From Jumble to Genius: Solving a Cube Made Simple

The Rubik’s Cube is one of the most iconic and challenging puzzles around. For many, it may seem impossible at first glance, but with the right strategy and guidance, you can quickly learn how to solve cube puzzles. It doesn’t require genius-level intelligence, just a bit of patience, understanding, and practice. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll take you through the simplest method of solving the Rubik’s Cube so you can go from a jumble of colors to a perfectly solved cube.

Understanding the Rubik’s Cube

Before we start solving, let’s break down the structure of the Rubik’s Cube.

• Centers: Each of the six faces has a center piece. The color of the center piece defines the color of that face.
• Edges: The edge pieces connect two centers. Each edge has two colors.
• Corners: These pieces connect three faces and have three colors.

The goal is to make each face one solid color, with the edge and corner pieces aligned to match the center pieces on each face. Sounds tricky? Don’t worry! We’ll make it simple.

The Layer-by-Layer Method

The most beginner-friendly approach to learning how to solve cube puzzles is the layer-by-layer method. This method solves the cube one layer at a time, starting with the white face, moving to the middle layer, and finally solving the top layer.

Let’s break it down into easy-to-follow steps.

Step 1: Solve the White Cross

The first step is creating a white cross on the top layer of the cube. Here’s how to do it:

1. Start with the white center: Choose the face with the white center. This will be the top face throughout the first part of the solution.
2. Position the edge pieces: The goal is to position the four white edge pieces around the white center piece, creating a cross. But you also need to make sure that the color on the other side of each white edge matches the color of the center on the adjacent face (e.g., if the edge piece has white and blue, the blue side should align with the blue center).

   Rotate the sides and edges until all the white edge pieces are correctly placed, forming a white cross.

Tip: Don’t worry if the corner pieces aren’t solved yet. We’ll handle those next.

Step 2: Solve the White Corners

Now that you have the white cross, it’s time to fill in the white corner pieces to complete the first layer.

1. Find the white corner pieces: Look for corner pieces in the bottom layer that have white on them. These pieces also have two other colors that must match the adjacent center pieces once they’re correctly placed.
2. Move the corners into place: Rotate the cube so that the white corner piece you’re working on is directly beneath where it should go in the top layer. Then, use this simple algorithm to move it into the correct position:

   R’ D’ R D

   Repeat this move until the corner is in place. The white should now be on top, and the other two colors should match the sides.

3. Repeat for all corners: Continue finding and placing all four white corners. By the end of this step, you should have a completely white face, and the first layer will be correctly aligned with the centers on all adjacent sides.

Step 3: Solve the Middle Layer Edges

Now that the first layer is done, you need to solve the middle layer. This involves placing the edge pieces in the correct positions between the first and top layers.

1. Identify the edge pieces: Look for edge pieces in the bottom layer that don’t contain yellow. These are the pieces that need to move into the middle layer.
2. Align the edges: Depending on whether the edge piece needs to move to the right or the left, use one of these two algorithms:
   • If the edge needs to go to the right:
     U R U’ R’ U’ F’ U F
   • If the edge needs to go to the left:
     U’ L’ U L U F U’ F’

   Continue repeating these algorithms until all four edge pieces are correctly placed in the middle layer. By the end of this step, you should have the first two layers of the cube completely solved.

Step 4: Create the Yellow Cross

Now, let’s move to the top layer (the yellow face). The goal is to create a yellow cross, just like we did with the white cross at the beginning.

1. Check the yellow face: You’ll see one of the following:
   • A yellow dot (no edges),
   • A yellow “L” shape,
   • A yellow line,
   • Or a full yellow cross.
2. Use the algorithm: To form the yellow cross, you’ll use this algorithm:

   F R U R’ U’ F’

   If you have a yellow “L” shape, make sure it’s in the top-left corner. Repeat the algorithm until you form the yellow cross.

Note: At this point, don’t worry about the yellow corners. We’ll handle those in the next step.

Step 5: Position the Yellow Corners

Now that we have the yellow cross, we need to position the yellow corners so that they’re in the right place.

1. Look for correct corners: Check if any of the yellow corners are already in the correct position. A corner is correct if the other two colors on that piece match the center colors of the adjacent faces.
2. Use the algorithm: If you find one or more correctly placed corners, hold the cube so that one of these corners is in the front-right position. Then, use this algorithm to cycle the other corners into place:

   U R U’ L’ U R’ U’ L

   Repeat this algorithm until all the yellow corners are positioned correctly, even if they aren’t yet oriented with the yellow on top.

Step 6: Orient the Yellow Corners

Once the yellow corners are in the right positions, the next step is to orient them so that the yellow face is fully solved.

1. Use the algorithm: Hold the cube with one misaligned yellow corner in the front-right position. Then, use this algorithm to rotate that corner until the yellow side is on top:

   R’ D’ R D

   Keep repeating this move until the corner is correctly oriented, with the yellow on top. Don’t rotate the whole cube—just the top layer to position the next unsolved yellow corner in the front-right position, and repeat the process.

2. Repeat for all corners: After all four corners are oriented, you should have a fully solved yellow face!

Step 7: Solve the Final Layer Edges

The final step in how to solve cube is to correctly position the edge pieces on the top layer.

1. Check the edges: If any edges are out of place, use the following algorithm to swap them until they’re in the correct positions:

   U R U’ L’ U R’ U’ L

   Repeat the algorithm as needed until all edges are correctly aligned.

By the end of this step, your cube should be fully solved!

Practice Makes Perfect

Congratulations! You’ve learned how to solve cube puzzles using the layer-by-layer method. This beginner-friendly technique makes solving the Rubik’s Cube easy by breaking it down into manageable steps. However, to get faster and more efficient at solving, practice is key.

Here are a few tips to improve your solving skills:

• Master the algorithms: The more you practice the algorithms, the more automatic they’ll become.
• Learn finger tricks: Speedcubers use quick finger movements, called “finger tricks,” to make cube turns faster and smoother.
• Challenge yourself: After you’ve mastered the beginner method, you can explore advanced techniques like the CFOP method (Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL) to reduce your solve time.

Conclusion

Solving the Rubik’s Cube may seem overwhelming at first, but with the right steps and some practice, anyone can do it. This guide has shown you how to solve cube puzzles in a simple and structured way. By following the layer-by-layer method, you can break down the puzzle into smaller tasks and solve the cube one step at a time.

Now that you’ve completed your first solve, keep practicing! The more you practice, the faster you’ll get. Who knows, you might even start solving the cube in under a minute. Happy cubing!