After the first two layers are solved, turn the cube upside-down so that the bottom layer is now on top. To avoid any confusion, I will refer to this as the yellow layer.
If you are not ready for Phase 3 yet, you can go back and read my blogs on Phase 1 and Phase 2.
To solve this yellow layer, you can read my step-by-step process below, or scroll to the video tutorial at the bottom of this post.
If you are not ready for Phase 3 yet, you can go back and read my blogs on Phase 1 and Phase 2.
To solve this yellow layer, you can read my step-by-step process below, or scroll to the video tutorial at the bottom of this post.
At this point, you want to three yellow pieces aligned as a backwards "L." If the yellow layer were a clock, the correct pieces should be at the 12:00 point and the 9:00 point. If you don't have those pieces aligned yet (as I don't), then there are a couple of different shuffles we can do to rearrange the cubes until they fall where we need them:
- Twist the entire front side of the cube to the clockwise. It doesn't matter which side you choose to start with.
- Rotate the yellow side (new top) clockwise.
- Pull up the right-side panel one turn.
- Rotate the yellow side back counterclockwise.
- Pull the right panel back down once.
- Rotate the front panel back to the left (counterclockwise).
If done correctly, all the pieces on the original top and middle layers should be back in their rightful place, and the yellow side should now be scrambled differently than before. Repeat this step as many times as needed to get two pieces into that 12:00-9:00 position (shouldn't take more than a couple). It doesn't matter if there are other yellow pieces on that side or not, just so long as there are pieces in those two places.
Now that you have two pieces in the correct places, repeat the same 6 steps as outlined above, making sure that the 9:00 - 12:00 cubes are positioned correctly, in the top left corner.
Now that you have two pieces in the correct places, repeat the same 6 steps as outlined above, making sure that the 9:00 - 12:00 cubes are positioned correctly, in the top left corner.
You'll want to repeat those steps until you have a cross on the yellow side, plus one additional corner piece. On my cube, I have the cross, but two corner pieces facing up. If this happens to you, hold the cube so that the line of three yellow pieces are along the right side, and complete the below steps until you have only one corner piece. If you already have only one corner piece (in addition to the cross), hold the cube so that the one yellow corner piece is on the bottom left, closest to you (in the 7:00 position).
- Push up the right side panel one turn.
- Rotate the yellow panel (new top) once clockwise.
- Pull the right side back down one turn.
- Rotate the yellow panel (new top) once clockwise.
- Push up the right side one turn.
- Rotate the yellow panel (new top) clockwise TWO turns so that the white pieces are realigned.
- Push the right side back down so that all the white pieces are back to the original top layer.
You may need to repeat these steps a few times, just make sure to always start with the corner yellow piece in the bottom left corner. After 1-2 times, all the yellow pieces should be on the top. Now we just have to unscramble the sides of the yellow layer.
Look at each side, and find the one that has the same color on both corners. On mine, I have two green corners on the blue side of the cube. Turn the cube completely around so that the side with those matching corners is on the back of the cube, facing away from you. Note: if you don't have any matching color corners, you can complete the following steps on any particular side - this will just speed up the process. Below is a list, as well as a slideshow of all the steps.
Look at each side, and find the one that has the same color on both corners. On mine, I have two green corners on the blue side of the cube. Turn the cube completely around so that the side with those matching corners is on the back of the cube, facing away from you. Note: if you don't have any matching color corners, you can complete the following steps on any particular side - this will just speed up the process. Below is a list, as well as a slideshow of all the steps.
- Pull down the right-side panel so that a line of yellow cubes will now be on the front.
- Rotate the front panel clockwise.
- Pull the right-side panel down again.
- Rotate the back panel, furthest away from you to the left TWO times, so that the two yellow pieces are now on the bottom.
- Push back the right-side panel one turn.
- Rotate the front panel once to the counterclockwise.
- Pull down the right panel once.
- Rotate the back panel twice again.
- Push back the right panel two times.
You should now have all the yellow pieces back on top. One of the sides should now have all three matching colors. Twist the yellow layer until that side is aligned with the other matching colors. On my cube, the three matching colors are green. So I twisted the cube until those colors lined up with the green panel. If you do not have a side with all three colors matching on one side, don't worry. It will still work, but align them if you have them.
Sometimes, the cube may actually be completely solved at this point. If not, all of the other sides of the yellow layer should at least have matching color corners. This means there are only three pieces left before the cube is solved! Here's how to fix those last couple of pieces:
- Turn the cube in your hands so that the side with three matching yellow-layer sides are on the furthest side away from you (if you don't have one side complete, skip this step).
- Twist the front panel twice, so that the mis-matched color is on the bottom layer.
- Find out where the correct color is for this side. On my cube, it is the blue piece on the panel to the right.
- Rotate the yellow side so that piece is on the correct side to match it's color. On my cube, I turned the yellow side once clockwise so that the blue is reunited with the blue side.
- Pull down both the left and right side panels one turn.
- Rotate from front panel twice.
- Push both left and right side panels back up.
- Twist the yellow side so that the line of white pieces is along the front of the cube, closest to you. On my cube, I twisted it once clockwise.
- Rotate the front panel twice, so that the white pieces are back into their place.
And viola! The cube should now be solved!
