How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube – A Beginner’s Guide to Rubik’s Cube Solving

Are you fascinated by Rubik’s cube-solving strategy? You can learn the cube Rubik algorithm and become a master of this puzzle game. There are several ways you can use to solve Rubik’s Cube.

For instance, you can use layered methods on how to solve a 2×2 Rubik’s cube and other variants of the cube game. The Rubik cube 3×3 solution consists of sequences of moves known as the “cube rubik algorithm”. In this article, we will learn how to solve a Rubik’s cube for beginners and get familiar with the cube Rubik algorithm. 

Rubik’s Cube Game 

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Rubik’s Cube is a 3D combination puzzle invented in 1974 by Erno Rubik. It usually consists of a 6-sided 3x3x3 cube, where each face has nine smaller squares of a single color. It was originally known as a “magical cube”. 

The Rubik’s Cube was released worldwide in 1980 and has become quite popular, especially in modern culture. The major colors in Rubik’s Cube are red, white, blue, orange, green, and yellow. The original cube; 3x3x3 has eight layer corners and twelve edges. 

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Rubik’s Cube Game Setup

There are certain points that you must keep ready while preparing for Rubik’s Cube solving.

• Get a standard 2×2 or 4×4 Rubik’s cube or other variants you like. 
• You can mix it up thoroughly with at least 20 random moves to ensure a well-shuffled random position. 
• You must be familiar with notations in Rubik’s cube, such as R, L, U, D, F, and B, to follow Rubik’s algorithm and learn how to solve a Rubik’s cube for beginners. 
• You can start with a beginner’s approach and then slowly move towards more advanced methods to solve Rubik’s Cube. 
• You can keep a timer clock to count your progress in solving Rubik. 
• You can play on a Rubik’s Cube simulator online and compete with your friends using timers. 
• Make sure you follow World Cube Association (WCA) rules to make yourself prepared for official competitions. 
• You can get a friend to watch over your games and ensure that the complete gameplay is fair and as per the rules.

How to Solve a 3×3 Rubik’s Cube?

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To get a Rubik Cube 3×3 solution, you can follow the steps given below and arrange every piece in its correct place.

1. Start with the White Cross

Begin solving the Rubik’s cube with white edge pieces and move them to form a plus (+) shape on the white face while aligning the edge colors with the centerpiece. If the edges are in the wrong direction, you can follow these algorithms to arrange them correctly.

• F’ R’ D’ R F F (When the white edge is in the bottom layer but flipped)
• R’ D’ R F F (When white edge is in the middle layer but flipped)

2. Solve the White Corners 

Move ahead in your Rubik cube 3×3 solution by solving the four white corner pieces to complete the first layer in the game. Find a white corner piece and move it to the bottom layer, placing it right below its correct position on the top. You can use any one of these Cube Rubik’s algorithms to find the possible orientation.

• R’ D’ R (White stickers on the Right)
• F D F’ (White stickers on the Front)
• F L D D L’ F’ (White sticker facing down)

Repeat the process until all the white face is completed in the Rubik’s cube and now you know how to solve a 3×3 Rubik’s cube. 

3. Start Solving the Second Layer

As the first layer is now completed, you can start by solving the four edge pieces in the middle layer of the Rubik’s cube. You have to look for an edge piece without any yellow side in the top layer. Now, align it with the correct centerpiece to match the colors. You can use the right or left algorithm based on the position you want to choose.

• U R U’ R’ U’ F’ U F (moving to the right)
• U’ L’ U L U F U’ F’(moving to the left)

Create the Yellow Cross on Top

Now, you have to form a yellow cross or a plus shape on the top face of the cube. If the yellow pattern looks like a dot (.), then use the algorithm three times. If it is in L-shape, use the algorithm twice, or if it is in the line form, use the algorithm once. Now check the algorithm below.

F R U R’ U’ F’ is the algorithm you have to use for this phase of the Rubik cube 3×3 solution. 

4. Position the Yellow Edges Correctly 

Now, you have to move the yellow edges so that they match the center colors. You can use the swapping algorithm which is R U R’ U R U U R’ U to complete this algorithm and set the yellow edges in the right position.

