You’ve probably seen one sitting on a shelf, dusty and scrambled, mocking you. Maybe you tried to peel the stickers off once. Most people do. But honestly, learning how to solve rubiks cube 3x3 isn't about being a math genius or having some sort of superhuman spatial awareness. It’s basically just muscle memory and knowing which patterns to look for.
The 3x3 cube, invented by Ernő Rubik in 1974, has over 43 quintillion possible configurations. That sounds terrifying. Yet, if you follow the "Layer-by-Layer" method, you only need to memorize about five or six short sequences of moves.
I’ve seen kids do this in ten seconds. I’ve seen adults struggle for ten years. The difference is usually just patience and a decent cube that doesn't lock up every time you try to turn a face.
Getting Your Bearings: The Anatomy of the Cube
Before you start spinning things wildly, look at the centers. This is the most important rule: the center pieces never move. The white center is always opposite the yellow center. Blue is opposite green. Red is opposite orange. If you have a cube where red is next to orange, you’ve got a weird knock-off or someone swapped the stickers.
There are three types of pieces. Centers have one color. Edges have two. Corners have three. You can't move an edge piece into a corner slot. It just doesn't happen.
We use a specific shorthand to describe moves. It’s called Singmaster notation. R means turn the right face clockwise. R' (pronounced R-prime) means turn it counter-clockwise. U is the top layer (Up). L is Left. F is Front. D is Down. B is Back. If you see a "2" after a letter, like U2, you just turn that face twice. It’s simple, but you gotta get used to the perspective. Clockwise means as if you were looking directly at that face.
Step One: The White Cross
Most people start with the white side. It’s tradition. Your goal here is to create a cross shape on the top, but there’s a catch that trips everyone up. The edge pieces of the white cross must also match the side center pieces.
If you have a white-green edge piece, the white side needs to touch the white center, and the green side needs to touch the green center. If you just make a white cross without checking the sides, you’ve basically just built a house on a crooked foundation. You’ll have to redo it later.
Don't overthink this part. It’s intuitive. Just get those four edges into place. If an edge is flipped the wrong way, move it to the side, rotate the front, and bring it back up.
Solving the First Layer
Now you need the corners. Flip the cube over so the white cross is on the bottom. It’s easier to see what you’re doing this way. Look for a corner piece in the top layer that has white on it.
Let's say you find the white-red-blue corner. Rotate the top layer until that corner is directly above the spot where it needs to go (between the red and blue centers).
Now, you use the most famous algorithm in cubing. It’s often called the "Sexy Move" by speedcubers, though that's a bit of a weird name for a puzzle move. It’s just four turns: R U R' U'.
Repeat that sequence. One time, three times, maybe five. Eventually, that corner will drop into place with the white side facing down. Do this for all four corners. When you’re done, the entire bottom layer should be white, and you should see little "T" shapes on every side color.
The Middle Layer: No More White
This is where it starts feeling like magic. You’re going to slot edge pieces into the middle layer without messing up the white bottom you just finished.
Find an edge piece in the top layer that doesn’t have any yellow on it. If it has yellow, it belongs on the very top. Let's find the orange-blue edge. Rotate the top (U) until the color facing you matches its center.
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If the piece needs to go to the right, use this: U R U' R' U' F' U F.
If it needs to go to the left, use this: U' L' U L U F U' F'.
It looks like a lot of letters. It isn't. Your hands will learn the rhythm. You’re basically "hiding" the piece, bringing the slot up to meet it, and then tucking them both back down. Honestly, once you do it ten times, you won't even think about the letters anymore.
The Yellow Cross (The Top Surface)
Now we focus on the yellow side. You might have just a yellow center, an "L" shape, a horizontal line, or the cross might already be there.
If you have the "L" shape (ignore the corners for a second), hold the cube so the "L" is in the back-left corner. If you have a line, hold it horizontally. Then perform: F R U R' U' F'.
