Step 7: put the yellow edges in place and finish

Only the top edges are left. You'll swap them around with one of two closely related algorithms, called U-perms.

Find the solved side

1. Turn the top until the corners line up with the sides.
2. Look for a side whose whole top row matches its centre. That side is solved.
3. Turn the whole cube so the solved side is at the back.

Now the other three edges need to move one place around: either clockwise or anticlockwise. Look at the front edge and where it needs to go.

Front edge needs to go right: Ua

R U' R U R U R U' R' U' R2

Front edge needs to go left: Ub

R2 U R U R' U' R' U' R' U R'

Ub is Ua played backwards. If you choose the wrong one, it's not a disaster: the edges move round one step the wrong way, so do the same algorithm once more.

No solved side?

1. Do Ua with any side at the back. One side becomes solved.
2. Turn the whole cube to put that side at the back.
3. Do Ua or Ub.

You solved it

That's the whole beginner method:

1. Cross.
2. Corners.
3. Middle layer.
4. Yellow cross.
5. Yellow face.
6. Yellow corners.
7. Yellow edges.

Expect your first few solves to take 5–10 minutes. With practice most people get under two minutes. When you want to go faster, the next chapter introduces CFOP.

Common mistakes

• Solved side at the front. It must be at the back.
• Turning the top instead of the whole cube to move the solved side. Turning just the top moves the corners out of place.
• Mixing up R and R' in the long sequence. Say it in pairs out loud: "R U-prime, R U, R U, R U-prime, R-prime U-prime, R2".