Step 1: First Block

Solve a block consisting of a large center and two triples. Once solved, keep this block on the left side with the U and wide r layers free to turn. A guide for solving the step is provided below. Before beginning, be sure to check out the notation on the Introduction page.

The simplest way to build the first block is to start by solving the big center. This center consists of three inner centers (triangles) and three edges.

To solve the center, build a half center. Take care to solve the edges in the correct order for the color scheme. If you are unsure, check the corners to know. If you are using the same color scheme as on this site, then follow the images and solve the same pieces. There are four different half centers that you can start with. Build the one that is easiest or that you see first.

To build a half center, start by choosing an edge. Any edge is ok. Then find a triangle and pair it with the edge. The triangle can usually be attached to the edge using just a couple of moves. In the example below, the left side is turned to bring down a triangle on the upper layer to match with an edge.

To complete the half center, add another edge. In the below example there is an edge on the upper layer. The bottom layer was turned clockwise, the edge was brought down by turning the left side layer, then the bottom layer was turned back to its original position. The full sequence of turns is D L D'.

Next, build the other half center that consists of an edge and two triangles. The following images have rotated the puzzle and half center to be on the back left (BL) layer. The other half center will be built on the upper layer then moved to the BL layer to complete the center.

Locate the final edge that belongs with the center then attach a triangle to either side. In the following images, the R layer is turned to move a triangle from the F layer to the edge.

Find the final triangle and attach it to the two pieces to form the half center. In the following images, there is a triangle on the BR layer. The upper layer is turned to move the already paired pieces out of the way. Then the triangle is moved to be with the other two pieces with a turn of the right side layer. The turns used are U' R' and this completes the other half center.

The half center can now be moved to the other half center to form a full center. In this case, the left side layer is turned to move the half center to the BL layer with the other half center.

This is the basic process for solving the center. You can also start with a half center that consists of one edge and two triangles then add the other half center that has two edges and one triangle. Build what is best for the scramble.

Once the center is complete, the two triples will be solved. A triple is a corner and two triangles.

Keeping the solved center on the back left layer, solve the first triple. Find one of the corners and attach a triangle. In this example, the back triple will first be solved. In the following image, the corner is in the front and the white triangle is on the back layer. The two pieces can be paired with a turn of the right side layer.

In the following image, the second triangle is on the left side layer. The corner will be moved to the front using a clockwise turn of the upper layer.

The corner and triangle pair can be moved out of the way to the bottom using a turn of the right side layer. Then the second triangle is moved to the left front position and the corner and triangle pair restored. In the following images, the sequence R' U' R is used.

The triple is now formed. The triple is oriented with the first step center color facing upwards, so the triple is moved to the upper back right position then solved by turning the back right (BR) layer. The turns sequence in the following images is U' BR. If the triple is oriented with the other color facing upwards, the sequence to place is F BR'.

Solving the second triple uses the same processes. First, pair the corner with a triangle. In the following images, the corner starts out in the front on the upper layer. There is a triangle on the back layer. A single turn of the right side layer pairs the two pieces.

Now attach the other triangle to the two pieces. In this case, the other triangle is on the bottom layer on the right side. The upper layer is turned to move the corner and triangle pair to the front. Then a middle slice turn, the layer between the BL and R layers, moves the triangle to complete the triple.

Now the triple will be moved to the left side. A counterclockwise turn of the front layer will solve the triple.