How to Solve a 3x3 Cube and Other Puzzles - Free Step-by-Step Tutorials

You don't need talent or a special "feel" to solve a 3x3 cube - all it takes is a good tutorial and a few evenings of patience. At Strefa Kostek we've created free step-by-step tutorials for all WCA events: from your very first 3x3 solve, through bigger cubes and differently shaped puzzles, all the way to one-handed, fewest moves and blindfolded solving.

You'll see every move on an animated puzzle that you can rotate with your mouse or finger. Each tutorial also includes a simulator for practicing on your own and a printable cheat sheet with the algorithms, and your learning progress is saved in your browser - you can come back at any time. The tutorials are free and require no login.

See all solving tutorials

Where to start?

If you've never solved a cube before, start with the 3x3 cube using the layer-by-layer method. It's the foundation for almost all the other tutorials - the algorithms you learn on the 3x3 will come in handy on bigger cubes, on the megaminx and in the special events.

How to solve a 3x3 cube

The layer-by-layer method from scratch: move notation, the daisy, the white cross, white corners, the second layer and the last layer in four steps. You only need 7 short algorithms. Your first solve usually takes a few evenings of learning.

How to solve a 2x2 cube

The easiest cube to start with - the white layer, the yellow face and placing the corners. You only need 3 algorithms, two of which you already know from the 3x3 tutorial. A good choice for younger children too.

Bigger cubes: 4x4, 5x5, 6x6 and 7x7

Bigger cubes are solved with the reduction method: first the centers, then the edges paired up, and finally the whole thing like a regular 3x3 cube. Each tutorial assumes you know the previous one and focuses on what's new.

• How to solve a 4x4 cube - centers, edge pairing and two parities that don't exist on the 3x3.
• How to solve a 5x5 cube - centers with a fixed center piece, edges made of three pieces and at most one parity.
• How to solve a 6x6 cube - four types of center pieces and edges made of four wings.
• How to solve a 7x7 cube - six types of center pieces, plus the principles that will let you solve a 9x9 and bigger too.

Differently shaped puzzles

WCA events aren't just cubes. These puzzles have their own move rules, but most of them are easier to solve than they look.

• How to solve a pyraminx - the pyramid in 4 stages with 3 short algorithms, the easiest puzzle of the whole family.
• How to solve a megaminx - a dodecahedron you solve like a 3x3 cube, it just takes longer. The tutorial also guides you through the middle section, where most people get lost.
• How to solve a skewb - a cube that turns diagonally: the white face, bottom corners and centers, four short algorithms.
• How to solve a square-1 - a shape-shifting puzzle. First you'll restore the cube shape following clear rules, then you'll solve the colors.
• How to solve an FTO - an octahedron and a new WCA event: edges, corners and triangles, six short algorithms.
• How to solve a clock - 18 clocks, 4 pins and 4 wheels. No algorithms: three rules and a dozen or so moves are all you need.

Events for those who can already solve

Once the 3x3 cube holds no more secrets for you, you can try events where more than just time counts. These tutorials aren't for beginners - they assume you can already solve the cube and take you further.

• 3x3 cube one-handed - event rules, choosing your hand, grip, algorithms without awkward moves and a timer with inspection just like at competitions.
• 3x3 cube fewest moves - how to find a solution shorter than 40 moves in one hour: blocks, skeletons, insertions and inverse scramble.
• 3x3 cube blindfolded - the Old Pochmann method: letters on the stickers, tracing pieces, 3 algorithms and memory training.
• Multiple 3x3 cubes blindfolded - Multi-Blind rules and scoring, how many cubes to attempt and how to memorize several cubes at once.
• 4x4 cube blindfolded - centers with the U2 method, wings with the r2 method, and parities.
• 5x5 cube blindfolded - five types of pieces, including edges with the M2 method.

How to learn effectively?

• Learn with a cube in your hand. Repeat every move from the animation on a real cube - videos and pictures alone are quickly forgotten.
• One stage at a time. Move on to the next one only when you can do the current one without looking at the tutorial. In every tutorial you can mark a stage as mastered.
• Practice in the simulator. Practice mode scrambles only the stage you're learning, so you don't have to solve the whole cube from scratch every time.
• Print the cheat sheet. All of the tutorial's algorithms on a single A4 sheet - handy until you've memorized them.
• A good cube helps. An old cube that keeps catching can put you off right at the start. Modern speedcubing cubes turn smoothly and don't fall apart at the first faster move - in every tutorial we recommend models that are great to learn on.

Good luck! If you get stuck at any stage, check the "Common problems" section - you'll find it under most tutorials.

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