Make the yellow cross — 3×3 Beginner

Before you start

The white layer and middle layer are complete.

How to hold your cube

Yellow up. For a line, put yellow edges at left and right. For an L, put them at back and left.

Look straight down at the top. Front is the edge nearest you. Gray stickers are not part of this check.

1. Read only the four top edges

Ignore the corners, even if they are yellow. Around the yellow center you will see a dot (zero yellow edges up), an L (two adjacent), a line (two opposite), or a cross (all four).

A correctly assembled 3×3 cannot have exactly one or three yellow edges facing up when the first two layers are solved. Recount the edges before assuming the case is unusual.

2. Set up the shape

Shape	Hold it this way	What happens next
Dot	Any front, yellow up	The sequence makes an L. Inspect and set up again.
L	Yellow edges at back and left	The sequence makes a line. Set that line left–right.
Line	Yellow edges at left and right	The sequence makes the cross.
Cross	Already finished	Skip this sequence and continue.

Use U or rotate the whole cube sideways before the sequence to position the shape. Keep the front fixed during the moves.

3. Do the six moves

F R U R' U' F'

Think “front, four-move trigger, front back.” Finish the final F′; that move restores the front layer.

Recount the top yellow edges after every full sequence. A dot takes up to three applications, an L two, and a correctly held line one. Recognition between applications matters more than repeating quickly.

4. Stop when the cross is yellow

The side colors of the yellow edges do not need to match their centers yet. Yellow corners also do not need to face up. Those jobs come later; preserve the first two layers and continue to corner orientation.

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

This example starts with a left–right yellow line. Watch the four edge stickers on U; the final F′ restores the lower layers and completes the cross.

Example grip: yellow up · blue front · red right at the start. Follow any written whole-cube rotations.

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Loading 3D cube…

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 R U' R' F'

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

Before the example

After the full sequence

Drag each cube to inspect its other faces.

Another case: Start with an L

Start with an L

Yellow edges start at back and left. The first six moves make a left–right line; the next six complete the cross. Pause after move 6 and identify the line.

Example grip: yellow up · blue front · red right at the start. Follow any written whole-cube rotations.

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Loading 3D cube…

Drag to inspect other faces. Arrow keys rotate the view when the cube is focused.

Copy this exact example on your own cube

F U R U' R' F' F U R U' R' F'

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

Before the example

After the full sequence

Drag each cube to inspect its other faces.

Another case: Start with a dot

Start with a dot

No yellow edges face up at the start. The first six moves make an L; U2 at move 7 places it at back-left. The next six moves make a left–right line, then the final six complete the cross. Pause after moves 7 and 13 to recognize the new case.

Example grip: yellow up · blue front · red right at the start. Follow any written whole-cube rotations.

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Loading 3D cube…

Drag to inspect other faces. Arrow keys rotate the view when the cube is focused.

Copy this exact example on your own cube

F U R U' R' F' F U R U' R' F' U2 F U R U' R' F'

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

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

Count only yellow edges on top. Choose the matching case, perform the sequence, then recognize the new case before repeating.

Open a 3×3 Digital Cube for practice

Opens 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 pattern does not change as expected.

Ignore yellow corners, then reset the shape: L at back-left or line left–right. Make sure you include the closing F′.

I see one or three yellow edges.

Check that the lower layers are solved and count only edge pieces. On 4×4 this can be parity; on a correctly assembled 3×3 it is not a normal case.

Before moving on

Check your result

Your cube at this stage

A yellow cross on top

All four yellow edges face up. Yellow corners and the side colors of the top edges may still need work.

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

All four yellow edge stickers face up.I ignored corner stickers when identifying dot, L, or line.The first two layers are still solved.

Check every item when you can do it yourself.