RubiksIllusions

Rubik's Cube solution: layer by layer method

Last update: 2007, 20 January

Layer by layer resolution method consists in solving in succession the three layers of Rubik's Cube: up, middle and down.

First layer (up)

We have to decide the initial position of the Cube watching at the central pieces' colors. They never change position and have the colors of the faces when the Cube is solved. Choosed a position we can distinguish the three layers and complete the first. We haven't only to complete a face with a color but we have to do it so that all the cubelets are well positioned, too.

First step

The first thing to do is make a cross on the first layer. We have to position four edges of the up layer, which will be well positioned and well oriented. To do that we can use this algorithm on all the four edges:

• we position the Rubik's Cube letting the edge to position being in U-R;
• we find the corner with the corresponding colors, watching at the colors if the U and R faces, and we position it;
• if the edge is not well oriented we apply the moves sequence R' U F' U'.

Second step

We position three white corners keeping the cross we have maked. The base formulas are: F D F', R' D' R e R' D R F D² F'. We identify the corner we want to position and orient recognizing from the three colors and we move it like in the picture, i.e. in the down layer of the same coloumn where it will be placed. Depending of the orientation it has we apply one of the three formulas. The next three pictures shows how to place the white/green/red corner, already identified and moved in the down layer.

In next picture a complete example of three corners positioning.

When we have positioned three corners we should have the situation in the picture. We have leaved one of the four corners because we will use it to complete the second layer. We call this corner working corner. Note the position in which we have leaved the Cube in next picture.