Steps to solving the Rubik's cube (3x3x3)


• Step 6: Position the four remaining pieces

Position the cube as shown in Figure 13, with side 1 on the right. Now the slice we have been calling the middle horizontal slice has become the middle vertical slice, V. Rotate the middle vertical slice and side 2 until each middle-center piece matches up with its corresponding side 1 and side 2 edge and corner pieces. Examine the four remaining center-edge pieces.

6a. If none of the four center-edge pieces is in the correct position:

Figure 13 Position the cube as shown in Figure 13, placing side 1 on the right and side 2 on the left (the rest don't matter here). Perform Move 7, then proceed to step 6b.
Move 7: V U2 V-1 U2 
In words, rotate the middle vertical slice (between the blue and white sides) one quarter turn clockwise (away from you), the top side (yellow here) two quarter turns (half-way around), the vertical slice 1/4 turn counter-clockwise (back toward you), and the top half-way around again.
6b. If just one of the pieces is in the correct position:
Figure 14  Position the cube as shown in Figure 14, placing the correctly positioned (not necessarily oriented) center-edge piece to the back of the cube so that it cannot be seen. Perform Move 7, one, two, or three times until each center-edge piece is in the correct position. Proceed to step 6d.
6c. If two pieces are in the correct position, but are diagonal to one another, then position the cube as shown in Figure 16, perform Move 8, and proceed to step 7a.

6d. When all four center-edge pieces are correctly positioned, proceed to step 7. 

• Step 7: Orient the four center-edge pieces

The following "Rube Move", named after Mr. Rubik himself (since he formulated it), will flip the two center-edge pieces on the top side of the cube shown in Figure 15.

If two center-edge pieces are correct and the two that are wrong are diagonal to each other then perform step 7b and proceed to step 7a.

7a. For parallel misoriented pieces:

Figure 15 First orient the cube so that the two misoriented center-edge pieces are on the top side of the cube as shown in Figure 15 and perform Move 8. Next, place the remaining two center-edge pieces in the top positions and, if misoriented, perform Move 8.
Move 8: V U V U V U2   V-1 U V-1 U V-1 U2 
In words, rotate the middle vertical slice (between the blue and white sides) one quarter turn clockwise (away from you), the top side 1/4 turn clockwise, the vertical slice 1/4 turn up, the top 1/4 turn clockwise, the vertical slice 1/4 turn up, the top two quarter turns (half-way around), the vertical slice 1/4 turn counter-clockwise (back toward you), the top 1/4 turn clockwise, etc.
7b. For diagonally misoriented pieces:
Figure 16  Position the cube as shown in Figure 16. Rotate the front (red side) two turns (F2), perform Move 8, then rotate the front two more turns (F2). You are essentially making the cube look like Figure 15, then using Move 8, then re-orienting the front pieces.
Figure 17  Congratulations, you've solved the cube.

If you have pictures on the faces of your cube, or a logo on the middle-center piece of each side, see these instructions for extra help.

I hope you have found these directions to be clear and complete, yet concise. If these directions help you to solve the cube, I would enjoy hearing from you.

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Last Modified May 9, 2009