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.