2x2 cube cheat sheet
2x2 Rubik's Cube Algorithms (Printable PDF)
The 2x2 Rubik's Cube — also called the Pocket Cube — is the simplest member of the Rubik's family. It has no centre pieces, only eight corners, which makes a beginner solve straightforward once you can read the notation. The walkthrough below uses a layer-by-layer (LBL) beginner method: solve one face first, then orient the top, then permute the top.
Print this page or use your browser's Save as PDF option. The print layout shows the notation legend, the three beginner-method algorithms, and a compact when-to-use summary on a single page.
Notation legend
What the letters mean
R
Rotate the right face 90° clockwise (looking at the right face).
R'
Rotate the right face 90° counter-clockwise.
U
Rotate the top face 90° clockwise (looking down).
U'
Rotate the top face 90° counter-clockwise.
U2
Rotate the top face 180° (direction does not matter).
F
Rotate the front face 90° clockwise (looking at the front).
F'
Rotate the front face 90° counter-clockwise.
F2
Rotate the front face 180°.
Algorithms
The full beginner method algorithm list
Insertion (bottom layer)
R U R' U'
Repeat 1, 3, or 5 times to seat a white corner into the bottom-front-right slot with white facing down.
Sune (orient last layer)
R U R' U R U2 R'
Orient the top corners so all four show the top colour. Apply repeatedly until the top face is solid.
Y-perm (adjacent corner swap)
R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'
Swap the two right-side top corners (UFR and UBR). Hold a matched side on the LEFT, or apply once first if no side matches.
For the step-by-step walkthrough that explains when each algorithm is used, see the full guide linked above.
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