You’ve probably seen some kid on YouTube or TikTok. Their hands are a literal blur. The cube clicks and clacks, and in five seconds, it’s done. Honestly? That’s not where you start. If you try to learn those "advanced" tricks right away, you’re going to get frustrated and throw the cube across the room. I’ve seen it happen. People think they need to memorize a hundred algorithms to solve a 3x3. They don't. You actually only need a handful of moves to master the Rubik's cube beginner method, and most of it is just recognizing patterns.
The Rubik’s Cube isn't just a toy; it’s a math problem you can hold. Erno Rubik, the guy who invented it in 1974, didn't even know if it could be solved when he first built it. It took him a month to figure it out. Today, we have the "Layer-by-Layer" approach. It’s the gold standard for anyone who just wants to see all six sides match without losing their mind.
What most people get wrong about the Rubik's cube beginner method
Most beginners try to solve one face at a time. They get the white side done and feel like a genius. Then they realize that while the white side is solid, the edges don’t match the side centers.
That’s a dead end.
You aren't solving "sides." You're solving layers. Think of the cube like a three-story building. You build the foundation (the first layer), then the walls (the second layer), and finally the roof (the third layer). If you keep thinking in "faces," you’ll never get past the first step. The Rubik's cube beginner method works because it preserves what you’ve already finished while you work on the messy parts.
It’s also about the hardware. If you’re using an original brand Rubik’s Cube from 1995 that you found in your attic, stop. Those things are "wrist-breakers." They don't turn well. Go get a cheap "speed cube" from MoYu or QiYi. Even their $5 entry-level models move like butter compared to the old-school ones. It makes learning the muscle memory ten times easier.
First, learn the language of the cube
Before you can move, you have to talk the talk. Cubing uses a notation system. It looks like code, but it’s basically just shorthand for "which side do I turn?"
- R means turn the Right side clockwise.
- L means Left side clockwise.
- U is the Up (top) face.
- F is the Front face.
If there’s an apostrophe (like R'), that means "prime" or counter-clockwise. If you see a 2 (like U2), you turn it twice. That’s it. You don't need a PhD. You just need to know which way is clockwise. A good tip is to look at the face you’re turning as if you’re facing it directly. Clockwise is always "to the right" in that perspective.
The White Cross: Your first real hurdle
Everyone starts with the white cross. Why white? No reason, really. It’s just tradition. You want to form a cross shape around the white center piece. But—and this is the part everyone messes up—the edges of that cross must match the color of the center pieces on the sides. If the white-green edge is next to the red center, you’ve failed.
This part is mostly intuitive. You don't really need algorithms here. You just move pieces until they line up. It feels clumsy at first. You’ll move one piece and knock another out of place. It’s fine. Just keep at it until those four white edges are tucked around the white center like a little star.
Finishing the first floor
Once the cross is done, you flip the cube over. White stays on the bottom. Now you’re looking for the white corner pieces. This is where the Rubik's cube beginner method introduces your first real "algorithm."
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It’s called the Righty-Alg. It’s four moves: R U R' U'.
You’ll use this for the rest of your life. Seriously. To put a corner in, you line it up above where it needs to go and repeat those four moves until the corner drops into place facing the right way. Sometimes you do it once. Sometimes you do it five times. It’s like magic. Once you have all four corners, the bottom "story" of your building is complete.
The second layer is where people quit
The middle layer only has four edge pieces. Since the center pieces are fixed (did you know the centers never move?), you just need to slot the edges in between them.
This requires a slightly longer sequence. You’re basically moving the piece away from where it needs to go, doing a version of that Righty-Alg, flipping the cube, and doing a "Lefty-Alg" (L' U' L U).
It feels counter-intuitive. Why move it away? Because you’re "marrying" the edge piece to a corner piece and then dropping them down together as a couple. If you try to just shove the edge in there, you’ll blow up the white base you just worked so hard to build. Don’t be a hero. Follow the sequence.
The yellow roof: The final boss
Now you’re at the top. This is the most "mathy" part of the Rubik's cube beginner method. You have to get a yellow cross, then orient the corners, then put the corners in the right spots, and finally fix the edges.
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- The Yellow Cross: You might have a "dot," an "L-shape," or a "line." You use the move F (R U R' U') F' to cycle through these until you have a cross.
- Sune: This is a classic algorithm (R U R' U R U2 R') used to get all the yellow facing up. It’s fun to say. "Sune." Sounds like "soon-eh."
- The Final Swap: This is where most people mess up and have to start over. You use a long sequence to swap the corners so they match the side colors.
If you mess up a single turn here, the whole cube scrambles. Your heart will sink. You’ll want to quit. Don't. Even the pros mess up their "T-perms" or "U-perms" occasionally. Just breathe and start from the white cross again. It’s better practice anyway.
Why does this work?
The Rubik's cube beginner method (also known as the Layer-by-Layer or LBL method) relies on "commutators" and "conjugates." Basically, you're moving a piece out of the way, changing something, and then reversing the move to put the rest of the cube back.
It’s not the fastest way. The world record (around 3 seconds) uses the CFOP method (Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL). That requires memorizing about 78 different algorithms. The beginner method only requires about 5 or 6.
Practical steps to go from "Stuck" to "Solved"
If you're sitting there with a scrambled cube, here is exactly what you should do right now:
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- Check your centers. Remember that the center color defines what color that side will be. Yellow is always opposite white. Blue is always opposite green. Red is always opposite orange (on a standard DIY or Rubik's brand).
- Watch a "finger trick" video. Don't turn the cube with your whole hand. Use your index fingers to "flick" the top layer. This prevents fatigue and makes the Rubik's cube beginner method feel way more fluid.
- Learn the "Sexy Move." That's the actual community name for R U R' U'. Do it over and over while you watch TV. If you do it 6 times in a row on a solved cube, the cube returns to solved. It’s the best way to build muscle memory.
- Use a reference sheet. Don't try to memorize everything at once. Keep a small "cheat sheet" of the algorithms next to you. Eventually, your fingers will remember the moves even if your brain forgets the letters.
- Focus on one step per day. Don't try to solve the whole thing in twenty minutes. Spend Monday learning the cross. Spend Tuesday on the corners. By Friday, you'll be solving the whole thing.
Once you can solve the cube in under two minutes using this method, then—and only then—should you look into "F2L" (First Two Layers). That’s the first step into the world of speedcubing. But for now, just enjoy the clicky-clack. There’s no feeling quite like that final turn when everything aligns and you realize you finally beat the 1980s' most frustrating puzzle.
Go grab your cube. Start with the white cross. You've got this.