Move Notation

Reading move notation is essential to read algorithms, and using algorithms is the most popular way to solve the Rubik's cube. This video shows how to read moves on the Rubik's Cube allowing you to follow written algorithms.

The basic moves are Up, Down, Right, Left, Front, Back.

Each move means to turn that side clockwise, as if you were facing that side.

R

L

U

D

F

B

An apostrophe (pronounced as prime) means to turn the face in the opposite direction

R'

L'

U'

D'

F'

B'

The number 2 means to turn that face twice.

R2

L2

U2

D2

F2

B2

For wide moves, turn 2 layers at once. They can be written in 2 ways:

Lower case: u, d, r, l, f, b
Ending in w: Uw, Dw, Rw, Lw, Fw, Bw

Rw/r

Lw/l

Uw/u

Dw/d

Fw/f

Bw/b

Slice moves are written as M, E, S. Slice moves only turn the middle layer.

M follows the L direction, E follows the D direction, S follows the F direction.

Cube rotations are written as x, y, z.

x follows the R direction, y follows the U direction, z follows the F direction.

M

E

S

x

y

z

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