The Only Algorithms a Beginner Actually Needs

Most people assume solving a Rubik's Cube requires memorizing dozens of formulas. The good news: the beginner method uses a short, manageable list. You need about seven to eight algorithms total, and several of them share moves in common. Once you have those down, you can solve any scrambled cube from start to finish.

This guide walks through each algorithm in the order you use it during a solve. If you are still learning the layer-by-layer method overall, this list fits directly into that structure.

Why the List Is Shorter Than You Think

A lot of beginner resources bury you in algorithms before you need them. The actual beginner layer-by-layer approach uses intuitive moves for the first layer, which means no memorized sequences at all for roughly the first third of the solve. Algorithms only appear when you hit the middle layer and the top layer, where pure intuition starts to break down.

The result is a basic cube algorithms list that fits on a single index card:

Stage	Algorithm Name	Notation
Middle layer	Right insert	U R U' R' U' F' U F
Middle layer	Left insert	U' L' U L U F U' F'
Top layer	Yellow cross	F R U R' U' F'
Top layer	Sune	R U R' U R U2 R'
Top layer	Corner permutation	R U' R U R U R U' R' U' R2
Top layer	Edge permutation	R2 U R U R' U' R' U' R' U R'

That is the full list. Everything else in the beginner method is either intuitive or a short setup move you figure out on the spot.

First Layer: No Algorithms Required

The white cross and first layer corners are both solved without memorized sequences. You use logic and basic rotation to put each piece where it belongs. New solvers sometimes feel like they are doing it wrong because nothing is "official," but that flexibility is intentional. The beginner method is designed so you develop spatial intuition before you need to memorize anything.

Do not rush past this stage. Solving the first layer by thinking it through trains your eye to read the cube, which makes every later algorithm easier to understand and apply.

Middle Layer: The Two Insert Algorithms

Once the first layer is done, you slot four edge pieces into the middle layer. There are only two patterns to handle, and they mirror each other.

Right insert places an edge piece to the right of where it currently sits:

U R U' R' U' F' U F

Left insert places an edge piece to the left:

U' L' U L U F U' F'

Before running either algorithm, you rotate the top layer (U or U') until the edge piece lines up with its matching center color on the side. Then look at which direction the piece needs to go into the middle layer, and apply the matching insert.

These two algorithms are worth practicing until they feel automatic. They come up four times every solve, and recognizing the setup quickly will save you a lot of time as you improve.

Top Layer, Part 1: Making the Yellow Cross

Once the middle layer is complete, you turn the cube upside-down so the white layer is on the bottom and yellow is on top. The goal now is to solve the top layer, starting with the yellow cross.

Run this algorithm to form the cross:

F R U R' U' F'

You may need to run it two or three times, rotating the top layer between repetitions, depending on how many yellow edges are already showing. The standard teaching is to look for an L-shape or a line of yellow edges on top before applying the algorithm, since those starting shapes tell you how many repetitions you will need.

This is one of the most satisfying moments in a beginner solve. Once the yellow cross appears, you can see the end of the puzzle from here.

Top Layer, Part 2: Orienting the Corners with Sune

After the yellow cross, the four corner pieces on the top layer need to be oriented so all their yellow stickers face up. The algorithm for this is called Sune:

R U R' U R U2 R'

Find a corner that already has yellow facing up, hold the cube so that corner is at the front-right-top position, and run Sune. Then check the top layer again. Rotate the top layer only (not the whole cube) to find the next unoriented corner, repeat Sune, and continue until all four corners show yellow on top.

This stage can take two to four repetitions depending on the starting state. Beginners often feel uncertain here because the top layer looks scrambled in between repetitions. That is normal. Keep going and it resolves.

Top Layer, Part 3: Permuting Corners and Edges

With all yellow stickers facing up, the last step is putting the top layer pieces in the correct positions. This splits into two sub-steps.

Corner permutation cycles three corner pieces around the top layer until each corner is above the right position:

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

Edge permutation cycles three edge pieces around the top:

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

For both, start by finding one piece that is already in the correct position and hold it at the back-right of the top layer. Run the algorithm, check what moved, and repeat until everything is placed correctly.

These two algorithms complete the cube. When both finish and every sticker matches, you have a solved cube.

Tips for Learning the Algorithms

Learning algorithms goes faster with a few practical habits.

Break longer ones into chunks. The right insert U R U' R' U' F' U F splits naturally into two four-move groups. Learn the first half until it feels smooth, then add the second half.

Say the moves out loud. Many solvers find that reading notation aloud while practicing helps the sequence stick faster than silent repetition.

Practice one algorithm per session. Running the same algorithm fifty times in one sitting is more effective than learning three algorithms loosely. Solid repetition builds muscle memory.

Do not skip the setup positions. For the middle layer inserts and the top layer permutation algorithms, learning to recognize the correct starting position is half the skill. The algorithm itself only works when the cube is set up correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many algorithms do I actually need to memorize? For the beginner layer-by-layer method, you need seven to eight, listed in the table above. The first layer uses no algorithms at all, so you are really only memorizing sequences for the middle and top layers.

Do I need to know advanced algorithms like OLL and PLL? Not to solve the cube. OLL and PLL are used in faster methods like CFOP, which replace the beginner approach once you want to improve your times. The basic cube algorithms list here handles a full solve without any of those.

What if an algorithm does not seem to be working? Usually this means the starting position is off. For the insert algorithms, double-check that the edge is lined up with the correct center before you begin. For the top layer algorithms, make sure the cube is oriented the right way (yellow on top, white on the bottom).

Are there easier alternatives to these algorithms? These are already the easy rubik's cube algorithms chosen specifically for beginners. Some older beginner guides use slightly different versions, but the moves listed here are widely taught because they are short and reusable across stages.

How long does it take to learn all of these? Most beginners can learn all the algorithms in one to two weeks of regular practice, spending fifteen to twenty minutes per session. The middle layer inserts are the most commonly practiced since they repeat four times per solve.