5. Position the Yellow Corners Correctly

You have to move the yellow corners to the correct position. Start with finding a corner that is already in the right position, hold it in the right front top corner, and use the algorithm U R U’ L’ U R’ U’ L to apply this algorithm. You might need to repeat the algorithm twice if the corners are not positioned correctly.

6. Orient the Yellow Corners

The only thing left in your Rubik Cube 3×3 solution is to rotate the yellow corners and find the right position to solve the cube. You have to perform this algorithm, which is R’ D’ R D, multiple times if needed to complete the final step. The cube might look scrambled but do not worry. It will fix itself on its own in the end. 

How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube? [2×2]

People often get stuck in the middle while solving the Rubik’s Cube. The gameplay of a 2×2 Rubik’s cube is very similar to 2×3. Here’s how to solve a 2×2 Rubik’s Cube. 

1. Learn Cube Notations

You must be familiar with the Notations of Rubik’s Cube solving to help you learn and memorize your moves in the game easily. Some of the popular moves used in the Rubik game are Right, Left, Up, Down, front, and back. 

Also, there are two possible directions of movement: clockwise and anticlockwise. Learn all these notations to follow cube Rubik’s algorithm easily in the game.

2. Solve the First Layer [White Cross]

Follow the given steps to get through the first layer phase of the Rubik’s game. 

• Find a white corner piece and place it correctly relative to the other white pieces. 
• If your white piece is not at the bottom front right top corner, move the cube to the position.
• You can follow the Cube Rubik’s algorithm and move repeatedly until the white sticker comes up. The moves go as R’, D’, R and D. 
• You have to repeat all four white corners until you get a complete white layer with correctly aligned sides. 

3. Orient the Last Rubik’s Cube Layer [Make Yellow Face]

Once you position the white layer in this phase, make the yellow pieces face up correctly. 

• You will need to rotate them so that yellow stickers come up. 
• You can use the following algorithmic moves: R U R’ U R U U R’.
• Repeat the following moves until all yellow-colored cubicles face up.
• You might need to repeat the moves 1-3 times or even more based on the position. 

4. Correct the Last Layer [Position Yellow Pieces]

Now, as the yellow stickers on the cube are facing up, there might be some pieces that are still in the wrong place. We have to swap these pieces using the cube Rubik’s algorithm. You can either choose one of the two moves based on the position of the two corners. 

If they are diagonal, then use F F U L R’ F F L’ R U F F; otherwise, you can use U R U’ L’ U R’ U’ L. Repeat the moves until the pieces are in the correct position. If you followed all moves correctly then the Rubik’s cube will now be solved. 

How to Solve a Rubik’s Cube? [4×4]

You can learn how to solve a Rubik’s cube 4×4 using the reduction method and then follow the steps in Rubik’s cube 3×3 to find the solution. 

1. Start with the Center Pieces 

You have to start by solving the centerpieces to form 2×2 center blocks for all six colors in the whole cube. Identify the four centerpieces of the same color and group them into a 2×2 square. 

Start with the white center and then solve the yellow center on the opposite side. Solve the remaining four centers using the given algorithm below.

• R U R’ (move a centerpiece up without disturbing the solved centers)
• R U U R’ U R U U R’ (Fix the misplaced center by swapping)

After this, you will get all your center positions in the Rubik’s cube solved.

2. Pair the Edge Pieces 

You have to pair the 24-edged pieces into 12 matching edge pairs in the Rubik’s cube. You can use the Edge pairing algorithm to bring them together.

• R U R’ F R’ F’ R ( move an edge piece into place without affecting the centers)
• R U R’ U’ R’ F R F’ (use if two edge pieces are flipped incorrectly)

3. Repeat the Steps of Rubik’s 3×3 Solving

All you have to do now is to follow the steps given to solve a 3×3 Rubik’s cube and solve this 4×4 Rubik’s cube easily. Take care of some parity errors that you might encounter during Rubik’s cube 3×3 solving such as OLL parity where the yellow cross is incorrect, you can use the algorithm R U U L F F L’ F F R R U U R U U R’ U U F F R R F F. 

