How to Solve a 2x2

Rubik’s Cube

By: Justin Wenzel

Contents
Cube Overview..............................................................................................3
Cube Notation............................................................................................3
Top Layer.....................................................................................................4
First Layer Tips and Explanations..................................................................5
Checkpoint.................................................................................................6
Corner Orientation.........................................................................................6
Checkpoint.................................................................................................7
Bottom Layer................................................................................................8
Bottom Layer Tips.......................................................................................9
Checkpoint.................................................................................................9
Corner Orientation.........................................................................................9
Final Checkpoint.......................................................................................10
Conclusion..................................................................................................10
Cheat Sheet................................................................................................11
Cube Overview
Rubik’s cubes are fascinating puzzles when released they were introduced as
complex and many thought only a “genius” could solve the color-coded problem.
After years of being released to the public many now know the truth, it is not a
genius that can solve the cube but someone who puts in the effort and time to
learn the patterns. There are truly only two reasons someone wants to solve a
Rubik’s cube one being they want to learn and master the cube being able to
improve their time and show friends and family a fascinating trick. The other is
someone messed up the colors on your cube and now you want to fix the
potential eyesore of distorted colors and return the cube to its perfect color
combination. No matter what the reason, we will solve the cube by using simple
steps starting with cube notation.

Cube Notation
Cube notation is not complex or very long; there are only seven things you must
be aware of F, B, U, D, R, L, and prime ( ‘ ). Each letter represents a section of
the cube, and when that letter is used in cube notation, that section is moved.
For example, if F is called, the front section of the cube will be rotated clockwise.
If F prime (F’) is called, the front section will be rotated counterclockwise.
Overall, the prime symbol means the opposite. Each letter used references
turning that section 90 degrees or one-fourth of the way. Attached below is a
table and image to help identify and explain the sections of cube notation.

Name Symbol Definition

Front Face F The front section rotates
clockwise
Back Face B The back section rotates
clockwise
Upper Face U The upper section rotates
clockwise
Down Face D The down section rotates
clockwise
Right Face R The right section rotates
clockwise
Left Face L The left section rotates
clockwise
Prime ‘ Prime is counterclockwise
Top Layer
Before starting the top layer, there are a few things that must be clarified. A top
layer must be decided in theory, any color can be the top layer, but most
commonly, it is either white or yellow. In this demonstration, white will be the
top layer, and yellow will be the bottom layer. When trying to complete the top
layer, start by finding a starting side (I advise using the side with the most white
squares already on it). Next, we will put each remaining piece into place to
create one complete side of the cube. There are only three possible scenarios
that can occur for putting a piece into its corner spot (Fig. 3).
Figure 3

First Layer Tips and Explanations

While completing the first layer your cube may only have one white square on
the top that is okay. The idea is to find squares by rotating the bottom using the
Down Face movement. Once you have found a white square line it up underneath
the square you want to change it out with as shown above. The bottom white
square will match one of the three variations given above. Next orient the cube
so it matches one of the images with how you are holding it for example using
the first variation, the proper way to hold the cube would be the blue is facing
you, and the white would be on the right side, then you would perform the
algorithm below using cube notation. Once complete, the white square will be
moved up, then move on to another white square. Sometimes the white square
may already be on the top layer but facing the wrong direction. If this occurs,
perform any of the algorithms above and keep the correct orientation. This will
move the square down and replace it with a temporary color allowing you to line
up the cube again and perform one of the above algorithms depending on the
variation you have. This sometimes takes time to get used to. Do not expect to
complete it on your first attempt. It takes time to get used to lining the colors up
correctly.
 Checkpoint
Figure 4

After completing the Top Layer, the cube

should look like Fig. 4. Once this is achieved,
continue to the next step, Corner Orientation.

Corner Orientation
Once the top layer is put together, you may notice that the colors right below
the white layer are not oriented correctly. This is okay and will be fixed. But
sometimes, after completing the white layer, the colors will be oriented correctly.
If this happens, you can skip this step, but I still advise you to learn this step as
it is important. To start Corner Orientation, we will look to see if any colors are
already side by side. If this is true, keep the white layer up and the mismatched
colors facing you, then perform the algorithm in Fig. 5. If no colors are touching
side by side, then hold the white layer up with any side facing you and perform
the algorithm in Fig. 5. Once performed correctly, there will be one side that has
its colors side by side, then do the algorithm again with the side-by-side colors in
the back and white layer still up (Fig. 5). A good note is keeping the colors that
are mixed up facing you use Fig. 6 as a reference for what complete and
incomplete looks like. A good rule to follow with longer algorithms is to not
change the orientation of the
cube once you start, finish
the algorithm in that
orientation then see what you
completed.

Figure 5

In the image, the green and

blue are not correctly oriented,
but the colors in the back are.
Use the algorithm by holding the cube in the same orientation as the image (Mixed
up colors facing you).

Checkpoint

Figure 6

After completing Corner Orientation, the cube

should look like Fig. 6. Once this is achieved,
continue to the next step, the Bottom Layer.

Bottom Layer
Now that half of the cube is solved, it will now be flipped over. The white side will
be down, and the yellow side will now be our focus for the rest of the solution. To
start, face the white side down and inspect the new top side to see which of the
seven cases it matches down below in Fig. 7. Once you have which case
matches the current state of your cube, perform the algorithm under that case
 and orient your cube like the case shown in the image. Such that the cube
orientation and case match before starting the algorithm. For reference, we are
focusing on the yellow portions of the cube when looking for the case. The other
colors do not matter at this time.

Figure 7

Bottom Layer Tips

If you do not orient the cube correctly, do not worry; if you perform the
algorithm correctly the other half of the cube will still be together, but you will
have to see what new case exists because the first case found will not always
match after the algorithm is performed in the wrong orientation.
 Checkpoint
Figure 8

After completing Bottom Layer, the cube should look like

Fig. 8. Once this is achieved, continue to the next step,
Corner Orientation.

Corner Orientation
Once the Bottom Layer step is complete things might start to look familiar and
this is because it looks just like the previous Corner Orientation step but instead
of the white layer being up top the yellow layer is now up top. The same
algorithm from Fig. 5 will be used and all conditions from the previous Corner
Orientation still apply but the only difference is that yellow is now our top side.
section but have the white side down now and yellow now up. Below in Fig. 9 is
the algorithm for Corner Orientation.

Figure 9

Final Checkpoint
Figure 10

Once completing the final Corner Orientation algorithm,

the cube should look like Fig. 10.
Conclusion
Congratulations, you have now solved your first 2x2 Rubik’s Cube. From here,
you may have had some mess-ups or algorithms that did not go as planned. This
is not a skill that is perfected the first time. It takes practice. I advise you to
scramble your cube again and start over and continue to solve the cube using
the instructions above. Once you do not need the words or explanations but need
the algorithms, below is a “cheat sheet” I suggest printing off. It has all
algorithms and cases for quick reference and on-the-go practice. Once you have
perfected this cube and can perform it with no help from the “cheat sheet” I
suggest moving up to the 3x3 Rubik’s Cube.

Cheat Sheet

Cube Notation

Corner Orientation
Corner Piece Algorithms

Bottom Layer Cases and Algorithms