Your first solve, step by step
How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube — Beginner Method
A standard 3×3 Rubik’s cube has six faces, each a different colour, made of centre, edge and corner pieces. The centres never move relative to one another, so each centre defines the final colour of its face — they are your fixed reference points. Solving the cube means getting every edge and corner home around those centres.
This guide uses the beginner layer-by-layer (LBL) method: you build the cube one layer at a time — first layer, middle layer, then the yellow top — using a small set of short, memorable algorithms. It starts with the daisy, the friendly warm-up almost every modern tutorial uses before the white cross. Every step lives on its own page with a 3D demonstration; work through them in order.
A quick word on notation
Algorithms are written with single letters for each face: R (right), L (left), U (up), D (down), F (front) and B (back). A plain letter means turn that face 90° clockwise; a letter followed by an apostrophe (like R′) means counter-clockwise; and a letter with a 2 means a half (180°) turn.
If any of this feels unfamiliar, read the full move-notation primer first — it takes two minutes and makes every algorithm readable.
The eight steps
Hold the cube with the yellow centre on top to begin — you’ll build the white layer on the bottom, then the middle layer, and finish with the yellow top. Each step opens on its own page:
The Daisy
Put the four white edges around the yellow centre — a white "daisy" that sets up the whole white cross.
White Cross
Drop each daisy petal down with a double turn to build the white cross — every edge matched with its side centre.
First-Layer Corners
Fill in the four white corners with the sexy move (R U R′ U′) to complete the first layer.
Second-Layer Edges
Place the middle-layer edges in their correct positions using the left and right insertion triggers.
Yellow Cross
Turn the top edges yellow-side-up with F R U R′ U′ F′ — dot, L, line, cross.
Yellow Edges
Cycle the yellow cross edges around until each side colour matches its centre — with the Sune trigger.
Yellow Corners — Position
Move the yellow corners into their correct slots — twisted is fine — with U R U′ L′ U R′ U′ L.
Yellow Corners — Orient
Twist each yellow corner in place with the repeated R′ D′ R D sequence — and the cube is solved.