# Step 1: solve the white cross

The beginner method solves the cube in layers. It starts with a white cross on the top face. The four white edges have to match the centres on the sides too, not just the top.

Hold the cube with the **white centre on top** for this whole step.

## The goal

Each white edge sits between the white centre and its own side colour. For example, the white-green edge sits above the green centre.

> 3D demo, Finished white cross (white on top)

The rest of the cube can be any mess. We only care about these four edges.

## How to do it

Do one edge at a time:

1. Find a white edge.
2. Note its other colour.
3. Bring it above the centre of that colour, with white facing up.

You'll meet one of these cases.

### The edge is on the bottom, white facing down

1. Turn the bottom (`D`) until the edge sits directly under its own side centre.
2. Turn that side twice. Here the edge belongs on the right, so the second move is `R2`.

> 3D demo, Bottom, white facing down → line it up, then turn the side twice: `D' R2`

### The edge is in the middle layer

Turn the side face it's next to so the edge rises to the top.

If that knocks out a cross edge you'd already placed, do the move, then turn the top to move the new edge out of the way, and undo the first move.

> 3D demo, Middle layer, white facing right → F': `F'`

> 3D demo, Middle layer, white facing left → F: `F`

### The edge is on top but flipped

The white sticker faces sideways instead of up. Take it out and bring it back the other way round with `F U' R U`. The `U` at the end puts back the edge that `U'` moved.

> 3D demo, On top but flipped → F U' R U: `F U' R U`

### The edge is on the bottom, white facing sideways

`F' U' R U` brings it up the right way round.

> 3D demo, Bottom, white facing the front → F' U' R U: `F' U' R U`

## Check before moving on

Look at each side:
- The top middle sticker must match the centre below it.
- If two edges are swapped, take one out by turning its side twice, then put both back in.

## Common mistakes

- **A white "plus" without matching sides.** A white cross with the sides wrong is not finished. The next steps rely on the sides matching.
- **Knocking out a finished edge.** Before turning a side, check whether a cross edge is on it. If one is, turn the top first to move it out of the way.
- **Rushing.** This step is intuitive and has no algorithm to learn. Take your time; it gets fast with practice.

Source: https://scanmycube.com/learn/beginner/white-cross