Cube Primer

Six colors, a few algorithms, no genius required

Solve the cube, step by step.

Solving a Rubik's Cube is a method anyone can learn, not a trick of genius or luck. We walk you through cube notation and a small set of algorithms, then the beginner layer-by-layer method that gets you to a finished cube. You will learn how to pick a good speed cube without overspending, and once you can solve, how to shave your times down step by step.

Getting StartedSolving BasicsThe Beginner MethodFaster MethodsCube GearPractice & Speed

Ao5 / Ao12 Average Calculator

Enter your solve times and get a WCA-style trimmed average, with DNFs handled the same way competitions score them.

Enter all 5 solves to see your average.

The best and worst solve are dropped automatically, same as WCA competition scoring. A DNF counts as your worst solve; a second DNF makes the whole average a DNF.

Turns Per Second Calculator

Work out your turns per second from a solve, or project a solve time from a method's typical move count and your TPS.

All free tools →

Latest guides

50 guides
Practice & Speed

How to Use a Cube Timer (and Read Your Times)

Learn how to use a cube timer for speedcubing, understand your results, track averages, and build the habit that actually lowers your solve times.

July 4, 2026
The Beginner Method

The Only Algorithms a Beginner Actually Needs

A short, complete list of beginner Rubik's cube algorithms that solve the whole cube, with clear notation and tips for learning each one.

July 4, 2026
Faster Methods

How to Get Faster Without Learning Every Algorithm

Most speed gains come from turning technique, look-ahead, and smarter solving, not memorizing dozens of algorithms. Here's where to focus first.

July 3, 2026
Solving Basics

How to Memorize Cube Algorithms More Easily

Practical techniques to memorize Rubik's Cube algorithms faster, from muscle memory and chunking to spaced practice and finger feel.

July 3, 2026
Cube Gear

How Much Should You Spend on a Speed Cube?

A plain-spoken guide to speed cube price tiers, what extra money actually buys, and why beginners rarely need to spend more than $15.

July 2, 2026
Cube Gear

How to Choose Your First Speed Cube

Find the best speed cube for beginners with this plain-English guide to what actually matters: turning feel, magnets, price tiers, and what to skip.

July 2, 2026
Getting Started

A Brief, Friendly History of the Rubik's Cube

From Erno Rubik's Budapest workshop to world championships: a plain-spoken look at how the cube was invented and why it never went away.

July 1, 2026
Practice & Speed

Drills That Actually Make You a Faster Cuber

Concrete speedcubing drills to cut your solve times: slow solves, cross drills, finger-trick reps, F2L pair practice, and more.

July 1, 2026
Faster Methods

What Is CFOP? The Method Speedcubers Use

CFOP is the most popular speedsolving method for the Rubik's Cube, breaking the solve into four stages: Cross, F2L, OLL, and PLL. Here's how it works.

June 30, 2026
Practice & Speed

What's a Good Rubik's Cube Solve Time?

Learn what counts as a good Rubik's Cube solve time at every stage, from first solves to competition level, with real benchmarks and beginner goals.

June 30, 2026
Faster Methods

Two-Look OLL and PLL: An Easier Path to CFOP

Learn how two-look OLL and two-look PLL cut CFOP's last layer from 78 algorithms to about 16, making faster solving achievable for beginners.

June 29, 2026
Getting Started

How Many Moves Does It Take to Solve a Rubik's Cube?

Learn about God's Number (20 moves), how many moves beginners actually use, and what the difference means for your solving journey.

June 28, 2026
The Beginner Method

Step 6: Permuting the Last Layer to Finish the Solve

Learn how to finish a Rubik's cube last layer by cycling corners and edges into place with two beginner algorithms.

June 28, 2026
Solving Basics

Edges, Corners, and Centers: The Three Piece Types

Learn the three types of pieces on a Rubik's Cube, corners, edges, and centers, and why knowing them makes solving much easier.

June 27, 2026
The Beginner Method

The Layer-by-Layer Method: How Beginners Solve the Cube

The layer-by-layer method breaks a Rubik's Cube into six beginner-friendly stages. Learn what each stage does and how few algorithms you actually need.

June 27, 2026
Cube Gear

Beyond the 3x3: 2x2, 4x4, and the Pyraminx

A beginner's guide to popular twisty puzzles beyond the standard 3x3, covering the 2x2, 4x4, Pyraminx, Skewb, and Megaminx.

June 26, 2026
Faster Methods

What Is Look-Ahead and How Do You Practice It?

Learn what look-ahead means in speedcubing, why it cuts your pauses, and how to practice it so your solve times drop steadily.

June 26, 2026
Solving Basics

Rubik's Cube Notation Explained (R, U, L, D, F, B)

Learn what R, U, L, D, F, and B mean in Rubik's Cube notation — plus primes, doubles, wide moves, and how to read any algorithm as a beginner.

