A yellow top face and two solved lower layers.
Hold the cube with yellow up. When you find a matching pair, align it with its side centre and hold that side on the left.
1. Look for a matching pair
On each side, compare the two top corner stickers. Ignore the edge sticker between them. Two corner stickers of the same colour form a matching pair, sometimes called ‘headlights’.
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Matching pairs on all four sides | Turn U until the matching pairs line up with their centres. The corners are now in place. |
| One matching pair | Turn U to align that pair with its centre, then rotate the whole cube sideways to put the pair on the left. |
| No matching pair | Perform the T sequence once with any side at the front. Find the matching pair it creates and set it up on the left. |
Compare the two corner stickers with each other first. A matching pair has two stickers of the same colour, even if only one sticker currently matches a centre elsewhere on the cube.
2. Swap the two right-hand corners
R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'
This is called the T permutation. It exchanges the two top-right corners while keeping yellow upward. It also moves two top edges, which we will solve in the next lesson.
Learn the sequence in the three groups below. Keep the cube in the same orientation between groups.
R U R' U'R' F R2 U' R' U'R U R' F'
3. Recheck before repeating
If you started with no matching pair, the first T permutation only creates one. Align that pair with its centre, hold that side on the left and perform T again. If you started with a matching pair on the left, one application should put the corners in place.
Turn U if needed to align all the top corner colours with the centres. Check the side stickers of all four corners, not just the pair you started with.
4. Leave the edges for the next lesson
You may see a top row like blue–red–blue. Both corners are in place, but the edge is still misplaced. This is the position you need for the final edge cycle. Leave the yellow corners in their current orientation.
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
The matching top-corner pair is on the left. T swaps the two top-right corners. In a regular solve, some top edges may still be out of place after the corners are correct.
Starting grip. Yellow up · blue at the front · red on the right. Follow any written instructions for rotating the whole cube.
0 / 14
Loading 3D cube…
Prepared position · 0 / 14 moves
Use Next move to follow the sequence.
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.
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
Drag each cube to inspect its other faces.
Explain it to yourself
Check your understanding
Now use your own cube
Your turn
Compare the two top corner stickers on each side, ignoring the edge between them. Use the matching pair to set up the T permutation, then check all four corners.
Open a 3×3 Digital Cube for practiceOpens 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 yellow face is complete, but the top rows on the sides still have mixed colours.
Check the corners separately. If both top corner stickers on each side match that side’s centre, go on to the final edge step even if the edge between them is misplaced.
The corners are still out of place after the T permutation.
If you started with no matching pair, turn U to align the pair created by the first T permutation with its centre. Then hold that side on the left before performing the T permutation again.
Before moving on
Check your result
Your cube at this stage
Yellow corners in place
Both top corner stickers on each side match its centre. The three remaining top edges still need to be cycled.
Confirm these on your cube. Watching the animation alone does not complete the lesson.
Tick each item once you can do it yourself.