The centres are solved, all edges are paired and the first two virtual layers are solved.
Hold the cube with yellow facing up. Place an edge group whose yellow stickers face sideways at top-front (UF).
1. Recognise when OLL parity applies
Count the edge groups with yellow facing up, ignoring the corners. Once the first two virtual layers are solved, a count of one or three indicates OLL parity. OLL here refers to last-layer orientation.
Every edge group must already contain two matching wings. If two wings in a group do not match, return to edge pairing. A flipped edge group has two matching wings. If zero, two or four groups have yellow facing up, use the standard 3×3 yellow-cross cases.
2. Place the target at top-front
If three groups have yellow facing up, place the fourth group at UF. If only one group has yellow facing up, choose any of the other three and put it at UF. Flipping it gives you a standard two-edge case.
Before starting the sequence, rotate the whole cube sideways or make a U turn as needed. Start the sequence with yellow facing up.
3. Follow the full repair sequence
Rw U2 x Rw U2 Rw U2 Rw' U2 Lw U2 Rw' U2 Rw U2 Rw' U2 Rw'
Read the sequence in groups of moves, keeping the letters in the same order.
Rw U2 xRw U2 Rw U2 Rw' U2Lw U2 Rw' U2Rw U2 Rw' U2 Rw'
Rw and Lw each turn two layers. x rotates the whole cube in the same direction as R. Use the new face directions after that rotation. Wait until the sequence is complete before checking the centres.
4. Resume solving
After completing the sequence, reorient the cube so yellow faces up. Check that the centres and edge pairs are restored. Count the edge groups with yellow facing up again. If the cross is still incomplete, return to the yellow-cross lesson.
Other last-layer pieces may still need solving. This repair fixes only the edge orientation parity. You may still encounter PLL parity later in the solve.
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.
Rw turns the rightmost two layers together. 2R turns only the second layer from the right. 3Rw turns three layers. x rotates the whole cube like R, so the old front becomes the new top.
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 prepared cube has a flipped edge pair at UF. Watch for the whole-cube rotation x, the two-layer wide turns and the restored edge pair at the end.
Starting grip. Yellow up · blue at the front · red on the right. Follow any written instructions for rotating the whole cube.
0 / 18
Loading 3D cube…
Prepared position · 0 / 18 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 4×4, yellow up and blue front. Apply the setup below from left to right. This creates the example’s starting position. Keep this separate from the ongoing scramble you are solving through the course.
Rw U2 Rw U2 Rw' U2 Rw U2 Lw' U2 Rw U2 Rw' U2 Rw' x' U2 Rw'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
If you encounter this case during a solve, pause at the yellow-cross step. Put the target edge group at UF and complete every move. Then turn the cube so yellow faces up again and identify the new cross case.
Open a 4×4 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 front face changed during the animation.
When you reach x, rotate the whole cube and use the new face directions for the remaining moves.
The cube is not fully solved after parity.
Check the yellow cross again and continue solving the last layer as usual. The repair only corrects the flipped edge group.
Before moving on
Check your result
Your cube at this stage
Flipped edge group corrected
The edges are paired and yellow-edge orientation is back to normal. The yellow cross is complete in this example, and the corners still need work.
Confirm these on your cube. Watching the animation alone does not complete the lesson.
Tick each item once you can do it yourself.