June 25, 2026
Practice & Speed

What Is Cross Efficiency and Why It Matters for Speed

Learn how cross efficiency cuts your Rubik's Cube solve time by reducing white cross moves from 10-15 down to 6-8 with simple planning habits.

June 25, 2026
Practice & Speed

How to Break Through a Speed Plateau

Stuck at the same cube time? Learn why progress stalls and how to break through a cubing plateau with look-ahead, F2L fixes, and smarter practice.

June 24, 2026
The Beginner Method

Step 5: Orienting the Last Layer (Yellow Face)

Learn how to orient the last layer corners so every sticker on the yellow face points up, using the Sune algorithm R U R' U R U2 R'.

June 24, 2026
Cube Gear

How to Break In a New Speed Cube

A new speed cube feels stiff and rough right out of the box. Here's how to break it in with turning, lubing, and tension setup.

June 23, 2026
Getting Started

How to Solve a Rubik's Cube: A Beginner's Guide

Learn how to solve a Rubik's Cube step by step using the beginner layer-by-layer method. Most people get their first solve within a few days.

June 23, 2026
Solving Basics

Double Turns and Wide Moves in Cube Notation

Learn what R2, U2, and wide moves mean in cube notation, including the 2 suffix, Rw moves, lowercase letters, and slice moves M, E, and S.

June 22, 2026
The Beginner Method

Step 4: How to Make the Yellow Cross

Learn how to make the yellow cross on your Rubik's Cube using one beginner algorithm. Covers the dot, L-shape, and line cases.

June 21, 2026
Cube Gear

Stickered vs Stickerless Cubes: Which Should You Get?

Stickered or stickerless? Learn the real differences, which is better for beginners, and how to pick the right cube for you.

June 21, 2026
Getting Started

How to Solve the Rubik's Cube If You Keep Getting Stuck

Getting stuck mid-solve is normal. This guide pinpoints common sticking points on the middle and last layers so you can troubleshoot and finish.

June 20, 2026
Practice & Speed

How to Get Faster Solve Times as a Beginner

Practical steps to lower your Rubik's Cube solve time as a beginner, from tracking your average to building efficient practice habits.

June 19, 2026
Faster Methods

How to Learn Finger Tricks for Faster Turning

Learn how to turn the cube faster with finger tricks. A beginner-friendly guide to the moves that cut seconds off your solve time.

June 19, 2026
Getting Started

Common Beginner Cubing Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

Struggling to solve the Rubik's Cube? These common beginner mistakes are likely the reason, and each one has a simple fix.

June 18, 2026
Solving Basics

How to Hold the Cube and Keep It Oriented

Learn how to hold a Rubik's Cube correctly and maintain orientation while solving. Master the grip and cube rotations that prevent beginner mistakes.

June 17, 2026
Getting Started

The Beginner Cubing Glossary: Terms You Need to Know

Learn the essential Rubik's Cube terms every beginner needs — from cubies and algorithms to Ao5, PB, and CFOP. Plain definitions, no jargon assumed.

June 17, 2026
Practice & Speed

How to Read and Use a Cube Scrambler

Learn what a Rubik's Cube scrambler does, how to apply scramble notation correctly, and why using one makes your practice fairer and more useful.

June 16, 2026
Cube Gear

How to Tension a Speed Cube

Learn how to tension a speed cube for faster, smoother solves. Step-by-step guide to adjusting cube tension, whether you're loosening or tightening the layers.

June 15, 2026
Faster Methods

OLL and PLL Explained for Beginners

Learn what OLL and PLL are, how they finish the last layer in CFOP, and how 2-look versions let beginners learn fewer algorithms without slowing down.

June 14, 2026
The Beginner Method

Step 3: How to Solve the Middle Layer Edges

Learn how to solve the middle layer of your Rubik's Cube using two simple algorithms. Complete step 3 of the beginner method and finish the first two layers.

June 14, 2026
Solving Basics

Why the Centers Never Move (and Why It Matters)

Rubik's Cube centers are fixed to an internal core and never change position relative to each other. Learn why this fact is the foundation of every solve.

June 13, 2026
Practice & Speed

A Realistic Practice Routine to Lower Your Times

A structured Rubik's Cube practice routine that builds real speed — timed solves, F2L look-ahead drills, finger tricks, and how to break through plateaus.

June 12, 2026
Getting Started

Speed Cube vs Original Rubik's Cube: What's the Difference?

Speed cube vs Rubik's Cube: how they differ in feel, turning, corner cutting, and magnets, plus which one beginners should actually buy.

