One motion · four of the eight steps
The Trigger
Four moves that come as a set. Learn them here, on a cube with nothing to solve, and you have already learned most of what steps 3, 4, 5 and 8 ask of you.
Drill it
The drill runs the trigger slowly, then faster, then mirrored for the other hand (L′ U′ L U). It starts on a solved cube and ends on one: six full sets always bring the cube back to exactly where it started, so there is nothing here you can break, and nothing to undo before you carry on.
Say the beats out loud while you watch — R, U, R′, U′ — and never stop in the middle of a set. Looking halfway through is how the cube looks wrecked; every full set puts it back.
Where it comes back
Four of the eight beginner steps are built on this one motion. The moves change shape; the rhythm in your hands does not.
First-Layer Corners
Forwards, as taught: R U R' U', run 1, 3 or 5 times until a white corner drops into its slot. This is where you learn it.
Second-Layer Edges
Backwards. U R U' R' is the trigger started one move later, and U' F' U F is that same shape mirrored onto the front face. Both insertions are two triggers back to back.
Yellow Cross
Wrapped. F R U R' U' F' is an F, your trigger untouched, then the F undone. Only one of the six moves is new.
Yellow Corners — Orient
Upside down. R' D' R D is the trigger reflected top to bottom: every R becomes R', every U becomes D'. Same shape, bottom layer.