A complete white layer, including matching bottom side rows.
White down, yellow up. Face the center that matches the selected edge’s side sticker.
1. Find an edge that belongs in the middle
Look around the top layer for an edge with no yellow. White edges are already solved below, so this piece has two side colors. Ignore all yellow edges for now.
Turn U until the edge’s side-facing color matches a side center. Rotate sideways to face that center. The edge is now at top-front, with a matching vertical line on F.
2. Decide left or right
Look at the sticker facing up on that edge. If its color matches the right center, use the right insertion. If it matches the left center, use the left insertion. Do not decide by where the piece happens to be sitting on the screen.
| Destination | Complete insertion |
|---|---|
| Front-right | U R U' R' U' F' U F |
| Front-left | U' L' U L U F U' F' |
Perform all eight moves with the same front. The first part opens the slot; the second repairs the white corner while inserting the edge.
3. Check and repeat
The inserted edge should match both neighboring centers. The white layer should be restored. Choose another top edge without yellow, line it up, and insert it.
The two worked examples below show the right and left cases separately. Match the relationship between colors, not necessarily the exact colors of your own front face.
4. Eject an edge that is stuck or flipped
If a middle edge is wrong, place its slot at front-right and perform the right insertion with any top edge, even a yellow one. This pushes the wrong edge up. Find it, line its side sticker up with its matching center, and use the correct insertion to put it back.
If no useful edge remains on top but the middle is unfinished, an edge is trapped below. Use this same recovery instead of scrambling the solved layer.
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
The top-front edge’s side color matches F and its top color matches R. Watch the right insertion move that edge into FR while restoring the white corner.
Example grip: yellow up · blue front · red right at the start. Follow any written whole-cube rotations.
0 / 8
Loading 3D cube…
Prepared position · 0 / 8 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 3×3, 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' U' F U R U R' U'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.
Another case: Insert to the left
Insert to the left
The top-front edge’s top color matches L. The left insertion places it at FL and restores the white layer.
Example grip: yellow up · blue front · red right at the start. Follow any written whole-cube rotations.
0 / 8
Loading 3D cube…
Prepared position · 0 / 8 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 3×3, 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 U F' U' L' U' L UThen 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
Solve each non-yellow edge using the left or right case. If all top edges contain yellow but the middle is unfinished, eject a wrong middle edge and reinsert it.
Open a 3×3 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
The edge went into the correct slot but is flipped.
Eject it with the right insertion, align its side sticker on top again, then choose the insertion from its top color.
Only yellow edges remain on top.
Inspect the middle layer. If it is not solved, eject one of its incorrect edges using the recovery step.
Before moving on
Check your result
Your cube at this stage
The first two layers solved
The bottom two rows of every side match. Only the top layer remains to be solved.
Confirm these on your cube. Watching the animation alone does not complete the lesson.
Check every item when you can do it yourself.