June 12, 2026
Cube Gear

How to Lube a Speed Cube (and Why)

Learn how to lube a speed cube the right way — which products to use, how to apply them, and why lubing transforms a scratchy cube into a smooth solver.

June 11, 2026
The Beginner Method

Step 2: How to Solve the First Layer Corners

Learn how to solve the white corners on a Rubik's Cube using the beginner method. Place all four first-layer corners correctly in just a few moves.

June 10, 2026
Faster Methods

What Is F2L (First Two Layers)?

F2L stands for First Two Layers, the second step of CFOP where you pair corners and edges together and insert them in one smooth move instead of two.

June 10, 2026
Solving Basics

How to Read a Rubik's Cube Algorithm

Learn how to read Rubik's Cube algorithms step by step. Understand what each letter and symbol means so you can follow any solve sequence with confidence.

June 9, 2026
Getting Started

Is the Rubik's Cube Hard to Learn? What to Expect

Is the Rubik's Cube hard to learn? Most beginners complete their first solve in a few hours with the right method. Honest timeline and what actually takes work.

June 8, 2026
Cube Gear

Magnetic vs Non-Magnetic Cubes: What's the Difference?

Learn how magnetic and non-magnetic speed cubes differ, which is better for beginners, and whether magnets are actually worth it for your solving style.

June 7, 2026
Practice & Speed

What Is an Average of 5 (Ao5)?

Learn what an average of 5 (Ao5) means in cubing, how it's calculated, why cubers use it, and how it differs from Ao12 and single solves.

June 7, 2026
Faster Methods

Beginner Method vs CFOP: When to Make the Switch

Thinking about upgrading from the beginner method to CFOP? Learn what changes, when most solvers make the jump, and how to transition gradually.

June 6, 2026
The Beginner Method

Step 1: How to Solve the White Cross

Learn how to solve the white cross on a Rubik's Cube using the beginner-friendly daisy method. Step-by-step guide with tips for getting all four edges aligned.

June 5, 2026
Solving Basics

What Does the Prime (') Symbol Mean in Cube Notation?

The prime symbol (') after a face letter means turn that face 90° counter-clockwise. Learn how R' differs from R and how to read algorithms fluently.

June 5, 2026
Getting Started

How Does a Rubik's Cube Work? Faces, Centers, and Pieces

Learn how a Rubik's Cube actually works — the fixed centers, 12 edges, 8 corners, and why understanding the parts makes solving click.

June 4, 2026

Browse by topic

Getting StartedBegin here. A speed cube is just a smoother, faster version of the classic puzzle, with six faces that each start one solid color: white, yellow, red, orange, blue, and green. The big truth that changes everything is that solving is a learnable method, not luck or raw cleverness. You follow steps in order, and the cube finishes itself. Most people get their first full solve within a week of short, patient sessions, so plan for a little practice each day rather than one marathon.Solving BasicsThe shared language every method uses. Cube notation names the six faces by their first letter: R, L, U, D, F, B for right, left, up, down, front, and back. A plain letter means a clockwise quarter turn of that face, a prime mark (like R') means counter-clockwise, and a 2 (like U2) means a double turn. An algorithm is simply a written sequence of these turns. We also cover holding the cube in a fixed orientation while you work, and why the centers never move, so each center color tells you what that whole face will become.The Beginner MethodThe layer-by-layer approach, one step at a time. You build the white cross first, then drop in the four white corners to finish the bottom layer. Next come the middle-layer edges, then you flip the cube and make a yellow cross on top. The last layer is orienting and permuting those final pieces with a small handful of beginner algorithms you repeat until they stick. None of the steps are hard on their own, and once the sequence is in your hands you can solve any scramble.Faster MethodsWhat comes after the beginner method. Most people move toward CFOP, which stands for Cross, F2L, OLL, and PLL. The biggest leap is F2L, where you pair a corner with its matching edge and insert them together instead of solving the first two layers in separate steps. We cover finger tricks for turning quickly with small motions, look-ahead so you plan your next pieces while solving the current ones, and how full CFOP trims the move count compared with the beginner approach.Cube GearPicking the right puzzle and keeping it fast. A budget stickerless speed cube is a great, inexpensive first cube, and you do not need to spend much to get something that turns far better than an old toy-store model. We explain magnetic cubes and the snappy feel they add, how lube and tension change how a cube plays, and how to break a new one in. Once you are hooked, the same skills carry over to other puzzles like the 2x2, the 4x4, and the pyraminx.Practice & SpeedHow to actually get faster. A simple timer turns practice into progress, and cubers track an average of 5 and an average of 12 rather than a single lucky solve, because averages show your real, repeatable speed. We cover drills that genuinely lower times, like practicing your cross blindfolded or slowing down to improve look-ahead, plus how to spot a plateau and the small changes that break through it. Steady, focused reps beat frantic ones every time.