Put the yellow corners in order — 2×2 Beginner

Before you start

The white and yellow faces are solid, and the white layer has matching side pairs.

How to hold your cube

Keep yellow facing up. Align a matching top pair with its bottom pair, then rotate the cube sideways so the matching pairs are on the left.

1. Look at the top pair on each side

Because every piece is a corner, the two top stickers on a side form the pair you need to compare.

Four matching pairs: turn U to align them with the bottom pairs. The cube is solved.
One matching pair: turn U to place it above the bottom pair of the same colour. Then rotate the whole cube sideways so the solved side is on the left.
No matching pair: perform the sequence below once with any side facing you. This creates a matching pair. Set up that pair as described above before repeating the sequence.

2. Swap the two corners on the right

R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'

This is the T permutation. Keep yellow facing up and your chosen pair on the left. The two top-right corners swap positions while the white and yellow faces stay oriented.

Break the sequence into R U R' U', then R' F R2 U' R' U', then R U R' F'. Keep the same face towards you for all three parts.

3. Check the cube again

If you started with no matching pair, find the new pair before repeating the sequence. Align it with the bottom pair, then hold it on the left. Perform T again from that position.

When the two stickers in each side’s top pair match, use U to line up the top pairs with the bottom pairs. The white layer is already in the correct order, so this one alignment with U solves the cube.

4. Inspect the hidden faces

Check all six faces, including the back and bottom. White and yellow can be solved while the sides are still mixed. Each side needs four matching stickers. Once every face is solved, you’re ready for another full solve.

Need a reminder of the move notation?

R right · L left · U top · D bottom · F front · B back. A plain letter means a 90° clockwise turn as you look directly at that face. An apostrophe (′) reverses the turn. A 2 means a 180° turn. Keep the same face towards you throughout the algorithm.

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

A matching top pair is already aligned on the left. T swaps the two top-right corners to solve the example cube.

Example grip: yellow up · blue front · red right at the start. Follow any written whole-cube rotations.

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Loading 3D cube…

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.

F R U' R' U R U R2 F' R U R U' R'

Then 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

Before the example

After the full sequence

Drag each cube to inspect its other faces.

Explain it to yourself

Check your understanding

Now use your own cube

Your turn

Find matching top pairs, set one up on the left and perform T. When all the pairs match, turn U to align the whole top layer.

Open a 2×2 Digital Cube for practice

The 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

Two faces are solved, but the colours on the sides don’t match.

Compare the top pairs. If the two stickers in each pair match, align the top layer with U. Otherwise, set up the matching pair on the left and use T.

Before moving on

Check your result

Your cube at this stage

All six faces solved

Every face is one colour. Check the back and bottom as well as the faces you can see here.

Confirm these on your cube. Watching the animation alone does not complete the lesson.

All six faces have four matching stickers.I aligned a top pair with the bottom pair of the same colour before holding it on the left.I can handle a top layer with no matching pair.

Tick each item when you can do it yourself.