Cube Tools

2x2 Beginner Method

Bottom Side

The first step is the most instinctive and intuitive step: we are going to solve a side.

(For those of you familiar with a layer-by-layer approach, I really do mean a side, not a layer. We will position the layer in the next step.)

The First Three Pieces

Let’s start with the white pieces because they are easy to see. Solving three of the four white pieces is usually not so bad. The goal is to get something like this:

A 2x2 cube with three of the four white corner stickers on the top face, the fourth top position gray, and every other sticker gray

Position the Last White Piece

Once you get three white pieces on a side, turn the cube so that that side is on the bottom.

A 2x2 cube seen from below with the white side on the bottom, all four bottom stickers white and every other sticker gray

Look to see where the last white sticker is. If the white sticker is in the top layer, spin the top until the sticker is over the unsolved bottom corner.

White bottom side with one corner unsolved and the last white sticker on the front face of the top layer, above the unsolved corner
Sticker on front
White bottom side with one corner unsolved and the last white sticker on the right face of the top layer, above the unsolved corner
Sticker on right
White bottom side with one corner unsolved and the last white sticker on the top face, above the unsolved corner
Sticker on top

If the white sticker is in the bottom layer but facing sideways, that’s OK too. Just turn the cube so that the unsolved corner is in the front right of the cube, as below.

White bottom side with the unsolved corner at the front right and its white sticker facing the front
Sticker on front
White bottom side with the unsolved corner at the front right and its white sticker facing the right
Sticker on right

Solve the Last White Piece

When your cube looks like one of these five pictures, you can solve the white side with this algorithm: (R U R' U'). In the cubing community, this algorithm is called “Sexy Move”. Repeat that algorithm until the white sticker has joined its three friends on the bottom of the cube. You won’t need to use it more than five times.

For the more ambitious among you, I am also including a shortcut algorithm for each of these five cases.

White bottom side with the last white sticker on the front face of the top layer

Repeat 5 times

(R U R' U')5

Alternates

  • (U R U' R')
White bottom side with the last white sticker on the bottom layer facing the front

Repeat 4 times

(R U R' U')4

Alternates

  • (R U' R' U) (R U' R')
White bottom side with the last white sticker on the top face

Repeat 3 times

(R U R' U')3

Alternates

  • (R U2 R' U') (R U R')
White bottom side with the last white sticker on the bottom layer facing the right

Repeat 2 times

(R U R' U')2

Alternates

  • (R U R' U') (R U R')
White bottom side with the last white sticker on the right face of the top layer

Repeat once

(R U R' U')

Alternates

  • (R U R')

When the bottom of the cube is all white, you are ready to move on to the next step.