How to solve the Rubik's Cube step by step (beginner method)

This guide explains how to solve the Rubik\'s Cube 3×3 with the Layer-by-Layer method, also called LBL. It is the method most people use to solve the cube for the first time: it requires remembering between 5 and 8 short sequences and allows times of 1 to 3 minutes with practice.

Before starting: basic notation

Cube turns are named by the face that turns, looking at that face from the front:

• R (Right): right face clockwise.
• L (Left): left face clockwise.
• U (Up): top face clockwise.
• D (Down): bottom face clockwise.
• F (Front): front face clockwise.
• B (Back): back face clockwise.

If a letter carries an apostrophe (R\'), the turn is counterclockwise. If it has a 2 (R2), it\'s two turns (180°). The centres don\'t move, so the centre\'s colour determines the final colour of that entire face.

Step 1 · White cross

Start with the white face up. The goal is to form a white cross whose arms match the centre of each side face:

• Locate the four white edges (the pieces with two stickers, one of which is white).
• Take them to the top face matching the other colour with the centre of the corresponding side face.
• It\'s the most intuitive step and is done without memorised algorithms: move them with logic.

Step 2 · White corners

Place the four white corners to complete the first full layer:

• Locate a white corner on the bottom face.
• Bring it right below the position it should go (same two side colours).
• Apply one of these three sequences depending on where the white ends up oriented: R\' D\' R D (repeat until it fits). It\'s the most used sequence at this step.

Step 3 · Second layer (middle edges)

Now the cube has the white face complete on the bottom. You need to place the 4 edges of the middle layer:

• Put the cube with white on the bottom and yellow on top.
• Locate an edge on the top layer whose top colour is NOT yellow: that one goes to the middle layer.
• Turn U until it aligns with its centre and apply one of the two sequences:
  • Goes right: U R U\' R\' U\' F\' U F
  • Goes left: U\' L\' U L U F U\' F\'

Step 4 · Yellow cross (orient top edges)

Put yellow on top. Look at the current pattern on the top face:

• You may see a dot (only the yellow centre), an L, a line, or already the cross.
• Apply F R U R\' U\' F\' until you reach the yellow cross:
  • If you have dot → apply the algorithm and it goes to L → then to line → then to cross.
  • If you have L → orient it on the top-left corner and apply.
  • If you have line → orient it horizontal and apply.

Step 5 · Permute the yellow cross

You have the cross now, but the side colours don\'t match their centres. Turn the top layer until you have at least two edges correctly placed. Then apply:

R U R\' U R U2 R\' U

Repeat if needed until the four edges are in place.

Step 6 · Position yellow corners

Look at how many yellow corners are already in place (it doesn\'t matter if they are well oriented, only if they are at the correct vertex):

• If there\'s one, place it in the bottom-right corner of the top face (looking at it).
• Apply U R U\' L\' U R\' U\' L until all four are in their position.

Step 7 · Orient yellow corners

Last step. The corners are in place but some have yellow facing to the side:

• Place a misoriented corner in the bottom-right (looking at the top face).
• Apply R\' D\' R D two or four times until that corner has yellow on top.
• Important: don\'t rotate the whole cube. Just turn U to bring the next bad corner to the bottom-right position and repeat.
• When you\'re done with all of them, a final U rotation will leave everything in place.

Tips to improve times

• Practise the white cross without looking at the bottom face: start anticipating.
• When you master LBL, learn F2L (solving corners + edges of the first two layers simultaneously). It\'s the first step toward the CFOP method.
• Learn the 21 PLL algorithms and 57 OLL algorithms over time. More details in the complete Rubik\'s Cube guide.

Reference resources

• World Cube Association website: records, competitions and official rules.
• JPerm.net: one of the most used resources to learn CFOP step by step.
• YouTube tutorials from channels like JPerm, Tingman or CubeHead.