A complete white layer, with the bottom row on each side matching its centre.
White down, yellow up. Face the centre that matches the selected edge’s side sticker.
1. Find an edge that belongs in the middle
Look around the top layer for an edge with no yellow. White edges are already solved below, so this piece has two side colours. Ignore all yellow edges for now.
Turn U until the edge’s side sticker matches a side centre. Rotate the whole cube sideways so that centre faces you. The edge is now at the top-front, forming a matching vertical line on F.
2. Decide left or right
Look at the sticker facing up on that edge. If its colour matches the right centre, use the right insertion. If it matches the left centre, use the left insertion. Base your choice on the colour match, regardless of where the piece appears on the screen.
| Destination | Full insertion sequence |
|---|---|
| Front-right | U R U' R' U' F' U F |
| Front-left | U' L' U L U F U' F' |
Keep the same face at the front for all eight moves. The first part opens the slot. The second inserts the edge while restoring the white corner.
3. Check and repeat
The inserted edge should match both neighbouring centres. The white layer should be restored. Choose another top edge without yellow, line it up and insert it.
The two worked examples below show the right and left cases separately. Match the relationship between colours, even if the colours on your own front face differ from the examples.
4. Eject an edge that is stuck or flipped
If a middle-layer edge is out of place or flipped, put its slot at the front-right and perform the right insertion with any top edge, even one with yellow. This pushes the incorrect edge into the top layer. Find it, line up its side sticker with the matching centre and use the correct insertion to put it back.
If the middle layer is unfinished and there are no edges without yellow on top, an edge is trapped in the middle layer. Use the same recovery step to keep the solved layer intact.
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
The side sticker of the top-front edge matches the F centre, and its top sticker matches the R centre. Watch the right insertion move the edge into FR while restoring the white corner.
Example grip: yellow up · blue front · red right at the start. Follow any written whole-cube rotations.
0 / 8
Loading 3D cube…
Prepared position · 0 / 8 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 3×3, with yellow on top and blue facing you. Follow the setup moves below from left to right to recreate the example’s starting position. Keep this example separate from the scramble you’re solving throughout the course.
F' U' F U R U R' U'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
Drag each cube to inspect its other faces.
Another case: Insert to the left
Insert to the left
The top sticker of the top-front edge matches the L centre. The left insertion moves the edge into FL and restores the white layer.
Example grip: yellow up · blue front · red right at the start. Follow any written whole-cube rotations.
0 / 8
Loading 3D cube…
Prepared position · 0 / 8 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 3×3, with yellow on top and blue facing you. Follow the setup moves below from left to right to recreate the example’s starting position. Keep this example separate from the scramble you’re solving throughout the course.
F U F' U' L' U' L UThen 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
Solve each edge without yellow using the left or right insertion. If all the top edges have yellow and the middle layer is unfinished, eject an incorrect middle-layer edge and reinsert it.
Open a 3×3 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 edge went into the correct slot but is flipped.
Eject the edge with the right insertion. Once it’s back in the top layer, line up its side sticker with the matching centre again, then use its top colour to choose the insertion.
Only yellow edges remain on top.
Inspect the middle layer. If it is not solved, eject one of its incorrect edges using the recovery step.
Before moving on
Check your result
Your cube at this stage
First two layers solved
The bottom two rows of every side match. Only the top layer remains to be solved.
Confirm these on your cube. Watching the animation alone does not complete the lesson.
Tick each item when you can do it yourself.