In case of a PLL parity error where the two pieces need swapping, you can use the algorithm U U2 L2 U2 L2 U U2 L2 U2 R U’ L U2 R’ U L’ U to get a fully solved Rubik’s Cube.

Smart Tips to Solve a Rubik’s Cube 

It is very essential to be familiar with some of the strategies while attempting to solve a Rubik’s cube or while following an algorithm. Let us know a few points that we must follow to learn how to solve a Rubik’s cube.

• Make sure you are familiar with the notations and directions of the Rubik’s Cube used in algorithms and follow-ups.
• You must start with the white cross to get the results in a sequential order. 
• Make sure you avoid random moves in the game and place all pieces strategically in the game.
• Solve one layer at a time, and do not attempt to mix all layers while solving, as it might mess up the process.
• Make sure you learn some of the key algorithms to solving Rubik’s Cube.
• Try finger tricks to solve Rubik’s cube in minimum cube rotations. 
• Make sure you practice all methods carefully and frequently to learn how to solve a Rubik’s cube easily.

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FAQs

How can we solve Rubik’s cube in 6 moves?

You can follow the given steps to learn how to solve a Rubik’s cube.

• Form a white cross in the cube
• Align the white corners correctly
• Complete the second layer
• Get the yellow cross well-oriented
• Solve the yellow edges and corners
• Complete the Yellowface.
• Finish the last stage by orienting yellow corners

What are the formulas to solve a Rubik’s cube?

Some of the famous formulas for solving a Rubik’s Cube are the reducing method, layer-by-layer method, the Fridrich method, and more. 

Which is the easiest cube-solving method?

The beginner’s method is the easiest method of solving a Rubik’s cube, which focuses on building a white cross first and then placing the white corners, followed by solving the second layer and finishing the top layer by solving the yellow cross and edges. This is a very simple method to solve a Rubik’s Cube, especially for someone who is just starting to learn.

What are the 7 steps to solving a Rubik’s cube?

The seven steps for Rubik’s Cube solving are mentioned below.

1. Make the white cross
2. Solve white corners
3. Solve the middle layers 
4. Form the yellow Cross
5. Position yellow edges
6. Position yellow corners
7. Orient Yellow Corners

How to solve 3 into 3 cube in 7 steps?

You can solve a 3×3 cube by following the easy steps below.

• Make the white cross
• Solve the white corners in the cube
• Solve the middle layers
• Form the yellow cross
• Position the yellow edges
• Position the yellow corners
• Orient yellow corners

How to solve a 3×3 Rubik’s cube in 2 moves?

It is very tough to solve a Rubik’s cube in 2 moves unless the positions are somehow arranged in your favor. You can keep repeating the R U moves clockwise to get the possible solution and solve the cube in only 2 moves. 

What is the fastest method to solve a Rubik’s cube 3×3?

The popular method which is also known as CFOP (Cross First Two Layers is one of the fastest methods to solve a Rubik’s Cube 3×3. This method is also known as the Fridrich Method of Rubik’s cube solving.

What is the algorithm to solve a Rubik’s cube?

There are many algorithms to solve a Rubik’s cube easily, such as Layer by Layer, CFOP, Roux, ZZ, and other methods that can be used to solve a Rubik’s cube easily.

Is there a sequence to solve a Rubik’s cube?

Yes, there is a defined sequence that you can use to solve a Rubik’s Cube easily. You have to start with the cross and then move to the corners. You will then change the layer and then again follow the same sequence to solve a Rubik’s cube. 

What is the formula of 2 by 2 cube?

The Rubik’s 2×2 Cube follows the same approach as the other methods. You can use the layer-by-layer method and start by solving the face, corners, and edges of every color in sequential steps to get to the solution easily.

Is 2×2 Rubik’s easy?

This variant of the Rubik’s cube, also known as a pocket cube, might seem like an easier version; however, it is not exactly the same. You will need to form a strategy and follow the rules to get to the solution of a Rubik’s cube.

How to solve Rubik’s cube easily for beginners?

A beginner can follow the layer-by-layer method to learn how to solve a Rubik’s cube easily. You have to start with the cross and then turn the cube towards the corners in an easy layer-by-layer sequence.