You have completed the first-layer and last-layer lessons.
White down while solving the first layer; yellow up for the last layer.
1. Start from your own scramble
Mix your cube with turns of several faces. The prepared animation below is a review of the last corner swap; it does not represent your full scramble.
Choose a white reference corner. Look at both side colors to decide where the other white corners belong.
2. Follow three checkpoints
| Stage | What must be true before continuing | Review |
|---|---|---|
| First layer | White down and four matching bottom side pairs | Build the white layer |
| Last-face orientation | Yellow up and the white layer restored | Turn the last face yellow |
| Last-corner positions | All six faces match after U alignment | Put corners in order |
If a checkpoint is already satisfied, skip its moves. Otherwise open that lesson, recognize your case, and use its holding instructions.
3. Handle the common sticking points
A white face with mixed bottom side pairs needs corner repositioning. A mixed white layer during yellow twisting needs completion of the twisting procedure from the same grip. A solid yellow face with mixed sides needs permutation, not more twisting.
These three situations look similar if you only look at one face. Inspect the side pairs before deciding what to repeat.
4. Try a second solve
Use your own cube and stop the animation. Try to choose each stage without looking at the checklist first. Looking up a move sequence is fine; the skill to build now is recognizing when to use it.
When you finish consistently, you can practice smoother turns or move to the 3×3 course. A smaller cube does not require rushing.
Need a reminder of the move notation?
R right · L left · U top · D bottom · F front · B back. A plain letter is 90° clockwise looking directly at that face. An apostrophe (′) reverses it; 2 means 180°. Keep the front fixed during an algorithm.
Watch, then try
Work through an example
Use one move at a time first. This prepared case teaches a specific action; use the lesson’s setup instructions to recognize when it applies to your own scramble.
Watch one worked example
Review the final T permutation on a prepared case. The full solve happens on your own scrambled cube using the three checkpoints above.
Example grip: yellow up · blue front · red right at the start. Follow any written whole-cube rotations.
0 / 14
Loading 3D cube…
Prepared position · 0 / 14 moves
Use Next move to follow the sequence.
Drag to inspect other faces. Arrow keys rotate the view when the cube is focused.
Copy this exact example on your own cube
Start with a solved 2×2, 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.
F R U' R' U R U R2 F' R U R U' R'Then follow the lesson sequence. If your cube’s color scheme differs, match the piece relationships using your own colors.
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
Scramble your cube and solve it using the three checkpoints below. Repeat with a second scramble, consulting only the step where you get stuck.
Open a 2×2 Digital Cube for practiceOpens in a new tab so you can keep this lesson beside your practice. Check the lesson goal yourself; the Digital Cube does not grade it.
If you get stuck
I keep repeating a sequence without progress.
Stop after a complete sequence and identify the earliest failed checkpoint. Reset that lesson’s holding position before trying its moves again.
Before moving on
Check your result
Your cube at this stage
All six faces solved
Every face is one color. 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.
Check every item when you can do it yourself.