White Cross: Step One of Solving the 3×3 Cube

The white cross is the first real stage of the layer-by-layer method. It is a plus-shaped pattern of four white edges, and the side colours of those edges must match the centres next to them.

Orientation used in this guide

Hold the cube with the yellow centre on top and the white centre at the bottom. The front centre is blue and the right centre is red, so orange is on the left and green is at the back. We build the cross on the bottom face. Centres never move relative to each other, so they are your reference points.

Edges, centres and corners

An edge piece has two coloured stickers and sits between two corners. There are four white edges: white-blue, white-red, white-green and white-orange. Each one belongs between the white centre and the centre of its other colour. The white-blue edge, for example, belongs at the bottom of the front face, between the white and blue centres.

The bottom face seen from below, with the front at the top. White squares form the cross. Each coloured strip is the side sticker of that white edge and must match the centre of its face: F blue, R red, B green, L orange.

Find the white edges

Look at all three layers. A white edge can have its white sticker facing up, facing a side, or facing down. Pick one edge and decide where it has to go by reading its second colour. Do not look at the white sticker only: an edge with white on the bottom can still be in the wrong place.

Match the side colour

The rule that makes the cross correct: the second colour of every white edge must be the same as the centre of the face it touches. A white cross where the edges are in the wrong order is not finished.

Three cases with checked moves

Each example uses the orientation above and the white-blue edge, which belongs at the front-bottom. For another edge, turn the whole cube so that the edge’s home is at the front, or use the matching face letter. In all three cases the finished cross edges on the other faces stay in place.

Case 1: white faces up

The edge is in the top layer with its white sticker on top. Turn U until the second colour is directly above the same colour centre, then turn that face twice.

F2White-blue edge at the top front with white on top and blue on the front: it drops to the bottom front, white facing down.

Case 2: the edge is in the middle layer

The white-blue edge sits between the front and the right face (or the front and the left face) with the white sticker on the side face, not on the front.

FWhite-blue edge at front-right, white on the right face, blue on the front: it moves down to the correct place.

F′Mirror case. White-blue edge at front-left, white on the left face, blue on the front.

Case 3: white faces the front from the top layer

The white-blue edge is at the top front, but with the white sticker on the front face and blue on top. Turning F alone does not put it in place, so use a short sequence.

U′ R′ F RWhite-blue edge at the top front, white on the front face, blue on top. The edges already placed on the other three faces return to their places.

These are examples, not one formula for every cube. Edges in the bottom layer that are flipped or in the wrong place need to be lifted out first by turning their face, and then they become one of the cases above. Look at the position before you pick a move.

Check the finished cross

The bottom face shows a white plus sign: the centre and four white edges.
On each of the four side faces, the middle sticker of the bottom row (the edge’s second colour) matches that face’s centre: blue on the front, red on the right, green at the back, orange on the left.

Common mistakes

Ignoring the second colour and just putting white on the bottom.
Turning a face twice when another finished cross edge sits in that move’s way. Check the four edges around the bottom first.
Changing orientation in the middle of an example. Re-read the orientation before you copy a sequence.
Rushing: if the cross keeps breaking, build it one edge at a time and check after each.