A solved white layer with matching bottom side pairs.
Yellow up and white down. Keep the same front until every yellow corner is oriented.
1. Read the whole procedure before turning
The white layer will look scrambled while you twist the top corners. It returns to its solved state once you finish all the corners without changing your grip. Finish the procedure before trying to fix the white layer.
Choose a front colour and keep it facing you. Turn U to bring a corner with its yellow sticker facing sideways to top-front-right.
2. Twist the working corner
R' D' R D
Repeat the full four-move sequence two or four times until that corner’s yellow sticker faces up. Finish the last D even if yellow is already on top. This sequence uses D. The first-layer trigger uses U.
3. Move to the next corner with U only
Use U, U′, or U2 to bring another corner whose yellow sticker isn’t facing up to the same top-front-right position. Keep the whole cube facing the same way. Twist this corner using the same complete four-move sequences.
Continue until all four top stickers are yellow. Skip any corners that are already oriented. Then align the top with U if needed. The white layer and its side pairs should be restored.
4. Leave corner positions for the next lesson
A yellow face can have its corners in the wrong order. That is fine for now. The next lesson rearranges them while preserving the yellow and white faces.
There are two corners to twist in the worked example. Notice that the white layer is restored only after you twist both corners and realign the top.
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
Orient two corners while holding the cube the same way. Use U to bring the next corner into position and keep the whole cube facing the same way. Watch the white layer return to its solved state at the end.
Example grip: yellow up · blue front · red right at the start. Follow any written whole-cube rotations.
0 / 26
Loading 3D cube…
Prepared position · 0 / 26 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.
U D' R' D R D' R' D R D' R' D R D' R' D R U' D' R' D R D' R' D RThen 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
Use U to bring a corner whose yellow sticker isn’t facing up to top-front-right. Twist it using complete four-move sequences, then use only U to bring the next corner into that position.
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
The white layer looks scrambled halfway through.
Keep holding the cube the same way until every yellow corner is oriented. Use only U between corners.
The white layer is still scrambled at the end.
Check whether you skipped a D move or rotated the whole cube between corners. If you know what went wrong, undo that move or rotation. Otherwise, restore the first layer and start this step again.
Before moving on
Check your result
Your cube at this stage
Yellow face oriented
The white and yellow faces are complete. The top pairs on the sides may still be in the wrong order.
Confirm these on your cube. Watching the animation alone does not complete the lesson.
Tick each item when you can do it yourself.