step is to position the edge pieces correctly.

Place the corner pieces in position on the Top layer, without caring about the other colors around the side.

If the corners are not in their solved positions, the next step is to position the corners correctly.

Congratulations! You have solved the cube.

Now that you understood the method, it is time to put in practice.

Choose a color for the Down Face and a color for the Front Face: (let's take Yellow and Red)

Find in the Top Layer the Edge Piece of both colors.

There are two possible states: The Down color (Yellow) is on the Upper Face, The Down color (Yellow) is around the edges (turn the Top Layer if necessary).

Use one of the following procedures to solve the cubie:

The move [R] restores an Edge Piece that may have been removed of its place.

If the Edge Piece is in the Middle Layer or in the Bottom Layer but not solved, move it up to the Top Layer.

The move [R'] restores an Edge Piece that may have been removed of its place.

Choose another color for the Front Face and repeat the procedure until completing the cross on the Bottom Face.

Find in the Top Layer a Corner Piece with the color of the Down Face (Yellow).

Look at the other two colors of the piece (Red and Blue, for example), place the Corner Piece (turn the Top Layer) inbetween the two Center Pieces of the same colors.

There are three possible states:

If the Corner Piece is in the Bottom Layer, move it up to the Top Layer and use the above procedure.

Find in the Top Layer an Edge Piece which do not have the color of the Upper Face (White), if not see below edges trapped.

Choose a color for the Front Face (Red), turn the Top Layer to match the color of the Edge Piece with the same color of the Centre Piece.

There are two possible states:

In case of edges trapped, execute one of the procedures above to replace the trapped edge with a random edge from the Top Layer and use the above procedure.

There are three possible states: the Dot, the Line, the L.

Identify the state and apply some of the above procedures until the cross is formed.

If turning the Top Layer the color of the Edge Pieces match the color of the Centre Pieces, go to the following step, is this is not the case, try to align the Top Layer so that only one Edge Piece is solved (if not, see below).

There are two possible states:

If it not be possible to position the Top Layer so that only one edge is solved, execute one of the procedures above to get one Edge Piece on Top and then proceed the same as before.

A Corner Piece which needs to be oriented is one which does not have the Upper Face color (White).

Identify the corners that need to be oriented, it is possible to have to twist 2, 3, or 4 Corner Pieces.

Turn the Top Layer so that the Corner Piece which needs to be oriented is at the Back-Right.

There are two possible states: Upper Face color (White) on the Right Face or Upper Face color (White) on the Back Face.

After orienting the first Corner Piece the First Two Layers are scrambled.

DON'T ROTATE THE CUBE, MAINTAIN THE FRONT FACE.

Turn the Top Layer so that the next Corner Piece which needs to be oriented is at the Back-Right and then proceed the same as before.

Once you have twisted all the corners the First Two Layers will have restored itself.

Turn the Top Layer so that a Corner Piece is located in its solved position (if not, see below).

Turn the cube in your hands so that you hold it with the solved corner at the Front-Left position.

There are two possible states:

If it not be possible to locate a Corner Piece in its solved position, execute one of the above procedures to get one.

Now you know How To Solve A 3x3x3 Rubiks Cube.

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        Acknowledgement : Table Of Contents by Darkside

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