Any 2×2 cube, solved or scrambled.
Find a white corner and hold the cube with that corner’s white sticker facing down.
1. A 2×2 has only corners
There are eight pieces, each with three stickers. There are no edge pieces or visible centre stickers to solve. A turn still moves a whole layer of four corners.
We will solve one white layer, turn the opposite stickers upward, then put those last corners in the correct order. You do not need to learn the 3×3 first.
2. Choose a reference corner
Find any white corner and hold the cube with that corner’s white sticker facing down. This is your first solved piece and your reference for the side colours.
For example, a white-blue-red corner has a white-blue neighbour on its blue side and a white-red neighbour on its red side. The white corner with neither blue nor red belongs diagonally opposite it in the white layer.
On the example cube, yellow is opposite white. If your cube has another colour opposite white, use that opposite colour wherever this course says yellow. The two corners with the same pair of side colours reveal the two opposite-face colours.
3. Aim for a layer, not just a face
A solved white layer has four white stickers facing down and a matching pair at the bottom of each side. If the white corners are in the wrong order, the white face can look complete even though the side pairs don’t match.
There are no centre stickers to show the order of the side colours, so use the colours of the corners you’ve already placed. Keep the reference corner in its original slot when fitting the next piece.
4. Learn the moves next
This example is a turning drill. Six repetitions return the cube to its starting state. In the next lesson, you’ll learn the notation letters and the four-move routine before using them to insert any corners.
Watch, then try
Work through an example
Start by stepping through the example one move at a time. This example demonstrates a specific action. Use the lesson’s setup instructions to recognise when that action applies to your own scramble.
Watch one worked example
Observe whole corner pieces moving together. This six-repetition drill returns to its starting state; it does not solve an arbitrary scramble.
Example grip: yellow up · blue front · red right at the start. Follow any written whole-cube rotations.
0 / 24
Loading 3D cube…
Prepared position · 0 / 24 moves
Use Next move to follow the sequence.
Drag to inspect other faces. When the cube has focus, use the arrow keys to rotate the view.
Copy this exact example on your own cube
Start with a solved 2×2, with yellow facing up and blue facing you. Apply the setup moves below from left to right to create the example’s starting position. Keep this example separate from the scramble you’re solving throughout the course.
R U R' F2 D L2 B U2Then follow the lesson sequence. If your cube has a different colour scheme, use your own colours to identify the corresponding pieces.
Compare the starting position and the result
Drag each cube to inspect its other faces.
Explain it to yourself
Check your understanding
Now use your own cube
Your turn
Count the eight pieces. Choose one white corner as your reference. For each of its side colours, find the other white corner that shares that colour.
Open a 2×2 Digital Cube for practiceThe Digital Cube opens in a new tab so you can keep this lesson open while you practise. Check for yourself whether you’ve met the lesson goal, as the Digital Cube doesn’t assess your result.
If you get stuck
There is no centre telling me which side is blue.
Use your first white corner. Its two non-white stickers tell you the colours of the two adjacent sides. The other white corners complete the ring of colours around the layer.
Before moving on
Check your result
Preparation · no solving yet
Recognise the eight corners
Every piece is a corner. Choose a white reference corner. You can leave the faces unsolved at this stage.
Confirm these on your cube. Watching the animation alone does not complete the lesson.
Tick each item when you can do it yourself.