Below is a beginner-friendly “layer-by-layer” method (often called the beginner method) that solves a 3×3 Rubik’s Cube from any scramble. It’s designed to be memorizable and based on repeating a few short move sequences (“algorithms”).

I’ll describe moves in plain words (e.g., “turn the right face clockwise”). I’ll also include standard notation in parentheses as a backup, but you can ignore it if you want.

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Before you start: language + setup

Face names (when you hold the cube)

Hold the cube so the face you’re working on is in front of you.

• Up = top
• Down = bottom
• Front = facing you
• Back = away from you
• Right = right side
• Left = left side

“Clockwise” means

Clockwise as you look directly at that face.

Example: “Turn the right face clockwise” means rotate the right side the way a clock’s hands would move if you were staring at the right face.

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Overview of the beginner method (7 stages)

1. Make a cross on the first layer (usually white)
2. Solve first-layer corners
3. Solve middle-layer edges
4. Make a cross on the last layer (yellow cross)
5. Orient last-layer corners (make the whole top face yellow)
6. Permute last-layer corners (put corners in correct spots)
7. Permute last-layer edges (finish the cube)

I’ll assume white is your first layer and yellow is the last layer (common convention). You can choose another color, but stick to one for learning.

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Step 1) Make the white cross (edges)

Goal

On the white face, make a plus sign (4 white edge pieces), and also match the side colors with the center pieces (so it’s a “proper” cross).

How (beginner approach)

1. Find an edge piece with white + another color (e.g., white-red).
2. Bring that edge to the top layer (the Up face) if it isn’t already.
3. Rotate the top layer until the non-white color matches its center (e.g., red side matches red center).
4. Insert it into the white face:
   • If white is on the top, turn the matching face twice (e.g., “turn the red face 180°”) to drop it into the bottom/white cross.
   • If white is on the side, you may need to move it around with simple turns until it can be dropped correctly.

Repeat for all 4 edges.

Why this works

Edges can be moved around without “committing” to corner placement yet. You’re building a framework that makes later steps much easier.

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Step 2) Solve the white corners (finish first layer)

Goal

Complete the entire white layer (white face solved + side colors lined up).

Key idea

Work one corner at a time. Put the corner you want into the top layer above its target spot, then use a short repeatable sequence to insert it.

The insertion move (Right-side version)

Hold cube so the corner’s target slot is at the front-right of the bottom layer.

Do this sequence:

1. Turn the right face up
2. Turn the top face left
3. Turn the right face down
4. Turn the top face right

(Notation: R U' R' U)

There’s also a left-side mirror if you prefer:

1. Turn the left face up
2. Turn the top face right
3. Turn the left face down
4. Turn the top face left

(Notation: L' U L U')

Step-by-step

1. Find a corner with white + two side colors (e.g., white-red-blue).
2. Bring it to the top layer (if it’s stuck in the bottom incorrectly, do the insertion move once to “kick it out”).
3. Rotate the top layer so the corner is above the correct location (between the two matching side centers).
4. If the corner’s white sticker is:
   • On the side: use the right-side insertion (or left-side mirror) once or twice.
   • On top: you’ll typically need to do the insertion sequence multiple times until white ends up on the bottom.

Repeat for all 4 corners.

Why this works

That 4-move sequence is a controlled “mini-cycle”: it temporarily moves a few pieces but returns the already-solved cross and other solved parts back to normal after the sequence completes. You’re inserting one corner while largely preserving what’s solved.

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Step 3) Solve the middle layer edges

Goal

Solve the 4 edge pieces in the middle layer (no yellow involved).

What you look for

On the top layer, find an edge piece that has no yellow on it.

Align it so the front color matches the front center.

Then decide: does the edge need to go to the right slot or left slot?

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Algorithm A: Insert edge to the right

With the edge at the top-front, and it should go into the front-right middle slot:

1. Turn the top face left
2. Turn the right face up
3. Turn the top face right
4. Turn the right face down
5. Turn the top face right
6. Turn the front face clockwise
7. Turn the top face left
8. Turn the front face counterclockwise

(Notation: U' R U R' U F U' F')

Algorithm B: Insert edge to the left

Edge at top-front, should go into front-left middle slot:

1. Turn the top face right
2. Turn the left face up
3. Turn the top face left
4. Turn the left face down
5. Turn the top face left
6. Turn the front face counterclockwise
7. Turn the top face right
8. Turn the front face clockwise

(Notation: U L' U' L U' F' U F)

If no top edges qualify

Sometimes all top edges have yellow. That means a middle edge is misplaced. Do either insert algorithm on that wrong edge to pop it out to the top, then insert correctly.

Why this works

These sequences are designed to:

• take a top edge,
• open the middle slot briefly,
• slide the edge into place,
• and restore the first layer.

