Step 1: Solve the White Edge Pieces in the First Layer

Bad white cross

Good white cross

The easiest step is solving the first layer edges of the Rubik's Cube. Choose one color you want to start with. In this beginner's tutorial we're going to start with the white face.

I suggest you try to solve the first face without reading these instructions, so you can feel the sense of accomplishment when you complete it all alone. This step is not so hard because you don't have to take care of so many solved cubelets yet.

You can determine where a piece comes according to the colour of the center pieces which never swap places. Every edge must fit to the side center piece too. See the attached image.

The idea is to put the first edge to the right spot, oriented correctly, then the second piece so you don't mess up the one you have already solved. When you solve the fourth you have to take care not to mess up the three solved pieces so it gets harder step by step.

Example Tricks

Check out the algorithms below to see what moves you need to know.

Flipping An Edge

The most complicated case is when three edges are done and the last one is oriented wrong. This is the fastest way to flip an edge: F takes the edge to the equator, U' moves the empty spot in place, R moves the edge up in the top again, now well-oriented, U restores the position.

Press the play button to see the animations.

From The Bottom Layer

Another tricky situation is when the last white edge is on the front face but you can't just simply move it to the top because it would end up facing in the wrong direction. We can use the previous trick starting with a double front turn:

F2 followed by (F U' R U), which gives F' U' R U because three quater turns of a face in one direction is in fact a reverse rotation.

From The Middle Layer

Similar to the previous cases, sometimes you find the last edge in the second layer oriented wrong.

The same case mirrored:

The example below shows an example when the last unsolved white edge is stuck in the equator but not in the position mentioned above.