Simply Rubik
A solution for beginners and much more

Solution 3, Final Layer Corners then Edges

REMEMBER: Before starting any algorithm, make sure that the front (dark grey) face is facing you and the top layer is on the top.

 

The aim of this section is to take you from this

  

to this

  

solving Rubik's Cube.

This solution assumes that you can solve the first two layers.

Important: To successfully solve the top layer each step must be completed in the order it appears on this page.

Step 1. Positioning The Corners

If all four corners are in the correct position then go to, "Step 2. Orienting The Corners".  You might find it easier to ignore the top face colour when determining where each corner belongs.

Front face dark grey
L' U' L F U F' L' U L U2
Left face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Anti-clock		 Left face
Clockwise		 Front face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise		 Front face
Anti-clock		 Left face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Clockwise		 Left face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise

 

Front face dark grey
L' U' L F U2 F' L' U L
Left face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Anti-clock		 Left face
Clockwise		 Front face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise		 Front face
Anti-clock		 Left face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Clockwise		 Left face
Clockwise

 

Front face dark grey
F2 R'2 F L F R'2 F R' F U
Front face
Clockwise		 Front face
Clockwise		 Right face
Anti-clock		 Right face
Anti-clock		 Front face
Clockwise		 Left face
Clockwise		 Front face
Anti-clock		 Right face
Anti-clock		 Right face
Anti-clock		 Front face
Clockwise		 Left face
Anti-clock		 Front face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise

Step 2. Orienting The Corners

If all four corners are showing white faces on the up face then go to, "Step 3: Positioning The Edges". If only one of the corners is showing a white face then perform the appropriate algorithm to rotate the other three.

Algorithm 1. Front face dark grey
   
L' U' L U' L' U'2 L U'2
Left face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Anti-clock		 Left face
Clockwise		 Up face
Anti-clock		 Left face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Anti-clock		 Left face
Clockwise		 Up face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Anti-clock

 

Algorithm 2. Front face dark grey
   
R U R' U R U2 R' U2
Right face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise		 Right face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Clockwise		 Right face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise		 Right face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise

The following configurations require the performance of two algorithm, firstly perform algorithm 1 then check the top configuration of the cube to ensure that the front face is facing you to perform algorithm 1 or algorithm 2.

Front face dark grey
      or  
or
1 then 2   1 then 2   1 then 2   1 then 1   1 then 1

An easy way to remember how to hold your cube when it has one of the above configurations is, if there are two white corner faces showing on the up face, you must have a white corner face on the top right of the front face and if there are no white corner faces showing on the up face then you have no white corner face on the front face.

Step 3. Positioning The Edges

If all four edges are are in the right position then go to, "Step 4: Orienting The Edges".  Rotating the Middle on its own reduces the size of the algorithms, making them easier to remember.

Front face dark grey
M'
 
M
   
M'
 
M
(LM)' L U' (LM) L' U'2 (LM)' L U' (LM) L'
Left both
Anti-Clock		 Left face
Clockwise		 Up face
Anti-clock		 Left both
Clockwise		 Left face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Anti-clock		 Left both
Anti-Clock		 Left face
Clockwise		 Up face
Anti-clock		 Left both
Clockwise		 Left face
Anti-clock

 

Front face dark grey
M'
 
M
   
M'
 
M
(LM)' L U (LM) L' U2 (LM)' L U (LM) L'
Left both
Anti-Clock		 Left face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise		 Left both
Clockwise		 Left face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise		 Left both
Anti-Clock		 Left face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise		 Left both
Clockwise		 Left face
Anti-clock

Step 4. Orienting The Edges

Nearly there, but these are two whopper algorithms.  However, rotating the equator/middle layer on its own shortens them quite a bit.  

Front face dark grey
 
E'
   
E2
       
F (DE)' D R2 (DE)2 D'2 R' U2 R
Front face
Clockwise		 Down both
Anti-clock		 Down face
Clockwise		 Right face
Clockwise		 Right face
Clockwise		 Down both
Clockwise		 Down both
Clockwise		 Down face
Anti-clock		 Down face
Anti-clock		 Right face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise		 Right face
Clockwise
E2
   
E
         
(DE)2 D'2 R' (DE) D' R U2 R' F'
Down both
Clockwise		 Down both
Clockwise		 Down face
Anti-clock		 Down face
Anti-clock		 Right face
Anti-clock		 Right face
Anti-clock		 Down both
Clockwise		 Down face
Anti-clock		 Right face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise		 Right face
Anti-clock		 Front face
Anti-clock

 

Front face dark grey
 
E'
   
E2
     
R' (DE)' D R2 (DE)2 D'2 R' U2
Right face
Anti-clock		 Down both
Anti-clock		 Down face
Clockwise		 Right face
Clockwise		 Right face
Clockwise		 Down both
Clockwise		 Down both
Clockwise		 Down face
Anti-clock		 Down face
Anti-clock		 Right face
Anti-clock		 Up face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise
 
E2
   
E
     
R (DE)2 D'2 R'2 (DE) D' R U2
Right face
Clockwise		 Down both
Clockwise		 Down both
Clockwise		 Down face
Anti-clock		 Down face
Anti-clock		 Right face
Anti-clock		 Right face
Anti-clock		 Down both
Clockwise		 Down face
Anti-clock		 Right face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise		 Up face
Clockwise

NOTE:  If you are solving a cube with pictures, letters or numbers on the faces, such as a Sudoku cube, this solution will more often than not leave you with centres that are not correctly oriented so the following statement is not strictly correct.  For a solution for picture cubes and algorithms for rotating centres see 3x3x3 Extras.

That's it, you have solved Rubik's Cube, happy cubing.
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