After you master Phase 1 of the Rubik's cube, you're ready to move on to Phase 2 - the Middle Layer. This phase is actually the easiest, in my opinion. To learn to solve this section, you can read my step-by-step process below, or scroll to the bottom of this post to view a video tutorial.
The first step of this layer is easy. Twist the top layer (the white side) until the three adjacent colors match up with the center pieces on each side of the cube.
For example, in the image to the left, you would be looking for that center blue cube to match up with the three blue/white pieces along the top. Once they match up, you will have a "T" shape on all sides. Now, there are only 4 cubes left to solve on the Middle Layer - the two-sided edges...
The first step of this layer is easy. Twist the top layer (the white side) until the three adjacent colors match up with the center pieces on each side of the cube.
For example, in the image to the left, you would be looking for that center blue cube to match up with the three blue/white pieces along the top. Once they match up, you will have a "T" shape on all sides. Now, there are only 4 cubes left to solve on the Middle Layer - the two-sided edges...
| First, let's solve corner piece between the blue and orange sides. Locate the correct blue/orange piece somewhere else on the cube. If it is located somewhere on the bottom layer of the cube, follow the steps of method 1 below. If it is located on a different two-sided space on the middle layer (such as between the red & blue sides), skip below to method 2. Method One |  |
- Once you find that blue/orange piece on the bottom layer, line up the upright-facing color (orange on my cube) with the matching color side.
- Twist the bottom layer of the cube one turn away from the opposite color side. On my cube, I have the 2-sided piece on the orange side, so I twisted it once to the right, away from the blue.
- Pull down the left side (blue on my cube) one turn, so that a line of white cubes are now on the orange cube.
- Twist the bottom layer back to the left, where it was a minute before (so that the orange cube is back on the orange side).
- Push the left (blue) side back up to where it was, with one of the white cubes now missing.
- Twist the bottom layer once more to the left, so that the original orange/blue piece is now on the blue side.
- Twist the entire orange side once counterclockwise, pulling two white squares onto the blue side.
- Twist the bottom layer back to the right, bringing the original orange/blue piece back to the orange side. This will align the missing white piece back with the two white pieces currently on the blue side.
- Twist the entire orange side clockwise, bringing the three white pieces back to the top. The blue/orange piece is now in it's correct place, between the blue and orange sides.
Method Two
Locate the blue/orange piece in a different 2-sided space on the middle layer. On my cube, it is between the red and blue sides. To get it out of that space, and down to the bottom layer, follow all the same steps from Method 1, starting at step 3. Because we are just trying to get that piece out, it doesn't matter what placeholder piece we put back there in the meantime. Once the piece is on the bottom layer, go through all 1-9 steps of Method 1, above.
If the piece you are looking for is already located in the correct spot, but the colors are on the wrong sides, it means that the piece was put in backwards. Follow the steps of Method 2 to pull the piece out onto the bottom layer, and then go back to Method 1, making sure to correctly alight the upright color in step 1.
Now, repeat as needed until you have all of the middle layer solved.
If the piece you are looking for is already located in the correct spot, but the colors are on the wrong sides, it means that the piece was put in backwards. Follow the steps of Method 2 to pull the piece out onto the bottom layer, and then go back to Method 1, making sure to correctly alight the upright color in step 1.
Now, repeat as needed until you have all of the middle layer solved.
