Gather the four white edges — 3×3 Beginner

Before you start

A scrambled cube. Nothing needs to be solved yet.

How to hold your cube

Yellow centre up, white centre down. You may rotate the cube sideways between edges.

The daisy

Four white edges surround the yellow centre. Ignore the corners, as their colours may differ on your cube.

Drag the cube to inspect it from above.

1. Find the four pieces you need

Find the four edge pieces with a white sticker and ignore the white corners. For now, aim to make a white plus sign around the yellow centre. The other colour on each edge does not need to match a side centre yet.

No single sequence will gather the four white edges from every scramble. Use the cases below and check one edge at a time.

2. Clear the landing position

Before turning a side face to lift a white edge, check the top edge position above that face. If a white petal is already there, turn only U until the position is free. The existing petals stay on top as U turns.

3. Choose the case that matches your cube

Where is white?	What to do
Facing down on a bottom edge	Bring the edge to the bottom-front position with its side facing you (F), clear the top-front position, then do `F2`.
Facing forwards on the middle-right edge (FR)	Clear the top-right position, then do `R`.
Facing front on the middle-left edge (FL)	Clear the top-left position, then do `L'`.
Facing forwards on the top-front or bottom-front edge	Do `F` to put it into the middle layer, then use the appropriate middle-edge case above.
Already facing up	Leave that petal on top and choose another white edge.

If the white sticker faces sideways, an F turn may dislodge a petal in the top-front position. Use U to move that petal out of the way first. Count the petals again after each insertion to plan one edge at a time.

4. Stop at the daisy

You should see white edges at the top-front, top-right, top-back and top-left positions around the yellow centre. Mixed corner stickers are fine. Keep yellow on top. In the next lesson, you’ll match the side colours and move the petals down to the white centre.

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

Three white petals are already on top. The last white edge is at the bottom left, with its white sticker facing down. L2 lifts it into the empty top-left position. This completes the daisy, an intermediate step in the solve.

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 3×3, 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 are solving throughout the course.

F2 R2 B2

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.

Another case: Lift a middle-right white edge

Lift a middle-right white edge

The white sticker on the front-right edge of the middle layer faces you. The top-right position is empty. R lifts the edge into that position to complete the daisy.

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

F2 R2 B2 L2 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.

Another case: Lift a middle-left white edge

Lift a middle-left white edge

The white sticker on the front-left edge of the middle layer faces you. The top-left position is empty. L′ lifts the edge into that position to complete the daisy.

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.

0 / 1

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

F2 R2 B2 L2 L

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

Collect one white petal, then two, then three, then four. Before lifting each new edge, make sure the top edge position it will move into is free.

Open a 3×3 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

When I add a petal, I lose one I’ve already made.

Before turning the side face, turn U to bring a free top edge position above that side. Keep the edge you’re about to lift in its bottom or middle position while you clear the slot.

Before moving on

Check your result

Your cube at this stage

Four white petals

Four white edges surround the yellow centre on top. The side colours do not need to line up yet.

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

Four white edge stickers face up around the yellow centre.I am counting edges, not white corner stickers.I can move an existing petal out of the way on the top face before adding another.

Tick each item once you can do it yourself.