If you only had the dot, do it once to get the L, then again to get the line, then again to get the cross. It’s the same move every time. Consistency is your best friend here.
Aligning the Yellow Edges
You have a yellow cross, but the edges probably don't match the side colors yet. Spin the top layer until two of the edges match their side centers.
If the two matching edges are opposite each other, do the following move from any side. If they are adjacent (next to each other), hold the cube so one matching side is at the back and the other is on the right.
The Move: R U R' U R U2 R'.
This is called the Sune algorithm. It’s a staple in speedcubing. After you do it, you might need one more U turn to align everything. Now the cross is perfect.
Positioning the Corners
We are so close. Look at the four top corners. Are they in the right place? They don't have to be turned the right way (yellow facing up), they just need to be in the right "neighborhood." For example, the yellow-green-red corner should be sitting between the yellow, green, and red centers.
If none are in the right place, do this: U R U' L' U R' U' L.
If one is correct, hold the cube so that correct corner is in the front-right position and do the move again. You might have to do it twice. Eventually, all corners will be in their correct homes.
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The Final Stretch: Don't Panic
This is where 90% of people fail. They get nervous and mess up the whole cube right at the finish line.
Hold the cube so one of the "messed up" corners is in the front-right. We are going back to the first algorithm: R' D' R D.
Yes, it will look like you are destroying the bottom of the cube. Do not stop. Keep doing R' D' R D until the yellow side of that corner is facing up.
CRITICAL: Once that corner is fixed, do NOT rotate the whole cube. Only rotate the top layer (U) to bring the next messy corner into the front-right spot. Repeat R' D' R D until that one is fixed too.
Once the last corner snaps into place, the rest of the cube will magically realign itself with one or two final turns. You’re done. You solved it.
Real Talk: Why You’re Still Stuck
If you followed this and your cube is still a mess, there are usually three reasons. First, you might have skipped the "D" move at the very end of the R' D' R D sequence. It’s a common trap. You see the yellow piece move into place and you think you're done, but you must complete that final D turn.
Second, your cube might be "unsolvable." If a kid ever took the cube apart and put it back together randomly, or if a corner piece got physically twisted by hand, the math of the cube breaks. You can't solve a single twisted corner using algorithms. You literally have to twist it back by force or take the cube apart.
Third, the hardware matters. If you’re using a 1980s original Rubik's brand, it’s like trying to drive a tractor in a Formula 1 race. Modern "speedcubes" from brands like MoYu, GAN, or QiYi use magnets and rounded internal pieces. They cost about $10-$15 and make the process 100% more enjoyable because they don't catch or jam.
Beyond the Basics
Once you've mastered the Layer-by-Layer method, you'll probably get your time down to about two minutes. If you want to go faster, you’ll eventually look into the CFOP method (Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL). That involves learning about 78 different algorithms, which sounds insane, but it's how the pros get sub-10-second times.
For now, just focus on the muscle memory. Keep the cube at your desk. Fiddle with it while you’re on a call. The goal isn't just to solve it once; it's to get to the point where your fingers know what to do before your brain does.
Practical Next Steps
- Check your cube's tension: If it's too tight, use a screwdriver to loosen the screws under the center caps slightly. It makes turning way smoother.
- Learn the "Sexy Move" (R U R' U') by heart: Do it six times in a row on a solved cube. If you do it correctly, the cube will return to a solved state. It’s the best way to practice.
- Buy a speedcube: If you’re still using a stiff, non-magnetic cube, spend the $10 on a MoYu RS3M. It’s the industry standard for beginners and will save your wrists from strain.
- Download a timer app: Use something like CSTimer or a mobile equivalent. Tracking your progress is the fastest way to stay motivated.
- Don't peel the stickers: Seriously. It ruins the cube and everyone knows you cheated. Just learn the R' D' R D. You've got this.
By focusing on one layer at a time and not panicking during the final step, anyone can solve the 3x3. It’s a closed system—the logic never changes. Once the patterns click, you’ll wonder why you ever thought it was impossible.