Beginner method · step 1 of 7
Step 1: Build the white cross.
The white cross is the base of the whole solve. You will make a daisy, a yellow centre with four white petals, then drop each petal into place. No algorithms to memorise: only the moves in the table below.
Goal of this step A white cross on the bottom face, with each white edge's other colour matching the centre of its side.
Hold the cube the right way
Turn the cube so the yellow centre is on top and the white centre is on the bottom. Face the green centre towards you. The six centres never move, so they tell you what colour each face is. On most cubes white is opposite yellow, green is opposite blue and red is opposite orange; check yours, because a few older cubes differ.
An edge piece has two colours and sits between two faces. A corner has three. A centre has one and cannot be moved. There are four edge pieces with a white sticker. Those are the four we need.
Make the daisy
Look for a white edge piece and move it into the top layer with its white sticker facing up, so it sits next to the yellow centre like a petal. Do this four times and you have a daisy. The table shows the quickest move for every place a white edge can be. If the top slot you are aiming for already holds a petal, turn the top layer (U) first so the slot is free.
Middle layer, white on the side
| Where the white edge is | Do this |
|---|---|
| Front-right edge, white on the front | R |
| Front-right edge, white on the right | F' |
| Front-left edge, white on the front | L' |
| Front-left edge, white on the left | F |
| Back-right edge, white on the back | R' |
| Back-right edge, white on the right | B |
| Back-left edge, white on the back | L |
| Back-left edge, white on the left | B' |
Bottom layer
| Where the white edge is | Do this |
|---|---|
| Bottom front edge, white on the bottom | F2 |
| Bottom right edge, white on the bottom | R2 |
| Bottom back edge, white on the bottom | B2 |
| Bottom left edge, white on the bottom | L2 |
| Bottom front edge, white on the front | F L' |
| Bottom right edge, white on the right | R F' |
| Bottom back edge, white on the back | B R' |
| Bottom left edge, white on the left | L B' |
Top layer, white on the side
| Where the white edge is | Do this |
|---|---|
| Top front edge, white on the front | F R |
| Top right edge, white on the right | R B |
| Top back edge, white on the back | B L |
| Top left edge, white on the left | L F |
Drop each petal into the cross
Turn the top layer until one petal's other colour matches the centre below it: a green and white petal above the green centre. Now turn that face a half turn (for the front face, F2). The white edge drops to the bottom with its white sticker facing down, and its green sticker still matches the green centre. Turn the top layer again to line up the next petal and repeat. After four half turns you have a white cross.
How to check it
Look at the four side faces. Each should show a white-and-colour edge at the bottom whose colour matches that face's centre, so you see a T shape: the centre, the edge below it. If one edge is the wrong way round, take it out and try again. Do not worry if the rest of the cube looks like a mess. Steps 2 and 3 will sort it out.
Watch it, step by step
Press play to watch the moves on a cube, or step through them one at a time. Drag the cube to look from another side.
Turn on JavaScript to watch this on a 3D cube. The moves are: F2 R2 B2 L2
- F2
- R2
- B2
- L2
Common mistakes
- Matching an edge to the wrong face. Always match the colour to the centre, not to the other pieces.
- Undoing a petal you already placed. Turn the top layer out of the way before you turn a side face.
- Putting the white on the top. The daisy has white petals around a yellow centre, then the white ends up on the bottom.
FAQ
Step 1: questions
Do I need an algorithm to make the white cross?
No. The white cross uses simple turns that you work out by looking. The table gives the right move for each position, and it is the only part of the method you can solve without memorising anything.
Why start with a daisy instead of a cross on the bottom?
The daisy is easier to see: every petal is in the top layer and you only have to match colours with a half turn. Speedcubers build the cross directly, which is faster but takes more practice.
My white cross is done but the colours on the sides do not match. What now?
The edges are in the cross but in the wrong places. Turn the bottom layer until one matches. If you cannot get all four matching, lift two white edges back up to the daisy and drop them in again in the right order.
How long does step 1 take?
For a first-timer, roughly ten to twenty minutes of play. After a few tries, many people can do it in under a minute.
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