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 over its bottom pair, then rotate the whole cube sideways so the matched side is 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 your 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'. Do all three parts without changing your front.

3. Recheck the new state

If you started with no matching pair, find the new pair and align it with the bottom pair before repeating the sequence. Put the matched side on the left and perform T again from that grip.

Once the two top stickers on each side match, turn U until the top pairs line up with the bottom pairs. Since the white layer is already in the correct order, this final U alignment solves the cube.

4. Inspect the hidden faces

Check all six faces, including the back and bottom. Each face, including the white and yellow faces, needs four matching stickers. Once each face is a single colour, you’re ready to try 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 direction. A 2 means a 180° turn. Keep the same face toward you throughout the algorithm.

Watch, then try

Work through an example

Start by going through the example one move at a time. It shows a specific action from a prepared position. Use the lesson’s setup instructions to recognize 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 cube in this example.

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. Use the arrow keys to rotate the view when the cube has focus.

Copy this exact example on your own cube

Start with a solved 2×2, with yellow on top and blue at the front. 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’s colour scheme differs, match the piece relationships using your own colours.

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

Look for matching top pairs, set one up on the left and perform T. When the two stickers in each pair match, turn U to align the whole top layer.

Open a 2×2 Digital Cube for practice

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. The Digital Cube doesn’t grade your work.

If you get stuck

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

Compare the top pairs on each side. 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 lined up a top pair with the bottom pair of the same colour before rotating the cube to put the matched side on the left.I can handle a top layer with no matching pair.

Check off each item once you can do it yourself.