How to solve a Rubik's Cube

These instructions are based off of Dan Brown's YouTube Video.  I just put his video tips into writing.  I didn't spend time on explaining how to solve a single layer, because I can usually do that without using any algorithms.  It's always layer 2 and 3 that I could never seem to figure out.

Part 1 Solving a single side: Ensure that the center pieces match up to the middle edge pieces of the side you are solving:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsQIoPyfQzM
Algorithms for side 1:
        Fi U Li Ui

        Ri Di R D

Part 2: Solving layer 2 and layer 3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW_BBp3FPMQ
How to solve the Rubik’s Cube
2)      Solve the 2nd layer of the cube.

a.       Flip solved side down.

b.      Look in top layer for a middle edge piece that does not have the top center color in it.

c.       Align that piece with the color section it needs to go to.

d.      Then, to move the piece left:

Ui, Li, U, L, U, F, Ui, Fi

To move the piece to the right:

U, R, Ui, Ri, Ui, Fi, U, F

3)      For the final side, you want the top layer to have a cross.

a.       If you have a backwards L, hold it so it is in the top left of the top face.
         F R U Ri Ui Fi
b.      This leads to a horizontal line.  Repeat the algorithm to get a cross.

4)      Solve the top cross so that the cross pieces are in the right place.

Hold it so that one of the solved sides is on the right, and one is directly opposite you.

Run the following algorithm.

a.       R U Ri U R U U Ri

If the two edges that are on the correct side are directly across from each other, hold it so that one of the matching edges is in the front and one is in the back face.

R U Ri U R U U Ri
b. Once the top cross is solved, now you just need to get the corner pieces in the right place, but not necessarily oriented the correct way.

c. If you have a corner piece in the correct location, but not necessarily rotated the right way, hold it so it is in the bottom right of the top face and run the algorithm.

U R Ui Li U Ri Ui L
  If none are in the right place, just run the algorithm.

U R Ui Li U Ri Ui L
You should only need to run this algorithm zero to two times to get all corner pieces in the correct location, but not necessarily oriented the right way.

5)      Hold it so that any of the unsolved corner pieces are in the bottom right of the up face and run:

Ri Di R D

Do that until the piece is now in the correct location on the top face.  Then rotate the top face so that another piece that needs to be rotated is in the bottom right of the top face.

Run the algorithm again, until it is twisted the right way.

Ri Di R D

Now you should be one turn away from solving the cube.


NOTE: while doing this step, it may appear that the cube is getting messed up, but remarkably after completing the algorithm correctly, the cube will be solved.
 

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