A 2x2 is a six sided cubic puzzle similar to the 3x3 Rubik's cube, but it only has two layers, with 4 corners on each layer. There are no center or edge pieces. You can use the same steps to solve a 2x2 as you use for the corners of a 3x3. It can be more difficult to recognise cases as there is no center to reference.
This guide will help you to solve the 2x2 in 3 steps:
STEP 1 - COMPLETE THEWHITE LAYER
STEP 2 - COMPLETE THE LAST LAYER CORNERS
STEP 3 - COMPLETE THE LASTLAYER (ORIENTATION)
DOWNLOAD Print Friendly PDF - How to Solve a 2x2 Beginners Guide
STEP 1a- COMPLETE THE WHITEBAR
- Find the WHITE/RED/GREEN corner and hold the cube with the WHITE/RED/GREEN corner in the front top left position with the WHITE ON TOP. Notice the red side of the corner will be facing you and the green will be on the left.
- Find the WHITE/RED/BLUEcorner and move it to the bottom front right position.(KEEPING THE WHITE/RED/GREEN CORNER IN PLACE).
- Choose one of the 3 colour images below that matches your cube and follow the arrow steps to put the WHITE/RED/BLUE corner in place.
Result:
STEP 1b- COMPLETE THE 3rd WHITE Corner
- Keeping the WHITE bar on top, turn the cube so that the WHITE/RED/BLUE corneris now in the front top left position. Notice the blue side of the corner will befacing you and the red will be on the left.
- Find the WHITE/BLUE/ORANGE corner and move it to the bottom front right position.(KEEPING THE WHITE BAR IN PLACE).
- Choose one of the 3 colour images below that matches your cube and followthe arrow steps to put the WHITE/BLUE/ORANGE corner in place.
Result:
STEP 1c- COMPLETE THE 4th WHITE Corner
- Keeping WHITE on top, turn the cube so that the WHITE/BLUE/ORANGE corner isnow in the front top left position.
- Find the WHITE/GREEN/ORANGE corner and move it to the bottom front rightposition (KEEPING THE 3 COMPLETED WHITE PIECES IN PLACE).
- Choose one of the 3 colour images below that matches your cube and followthe arrow steps WHITE/GREEN/ORANGE corner in place.
Possible Problem:The corner you are looking for is in the top layer, but in the wrong position or turned the wrong way around. Turn the cube so that the corner is in the front right top corner then move the corner to the bottom layer by following the following steps.
Solution:
Perform these steps , then choose again from steps above to put the corner in place
Result:
STEP 2- PLACE LAST LAYER CORNERS IN THE CORRECT POSITION
1. Turn your cube around so that WHITE is now on the bottom.
2. Turn the top layer so that ONLYONE corner matches the bottom corners colors. Ignoring the White and Yellow colors. The corner may not be the correct way around. (In the example below we placed the YELLOW/ORANGE/GREEN corner on top of the WHITE/ORANGE/GREEN corner.
3. Turn the whole cube so that thecorrect corneris in thefront top rightposition. The piece is in the correct position, BUT may not be turned the correct way around.
Repeat the sequence above until all the corners are in the correct position, meaning the colors match the bottom corner (excluding white and yellow). The corners may not be the correct way around - that's OK.
Possible Problem1:You have 2 corners in the correct position (matching their bottom colors)
Solution:Keep turning the top Layer (yellow) untilonly ONE corner is in the correct position.
STEP 3 -ORIENTATE LAST LAYER CORNERS
The next steps will turn the corners (one by one) the correct way and ultimately solve the cube.
NOTE: THIS ROUTINE MAY APPEAR TO UPSET THE REST OF THE CUBE. DO NOT DESPAIR AND KEEP THE SAME SIDE FACING YOU IT WILL ONLY BE SOLVED ONCE THE LAST CORNER IS ORIENTATED.
Repeat the moves until the YELLOW side of the corner piece is on top. You may have to do it 2-3 times.
KEEP THE SAME SIDEOF THE BOTTOM LAYER FACING YOU.Rotate the TOP LAYER ONLY until the next corner piece to be rotated is in the top right position. Repeat the above sequence until the YELLOW side of the corner that you are rotating is on top. Continue the process until the cube is complete.
YOU HAVE DONE IT!!!
Puzzle is also known as Pocket Cube, 2x2 Rubix cube, four squares cube, eight squares cube. and 2X2
How to solve a 2x2 using Ortega Method | INTERMEDIATE
26 comments
Titus
WORKS UNBELIEVABLY WELL FIXED IT 5 TIMES using this
Yousif
DOO MORE PLZ
Paul
Perfect, thank you.
Devin
It works AMAZINGLY
isaac
it is a great way to solve it
coco
it makes me so happy thank you very much !
I hope I can be better
Alvin
Thank you for crystal clear instructions
jc
It will be easy as promised pie
Jake
It is very good and has worked with all my cubes without too much trouble.
Aymen
Thank you for the brilliant step by step algorithm
Lutz
Thx, best instructions I found.
Myla
Omg I haven’t test it yet but I’m sure it works!
Elliott
It’s to hard
Andrew Davis
This is great, it works.
I was confused at first, here’s a couple of attempts at clarification that might help someone else:
- in step 2 part 2, do not be concerned about the orientation of any of the faces of the corners. For example you’re not trying to match the top of a corner with the front face of the corner below. Only be concerned with whether the two colors on a corner that aren’t white or yellow match the two colors visible on the corner below it.
- in step three, only pay attention to yellow. The whole goal is to get the yellow faces on top. Just keep repeating the sequence until the top right corner has a yellow on top and then rotate to work on the next corner.
Maverick
I guess it could work though but i’ll keep trying
Maverick
I don’t understand any of it/nothing works for mine
William Reid
Hi the instructions for a standard 2×2 cube are great, have you got instructions for solving a picture 2 X2 cube
King cuber
I didn’t use this but I just wanted to comment something random. This website is very good for parity on bigger cubes. 🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿🗿
eli
it works
grace
woops that was my brother
g
it dosent work
anthony
I don’t get is
Cole Wilkinson
The only instructions that work/the best
J
Not enough pictures to demonstrate what you are trying to explain. Place a corner? What does that mean? Does a curved arrow mean two turns? What does a matching corner mean?
Lucas
this makes solveing super ez compared to other things
Otis
Brilliant step by step instructions for beginners and helped me complete mine instantly