They’re longer, but very consistent once memorized.

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Step 4) Make a yellow cross on top

Now hold the cube with yellow on top (white on bottom).

Goal

Make a yellow plus sign on the top face (only edges matter here).

The “yellow cross” algorithm

1. Turn the front face clockwise
2. Turn the right face up
3. Turn the top face left
4. Turn the right face down
5. Turn the top face right
6. Turn the front face counterclockwise

(Notation: F R U' R' U F')

What shape you have & how to hold it

On the yellow face you’ll see one of:

• Dot (no yellow edges oriented) → do the algorithm once (becomes line or L), then continue
• L-shape (two adjacent yellow edges) → hold the L in the top-left corner area (like an “L” at the upper-left), do algorithm
• Line (two opposite yellow edges) → hold the line horizontal, do algorithm
• Cross → done with this step

Why this works

This algorithm flips edge orientations on the top without wrecking the solved layers below. It changes the “orientation” of top edges while keeping their positions mostly manageable.

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Step 5) Make the entire top face yellow (orient corners)

Goal

All yellow stickers face up (top becomes solid yellow). Corners might still be in wrong locations—don’t worry yet.

Corner-orientation algorithm

1. Turn the right face up
2. Turn the top face left
3. Turn the right face down
4. Turn the top face left
5. Turn the right face up
6. Turn the top face left
7. Turn the top face left (i.e., turn top 180°)
8. Turn the right face down

(Notation: R U' R' U' R U' U' R' — commonly written as R U R' U R U2 R' but with U direction conventions; follow the words.)

How to use it

1. Keep yellow on top.
2. Look at the top corners: some will have yellow on the side.
3. Pick a corner at the front-right top that needs yellow to face up.
4. Do the algorithm; it will rotate corner orientations.
5. Turn only the top face to bring another unsolved corner into front-right, repeat until top is all yellow.

Why this works

This sequence is a corner-twisting routine that changes corner orientations while keeping most of the cube intact. It may look like it “messes up” the cube mid-way, but after completing it, the lower layers return.

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Step 6) Put the yellow corners in the correct places (permute corners)

Goal

Corners are in the right locations (even if you already oriented them, they might be swapped).

What to check

Look at the side colors of the top corners. Each corner should match the two side centers it touches.

You might have:

• All corners correct → go to Step 7
• One corner correct → good, use it as an anchor
• No corners correct → do the algorithm once to get one correct, then proceed

Corner-swap algorithm

1. Turn the right face up
2. Turn the top face right
3. Turn the right face down
4. Turn the top face left
5. Turn the right face up
6. Turn the top face right
7. Turn the left face up
8. Turn the top face right
9. Turn the right face down
10. Turn the top face left
11. Turn the left face down

(Notation: R U R' U' R U L' U R' U' L)

How to apply

• If you have one correct corner, hold it at front-right on the top layer, then do the algorithm. Repeat until all corners are positioned correctly.

Why this works

This is a permutation algorithm: it cycles corner pieces among positions while preserving their orientations (mostly) and keeping earlier layers solved.

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Step 7) Finish by solving the yellow edges (permute edges)

Goal

The final step: move the top edges around until all side colors match and the cube is solved.

Check what you have

Look at the top layer edges (not corners). You might see:

• One face already has a complete matching top row (its top edge matches that face’s center) → great
• Or none match → do the algorithm once to create a match

Edge-cycle algorithm (clockwise cycle)

Hold the cube so the face with the correct top row (if any) is at the back.

Then do:

1. Turn the right face up
2. Turn the top face right
3. Turn the right face down
4. Turn the top face right
5. Turn the right face up
6. Turn the top face right
7. Turn the top face right (top 180°)
8. Turn the right face down
9. Turn the top face right

(Notation: R U R' U R U2 R' U)

If edges need to cycle the other direction, you can do this algorithm twice (often fixes it), or learn the counterclockwise variant later.

Why this works

This cycles the last-layer edges while keeping everything else solved—essentially the final “rearrangement” to match all sides.

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How to memorize this method (practical tips)

• Memorize by purpose, not letters:
  • “Insert right corner”
  • “Insert middle edge right”
  • “Make yellow cross”
  • “Fix yellow corners orientation”
  • “Swap corners”
  • “Swap edges”
• Practice each algorithm until your hands can do it without thinking.
• When something looks “ruined,” finish the algorithm—most are designed to restore earlier work at the end.

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If you want, I can tailor this to you

If you tell me:

1. which color you want as your first layer, and
2. whether you’re comfortable with basic notation (R, U, etc.),
   I can rewrite the algorithms in even more consistent plain-language sequences and help you drill them with a simple practice plan.