Beginner Method
This method is a simplfied version of CFOP intended for people who are learning to solve the Rubik's cube for the first time. It's relatively simple and only relies on a few algorithms yet provides solid ground work for those eager to improve their solving times. Take a look at the notations page to learn how to read the algorithms on this page. It's the standard notation that pretty much everybody uses so what you're learning will also be useful outside of this guide when looking up other algorithms or methods on the internet.
Introduction
Before we get into the meat we'll first talk a little about the cube in general. First things first, the cube consists of 26 moving pieces. This simple fact is very important for solving the cube because it means we can't just solve one color or one side at a time since we can't move colors independently, only whole pieces. Notice how when you turn one side, not only are you rotating the 9 colors around, you're also shifting 12 colors on the adjacent stickers to a new face. So when doing a turn you're acually moving 8 pieces around a central axis. Also note how pieces come in different types:
- Center Pieces:
These are in the center of every face. They can't move, ever! Even when rotating the middle layer, it's the same as turning the entire cube around. - Edge Pieces:
They're inbetween two center pieces and have two colors each. In total, there's 12 of them. - Corner Pieces:
These sit between three edge pieces. They each have three colors and come in 8.
So when solving the cube it's important to consider what all the colors of a piece are doing and not just worry about one color. With this in mind we're ready to take on the solve.
Steps
Cross
The first step is to build a cross on one side. I'll start on white for simplicity but any side is fine. This is done by placing the four edges with a white side so that there's a white cross on the white face. Important is also what the other color of every edge piece matches with its center piece on the adjacent face.
At the end of this step your cube should look like this.
First Layer
In this step we'll complete the first layer of the cube by positioning the four white corners. First, rotate the cube so the white cross is facing right. We can now move the left face freely without breaking that we've already built. Turn the left face to line up a corner so its horizontally opposite its desired spot. This means both the other colors need to match the center pieces as well. Then rotate the entire cube, while keeping the white face right, until that corner piece points its white side up. The corner piece will now be either in the row close to you or or on the row facing away. Based on its position apply one of the following short algorithms to put the corner into its spot on the white side.
There's two special cases you can run into but they're both easily fixed. First, if you encounter a white piece that is facing left so it won't ever point towards the top, position it in the bottom row close to you on the top layer, with an empty slot on the right and perform this algorithm: U L2 U'
Second, if a corner piece is already in some slot on the white side you can simply insert a random corner into its spot, taking the incorrently oriented one out.
At the end of this step your cube should now look like this.
Middle Layer
In this step we will complete the middle layer by inserting the four edges. First, rotate the cube so that the white face is poiting down and yellow up. We will keep this basic orientation for the rest of the solve. Now we can move the top layer without disturbing the first layer. From the top side pick an edge piece that doesn't have a yellow side and position it so that it aligns with its center on the side. Then, turn the cube so that the edge is closest to you and note what color is facing up. It either matches the face on the left or right and depending on the case apply one of the following two algorithms.
Again, you can run into the case that there is no edge in the top layer but the one in the middle layer is flipped. Take this edge out by inserting any edge from the top layer into the spot where the wrong edge is located. You'll then have the desired edge in the top layer and you can insert it using the algorithms above.
At the end of this step your cube should look like this.
Yellow Cross
In this step we'll build a yellow cross on the top face. This is done simply looking at the pattern of the yellow edges on the top and then applying one of two algorithms. Note that if no yellow edges are pointing up, just apply any one of the algorithms and you'll arrive at a state pictured below.
If you have a yellow cross and your cube looks like this, you can move onto the next step.
Yellow Side
Now that we've oriented the edges by making a yellow cross, we'll now orient all the corners to arrive at a full yellow side. There's again only two algorithms you need to memorize, and they're mirror versions of each other. Simply apply those algorithms in succession until you reach a state where only one of the yellow corners points up. Then apply the algorithm from the correct angle one last time to finish this step.
At the end of this step your cube should look like this.
Permute Corners
In this step we'll permute all remaining corners, meaning that we'll put them into their correct places. On the side of the top layer search for a pair of matching colors on the corners. Hold the cube so that that pair is facing away from you and perform the algorithm below. If there is no pair of matching colors on the corners anywhere, apply the algorithm from any angle and you'll get one such pair.
Before moving on your cube should look like this.
Permute Edges
Finally, we will permute all the edges to solve the cube. Again, take a look at the side of the top layer and find a side that's completely solved and hold your cube so that side is facing away from you. Now look at the edge facing you, and see whether it has the color of the side facing the left or the right. Depending on the case, perform the correct algorithm below. If no side is completely done on the side, perform any of the below algorthms once and then repeat the procedure.
Congratulations! Your cube should now be solved.
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