Learn the four-move trigger — Cube Foundations

Before you start

You can read quarter-turns and their inverses. Keep the scrambled cube from the previous lesson.

How to hold your cube

For this example, hold the cube with yellow up, blue at the front and red on the right. Keep the same face at the front throughout.

1. Learn a short sequence of four turns

R U R' U'

A short move sequence used repeatedly is often called a trigger. You’ll use this one to insert the white corners. Read it as “right clockwise, top clockwise, right anticlockwise, top anticlockwise”. Check the notation lesson for turn directions.

2. Follow one piece

Keep your cube scrambled. Before starting, take a photo of each face or note the sticker positions so you can compare them at the end. Pick any corner and remember its three colours. Perform one full trigger and find where that piece went. All three stickers are still together on the same piece.

Avoid trying to put pieces back after each individual turn. A useful sequence often moves solved pieces temporarily and restores them later.

3. Repeat with control

Repeat the full trigger six times in total. The cube returns to its exact starting state. After four repetitions, it has not returned to that state.

The player shows all six repetitions. Pause after moves 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 to see what changed. At move 24, compare every face with its starting state.

4. Know when this routine helps

Repeating the trigger gives you practice with the turns. It cannot solve an arbitrary scramble. In the white-corner lesson, you’ll first choose the correct corner and put it directly above its solved position. The trigger helps solve the corner once it is set up that way.

You’re now ready to solve your cube. Continue with the 3×3 Beginner course and keep working on this scramble through its solving stages. If your cube is already solved, scramble it before starting the course.

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 when you look directly at that face. A prime mark (′) reverses the turn. A 2 means 180°. Keep the same face at the front throughout an algorithm.

Watch, then try

Work through an example

Start by going through the moves one at a time. The prepared example shows a specific action. Use the lesson’s setup instructions to recognise when to apply it to your own scramble.

Watch one worked example

In this turning drill, six repetitions return the cube to its starting state. Pause every four moves and keep the same face at the front.

Starting grip. Yellow up · blue at the front · red on the right. Follow any written instructions for rotating the whole cube.

0 / 24

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 3×3 with yellow facing up and blue facing 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 as you work through the course.

R U R' F2 D L2 B U2

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

Perform R U R′ U′ six times on your scrambled cube, pausing after each complete repetition. Count repetitions aloud, then compare all six faces with the starting scramble.

Open a 3×3 Digital Cube for practice

Opens in a new tab so you can refer to this lesson while you practise. Check for yourself whether you’ve met the lesson goal. The Digital Cube does not grade your work.

If you get stuck

The cube hasn’t returned to its starting state after six repetitions.

Check the turn directions and make sure each repetition includes the final U′. Use Previous move to undo one mistake in the example. On your own cube, undo only the moves you remember.

Before moving on

Check your result

Preparation · no solving yet

Return to the same scramble

Six complete repetitions of the trigger restore your starting scramble. Now that you know the turning routine, begin solving the white edges in the 3×3 Beginner course.

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

I can perform all four turns without rotating the whole cube.I finish U′ before checking the result.Six repetitions return my cube to its starting state.

Tick each item once you can do it yourself.