My solution to the 3x3x3 Rubik's Cube

3x3x3 Solution

Home | Orientation Cases | Permutation Cases

11/13/04: Orientations have been overhauled
I completely overhauled the orientations page to include cases from different angles as well as reflections that I use. I have also made the finger trick notation much more explicit to show more clearly how I do each case. I have also learned a lot of new algorithms since I made this page, and have changed the OLL page to reflect that. Enjoy!

News: I am currently working on overhauling my permutations as well, so keep checking back for the new permutations page as well.

Below is a simple explanation of my 3x3x3 solving system.

How I solve the Rubik's cube

Step 1:	Form a cross on the bottom face of four edge pieces, making sure the colors line up with the bottom face and the adjacent center piece for each edge.
Step 2:	Put in the correct corner/edge pair into each empty "slot" in the bottom and middle layers. There are four of these. Putting these four in will complete the first two layers.
Step 3:	Orient all the pieces on the top face to show the same color on top. (1 algorithm out of 40)
Step 4:	Move all the pieces in the top layer to their correct positions without changing their correct orientation. (1 algorithm out of 13)

Watch me solve a scrambled cube in 17.88 seconds

This page only lists the algorithms I use for the last layer of my solution. I feel that there is enough literature online about quick and efficient ways to solve the last layer, so this page will be solely dedicated to my last layer algorithms.

In order to make this page more complete, I will include some links to various online resources for the first two layers.

My Method

First two layers:

Algorithms section here on speedcubing.com Here is a page Ron compiled with lots of algorithms for the first two layers. Includes algorithms for placing cross on the side, the bottom, or the top.

Jessica Fridrich's first two layers page

Last Layer:

For each step I have included the algorithm for each case in standard 3x3x3 notation, as well as the algorithm including finger tricks, cube rotations, and double layer turns that I use for that particular case.

Orientations 40 algorithms for orienting the last layer after completing the first two layers
Permutations 13 algorithms for moving all the now correctly oriented pieces to their correct positions.

Thanks to Jessica Fridrich for use of the pictures for each case on the orientations and permutations pages.

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