Put the yellow corners in order — 2×2 Beginner

Before you start

The white and yellow faces are solid colours, 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 pair 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 the left.
No matching pair: perform the sequence below once with any face at the front. 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 places 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 with the same face at the front.

3. Recheck the new state

If you started with no matching pair, find the new pair, align it with the bottom pair and put it on the left before performing T again.

When the two top stickers on each side match each other, turn U until all the top pairs line up with the bottom pairs. The white layer is already in the correct order, so one U alignment finishes the cube.

4. Inspect the hidden faces

Look at all six faces, including the back and bottom. Check that all four stickers on each side match as well as checking the white and yellow faces. When every face is a single colour, you’re ready to solve the cube again from a fresh scramble.

Need a reminder of the move notation?

R right · L left · U top · D bottom · F front · B back. A letter on its own 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 at the front throughout the algorithm.

Watch, then try

Work through an example

Start by stepping through one move at a time. This prepared example shows a specific action. Use the lesson’s setup instructions to recognise when to use it on your own scramble.

Watch one worked example

The matching top pair is lined up on the left. The T permutation swaps the two top-right corners to solve the example cube.

Example grip: Start with yellow on top, blue at the front and red on the right. Follow any written instructions for rotating the whole cube.

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Loading 3D cube…

Drag to inspect other faces. Use the arrow keys to rotate the view when the cube has keyboard focus.

Copy this exact example on your own cube

Start with a solved 2×2, with yellow on top 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 the relationships between your own colours to identify the equivalent 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

Look for matching top pairs, set one up on the left and perform T. When all pairs 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 assess your result.

If you get stuck

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

Compare the top pairs. If both stickers match in every pair, 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 that side on the left.I can handle a top layer with no matching pair.

Tick each item once you can do it yourself.