Writing and Reading moves

Solving the third layer needs algorithms. All you need to do is memorize these algorithms and apply them when needed.
So in order to help you in understanding the algorithms you need to know the "cube language"
Each move has a specific letter which signifies which direction a layer will move. These are a set of notations.
If you have ever observed the game of chess you might have noticed that there is a set of notations specific to each move (e.g: e4, e5, Nf3, Nc6, etc)
There is a similar notation for the cube.

Hold the cube in your hand, near you eye level. Let one side be parallel to the ground.

When you hold the cube in your hand, with one side facing you, that face is called the front side and is denoted by F.

The face on the top of the cube is called the up side and is denoted by U.

The face opposite the front side, (the side which isn't visible to you) and falls towards the back of the cube is called the back side and is denoted by B.

The face opposite the Up side and which is facing the ground is called the down side and is denoted by D.

The face of the cube on the right side of the front side is called the right side and is denoted by R.

The face on the left side of the front side is called the left side and is denoted by L.

If F is written then it means you have to move the front side of the cube 90°clockwise. Which simply means you have to turn the front face of the cube in the clockwise direction-one turn.

The symbols and their meanings:
F - Front face, one turn, clockwise
F¹- Front face, one turn, anti-clockwise
F²- Front face, two turns (you turn it in clockwise or anti-clockwise you will end up with the same result)


B- Back face, one turn, clockwise
B¹- Back face, one turn, anti-clockwise direction
B²- Back face, two turns. (Be very careful with the entire B set of turns, especially the direction you are turning them in, clockwise or anti-clockwise)


U- Up face, one turn, clockwise
U¹ - Up face, one turn, anti-clockwise
U² - Up face, two turns


D - Down face, one turn, clockwise
D¹ - Down face, one turn, anti-clockwise
D² - Down face, two turns


R- Right face, one turn, clockwise
R¹ - Right face, one turn, anti-clockwise
R² - Right face, two turns


L- Left face, one turn, clockwise
L¹ - Left face, one turn anti-clockwise
L² - Left face, two turns.


A very simple method to remember is, turning clockwise is similar to the screw driver action ( PLEASE NOTE THIS ACTION IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE LEFT FACE NOTATIONS).


For example, if the given notation is DF¹L¹


Then you have to turn the down face of the cube once, clockwise 
and then turn the front face of the cube one anticlockwise 
and then turn the left face of the cube once, anti-clockwise.

Solving the second layer

Before you start this step, flip the cube over so the face that is complete is now the bottom. In the pictures, this is the green side. Now, turn the top layer of the cube to match a “before” picture below. This will make an upside down “T” with one color. We will move that top middle piece to the correct spot on the middle row in this step. There are two ways to do this depending on which side the “T” is on when you’re looking at the cube. Make sure to find the correct starting picture before doing this step. Repeat this step with all four sides. (HINT: If you ever get stuck where there aren’t any useful pieces on the top layer then do one of the moves below in reverse.)

Top Layer Corners

Now that you have learnt the top layer edges, lets move on to the top layer corners.
This is relatively simpler to explain (I hope).

Find a corner piece on the bottom layer that belongs on the top. In our example pictures this is any corner piece with green in it. Move this piece until it is situated on the bottom layer directly below its appropriate place in the top layer of the cube. In other words, the spot where the piece should start out should be in the same column as the spot where you want the piece to end up. Then, refer to the pictures below to solve. Make sure you are looking at the correct starting picture. Do this step to all four sides.

Top Layer Edges

This is a very tough situation to explain, cuz you have soo many starting positions. So, for this step it is really important you use your brains. The first step is tough to explain, but later it becomes fairly easier, until the last layer of course.


In this step, it is important to remember that the very center piece of each side of the cube doesn’t move, making it that side’s respective color. You must bring all of the other pieces of that color to that side. In the example below we bring the red/green piece to match with the red and green sides. Below are the most common moves for this step. You must do this for all four sides in order to make a cross like the “after” picture below.

Look at the first before picture and then follow the moves next to it.

Look at the "before" picture and then follow the steps adjacent to it. finally you should get the "after" picture.

Basics

The process of solving the cube is very simple. All you need is a little logic, thinking capacity and a cube :P
To make things even simpler i will divide the process into smaller sections which will enable you to proceed step by step, and not jumble everything up.

Firstly, let me tell you about the Rubik's Cube:

The above picture is of a Rubik's cube (solved).

The Rubik's Cube is a 3-D mechanical puzzel invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Erno Rubik. Originally called the "Magic Cube", the puzzle is considered as the "puzzle of the century".

In a classic Rubik's Cube, each of the six faces is covered by nine stickers, among six solid colours (traditionally white, red, blue, orange, green, and yellow). A pivot mechanism enables each face to turn independently, thus mixing up the colours. For the puzzle to be solved, each face must be a solid colour.

This is a simple cube with a 3×3×3 dimensions. There is another puzzle called the professor's cube, it has a dimension of 5×5×5, and it is (obviously) more challenging than a Rubik's Cube.

This is a professor's cube

Now, let's not get carried away and get back to the task already at hand.

Observe the next set of diagrams carefully, these terms will be often used and hence its mandatory to go through the following set of diagrams.

These are the layers in the cube. You will first solve the first layer and then the second layer and then the 3rd layer. (I know it sounds obvious)

This is how it will look after solving the first layer.

Here the black colour is just to show that those squares can be filled with any colour.

Solving the second layer will give you the follow combination in the cube:

Here again, white coloured squares are just to show that they can be filled with any colour stickers.

And then solving the final layer will give you a solved rubik's cube.

I wish to divide the steps as following:

1) Top layer edges.

2) Top layer corners

3) Second layer

4) Third layer edges

5) Third layer corners

6) Third layer orientation

Now if you are confused with the terms edges and corners, I hope the next set of pictures will help you understand.

The center's of the cube are the colours at the middle of each side of a cube:

The coloured portions are called the center

The edges of the cube are the middle piece of each side:

The coloured portions are the edges

Each edge contains only 2 colours.

The end pieces of each side is the corner:

Again, the coloured portions are the corners

Each corner is made up of 3 colours.

A important point to note is that the center of the cube is always stationary and we have to try to get all the colours to their respective center.

In my next segment I will be teaching you how to solve the top layer edges.

I suggest you to have a rubik's cube with you while you go through the instruction, so that you can try solving it while reading the instructions, or you could note all the instructions in your head (that works if your name is Einstein).

Intro

Hey guys. I am back blogging and hopefully this time its not controversial ;)
Recently, i was fascinated with the concept of a Rubik's Cube. A simple yet wonderful concept :)
I finally managed to solve a cube and that fascination is has still gripped me so hard that I wish to impart my knowledge to those interested.
I am pretty new to the concept of the cube and so I may not be the best teacher around, but I will try my best to help you guys out.
Hope I do my best :)