3x3x3 One-Handed - cheat sheet

WCA rules (Article C) and the layer-by-layer method for one hand. Yellow on top, green in front. Full course with animations and simulator: strefa-kostek.pl/en/kursy

StrefaKostek.plstrefa-kostek.pl

1WCA rules (Article C)

Inspection under 15 s, you may hold the cube with both hands, but without turning layers. Calls at 8 and 12 s; start after 15 s = +2, after 17 s = DNF.
Solve with one hand - the other may neither turn nor hold the cube; you do not switch hands during the solve (DNF). The hand may be different in each attempt.
You may press the cube against the table and mat (not the timer). A popped piece may be fixed only with the hand you are solving with.
Stop: release the cube and put both palms flat on the timer - otherwise +2.
Average of 5: drop the best and the worst, average the remaining 3; one DNF can be dropped, two = DNF average. Check the time limit and cutoff on the competition website.

2Hand and moves

Left hand: easy R U, harder F D, hardest L B.

Right hand: the same with R and L swapped.

Mirroring an algorithm: R ↔ L, every move in the opposite direction (also U, F, D, y, z), moves with a 2 and the x rotation unchanged; right ↔ left in the description.

Hard move: rotate the cube so that this face is on the right or on top, e.g. F' U F = y' R' U R.

Grip: thumb on the front face, fingers on the back, little finger underneath; do not squeeze.

3Layer method: left hand

White corners	R U R' U'
2nd layer to the right	U R U' R' U' F' U F
2nd layer to the left	y' U' F' U F U R U' R'
Yellow cross	F R U R' U' F'
Yellow edges	R U R' U R U2 R' U
Corners into place	x' R' D R U' R' D' R U x
Twisting corners	R' D' R D

Orientation as in the 3x3 course: yellow on top, slot and correct corner at the front right.

4Layer method: right hand

White corners	L' U' L U
2nd layer to the right	y U F U' F' U' L' U L
2nd layer to the left	U' L' U L U F U' F'
Yellow cross	F' L' U' L U F
Yellow edges	L' U' L U' L' U2 L U'
Corners into place	x' L D' L' U L D L' U' x
Twisting corners	L D L' D'

Everything mirrored: slot and correct corner at the front left, yellow cross L shape at the back right, matching edges at the back and on the left.

5How to practise

Slow and steady, finish every move.
Only one hand, the other on your knee.
10-20 minutes a day, breaks; wrist pain = rest.
Time averages of 5 with inspection.
Record a solve and practise the slowest stage.

6Starting plan

Week 1: hand and grip, slow solves.
Week 2: algorithms without L, first times.
Week 3: averages of 5, slowest stage.
Then: competition cutoff, OH algorithms one at a time.

7How long it takes

At first several times slower with one hand than with two, after a few weeks about 2 times.

Records (October 2026): world 5.62 s, average 6.99 s; Poland 6.17 s, average 8.51 s.

Right hand: mirror the algorithm - swap R for L and vice versa, every move in the opposite direction (y, F, U, D too), x unchanged. Right and left in the descriptions swap as well. StrefaKostek.pl